“I give up,” Keegan said. “Why are you calling?” For no reason he could name, he thought again of Lusk’s tank crowded with goldfish.

“That gun you gave me.”

“What about it?”

“It isn’t yours.”

“Sure, it is,” Keegan said. He looked at the shadows the venetian blind made on the lacquered oak of his door. “What do you mean it’s not mine?”

“I mean the serial numbers don’t match,” Moore said. His voice sounded weary. “Don’t play stupid.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Keegan said, but his voice came out too flat. He wished he could take the line back and try it again.

“Jimmy,” the lieutenant said. “I don’t know what you’re up to, but this is serious business. It’s a homicide case. I can’t just look the other way because it’s you.”

“I don’t know what you’re going on about,” Keegan said. “You wanted my gun. I gave you my gun.”

Keegan heard a couple of hot breaths on the other end of the phone line. “She’s not worth it, Jimmy,” the lieutenant said. “Whatever she did to get you into this can’t be worth the trouble.”

“Maybe your paperwork is screwy,” Keegan said. “I mean any idiot can pass the civil servant exam.”

There were a few seconds of silence on the other end. “I don’t think you actually killed the man,” Moore finally plowed on. “I don’t think you’re that stupid. But she’s got you involved, and this isn’t going to end well for either of you.”

“Or maybe my gun got swapped when I was at that range up in Glendale,” Keegan said. “I’ll bet that’s what happened. Those old revolvers are a dime a dozen, and they all look alike. I must have picked up the wrong one when I was packing up.”

“That girl’s going to get you killed,” Moore said. “There’s plenty you don’t know, Jimmy. Trust me. She’s playing you like a Steinway.”

Keegan leaned forward and put his elbows on the desk. “When do I get my gun back, Lieutenant?” he said.

“You don’t know what you’re doing. She’s got you all—”

“See, I’m a little on edge,” Keegan spoke over him. “I don’t know if you heard, but a guy got murdered right down the hill from me, and the perp’s still at large. The cops don’t seem to know their dicks from their derringers.” He kept speaking, though he knew the lieutenant had already hung up.