"Glad it was a good experience for you, sir."

"Vietnam," said Kenten, "was a whole different ball of paraffin. My eldest, Eddie Junior, serviced helicopters, still won't talk about it. In any event, back to Marty: wonderful boy, bright, industrious, but for that blasted accident he'd be destined for stardom. Even with the injury, I'm holding out hope. The key is for him to take care of the shoulder, avoid undue stress. I'm afraid your chasing him doesn't help."

"Where's Marty now, Mr. Kenten?"

"Why are you after him?"

"I'd like an answer to my question, sir."

"What makes you think I know his whereabouts?"

"You're his mentor."

"And I'd be happy to mentor him now. Unfortunately, my efforts to reach him have failed, the poor boy's so frightened, who knows where he's gone?"

Kenten drank tea. "I'm surprised, Lieutenant."

"At what?"

"You didn't come back with the standard warning about aiding and abetting."

"Are you aiding and abetting, sir?"

Kenten laughed. "Hardly. I'm available to Emilio and Anna for support is all."

"For Marty, as well."

"Should he ask."

"If he does contact you, Mr. Kenten, you'll need to let me know."

"And you'll go straight to your boss."

"Pardon?" said Milo.

"No need to be coy, Lieutenant. We both know your boss's boy attends Prep and that raises the stakes. Needless to say, Marty or someone like him would be a much better suspect than a student from the right zip code."

"If you've got other students I should be looking at, Mr. Kenten, give me their names."

"If I did, I'd have already given them to you. Two things I do know: Marty's not involved and the chief's situation raises the risk of tunnel vision."

"The chief and everyone else in the department is interested in arresting the right offender for both cases."

"Both?"

"Yesterday, Ms. Freeman's boyfriend was beaten to death, his car stolen from his driveway. A young man was seen driving it away. I just returned from a dump site where the victim's car was found partially burned. All the contents had been removed except for a baseball cap that may have fallen off during the arson. Dark blue cap with what looks to be a gold S."

Kenten's cup held steady. So did his eyes. "That's your evidence? A baseball cap?"

"A South El Monte Eagles baseball cap."

"Marty hasn't pitched for them for over a year."

"It's not exactly a commonplace garment."

Kenten looked away. "I'm sure there's an explanation--anyone can buy a baseball cap."

"I'm sure your intentions were noble, sir, but from what I've heard, public school was a happier place for Marty than Prep. That would be good reason for him to hold on to a memento."

Silence.

"Sir, have you ever seen a cap like that in Marty's house?"

"I've never been to Marty's house."

"Has he been to yours?"