"They lie to me, she was a cop." Ruiz outlined female curves. "They give her the hot pants and the boots, she say I blow you for thirty."

"The boots'll do it every time," said Milo.

"She say she blow me before I say nothing."

"Clear case of entrapment, Hector."

"I need out tomorrow."

"Mrs. Ruiz isn't arriving for two days."

"I need clean the house."

"Hiding the evidence, huh?"

"I need out."

"What's Anteater's name and where can I find him?"

"Get me out I tell you," said Ruiz.

Milo leaned in close. "It doesn't work that way, Hector. And just giving me information won't be enough until I make sure it's worth more than your I.D. card."

Ruiz looked away. "What you want with him?"

"Not your business, Hector, but if you want the wife to be happy, I need him in custody."

No answer.

"Comprende, Hector?"

"I know English."

"And a good English it is." Milo shot a cuff, checked his Timex.

Hector Ruiz said, "You promise to help me?"

"Once I've got Mr. Shirt in custody."

"Okay, okay, okay, he live in my apartment."

"You're roommates?"

"No, no, same building. He number five, the bottom. I number seven, the top."

Milo suppressed a smile. "Beverly Hills?"

"No, no, here," said Ruiz. "Culver City. Venice Boulevard, near the freeway."

Out came the pad. "Address."

Ruiz tugged his mouth. Complied.

"Now I need a name, Hector."

"Gilberto," said Ruiz. "Gilberto Chavez, he say he a painter, in Juarez he never paint, just drywall and no good at drywall."

"One of those darn painter wannabes," said Milo.

"Don't say I the one tell you."

"What else do you know about Mr. Chavez?"

"He smoke a lot." Miming a two-fingered cigarette grasp, Ruiz brought his hand to his mouth, scrunched his eyes, hollowed his cheeks, gave a goofy look.

"Marihuana que fumar," said Milo.

"All the time," said Ruiz. "That's what they pay him with."

"Who?"

"Kids."

"What kids?"

"They pay him with weed to buy dry ice. He say lucky day."

"Tell me about these kids, Hector."

"That's all he say. Kids."

"How many?"

Ruiz shook his head. "That's all he say."

Milo waited.

Ruiz said, "You got to get me out before Lupe come."

"If you've done your best, Hector, I'll do mine. Tell me about the kids."

"That's what he say." Crossing himself. "Kids, that's all."

Milo headed for the door.

Hector Ruiz said, "Please."

A call to a Vice D named Gerald Santostefano revealed that Ruiz was scheduled for release in three hours due to overcrowding at the jail.

"Why'd you take him in to begin with?"

"He's a chronic, Lieutenant."

"Likes the ladies, huh?"

"Likes 'em in boots, real pest," said Santostefano. "You know what it's like, we can't get 'em unless we nab 'em in the act. We put one of our cuter rookies in a pair of knee-high white plastics with stacked heels, he was toast."

"There's an idea for Project Runway."