"The point of today's meeting was extending a courtesy to you, sir, as well as to Prep. I need to have access to Enrico, Jim, and Pat and rather than disrupt your school during working hours, I'm giving you the opportunity to set up off-campus interviews at a discreet time and place." Stepping closer, he invaded Helfgott's personal space. His bulk turned Helfgott into a small man.

"Furthermore, it's essential that my courtesy doesn't lead to advance preparation on the part of Enrico, Jim, and Pat. Meaning, I expect you not to alert them as to the purpose of the interviews."

Helfgott backed away two steps, nostrils flaring, beads of moisture collecting under the rims of his eyeglasses. "The police chief has authorized this?"

"The police chief takes his responsibilities seriously."

"How... interesting." Suddenly Helfgott's hand landed on Milo's shoulder. Patted. "I'm sure you're a fine dedicated police lieutenant, sir. Merely doing your job. However, I must do mine. I cannot commit to a course of action without conferring with professionals. We'll chat in due time."

He headed toward the electric doors that opened to the tarmac. Before he got there, the concierge pushed a button and the doors swung open. Helfgott marched toward the Escalade. The driver popped out, hurried to open the passenger door.

Milo said, "Who says teaching's a thankless job."

As we passed the desk, the concierge looked up from her copy of Elite Traveler. Smiling and murmuring, "Bye, guys."

Her eyes said we'd soiled the furniture.

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER
8

As we passed from Santa Monica into West L.A., Milo placed a call to the chief's office, failed to get past the first secretarial rung, and hung up.

"So what do you think of Il Presidente?"

"Loves his job, will do anything to keep it."

"Perks like he's got, he'd probably kill to keep it, Alex." Tapping the wheel. "Too bad pomposity's not a felony."

"I thought your beef analogy was particularly astute."

"Yeah... my high school experience was ground chuck. You know what really irritated me, Alex? That patronizing false modesty--I'm just a poor, dumb, hardworking mope who somehow managed to earn a cum laude at Brown."

"A different Brown," I said. "But there might be some truth to that. Like the chief said, most of the Ivies began as divinity schools but they quickly became repositories for rich white boys. Later, when quotas were relaxed, they became meritocracies but Helfgott's old enough for the pre-merit days."

"You were a whiz kid, how come you didn't go Ivy?"

"My high school was blue collar, same as yours. The guidance counselors directed kids to the trades, most of my friends never even thought about college. I aimed higher because I knew I needed to get away from my family. The night I left Missouri, I snuck out without saying good-bye, hit the road in a clunker I'd bought on the sly."

"Sixteen years old. Gutsy boy."