"Nothing erotic," said Hauer. "The two of them at a casino, this Sal had won some money. A bald little man. I attribute her hostility to him as a yearning for mastery after a childhood filled with affective helplessness."

"She kept that picture in her living room," said Milo. "That mean you tangoed at her house?"

"Of course. Where else, Lieutenant?"

"Your place?"

Hauer grinned. "My wife would object."

Avoiding the bait, Milo took him over the same ground. Hauer grew bored. A guy hooked on novelty.

The request for an alibi elicited a yawn and the explanation that he'd been with his wife, a Spanish teacher at a girls' school in Hancock Park.

"Feel free to ask her, Lieutenant."

"You don't care."

"Claudia will pretend to be resentful but she has her own diversions."

"Open marriage?"

"There is no such thing," said Hauer. "Let's just say Claudia and I are more forgiving than most people. I would, of course, resent your telling her about Elise's accusation, as it is patently false and defamatory."

"Defamatory," said Milo. "That's kind of legalistic."

"I studied law in Buenos Aires, Lieutenant. Decided not to live my life as an attack dog." Smoothing his hair. "Doesn't it bother you, dealing with the worst in people?"

"I manage to cope, Mr. Hauer."

"Good for you. Now, what else can I help you with?"

Milo's wave was dismissive.

Hauer sat there.

Milo got up and rapped the back of Hauer's chair with a knuckle.

Hauer flinched.

"Out, Rico."

We watched him speed off in a yellow Mazda Miata convertible. Ten minutes remained until Pat Skaggs's appointment. Milo lit a cigar and we idled on the sidewalk.

Three puffs and two smoke rings later, he said, "Elise was a busy girl."

I said, "Esteemed educators molding young minds."

"It's like Hauer and Winterthorn own a testosterone time share but Winterthorn never gets to use it. Wimp or stud, cast your ballot for prime suspect."

"I'll withhold judgment until Mr. Skaggs tells his story."

"Who knew the faculty lounge was such a hotbed of naughty? What do you think of Elise's accusations now?"

"Same answer."

"C'mon, stretch your theoretical wings."

"Both men 'fessed up to sex with her, but consent's a rapist's favorite excuse because it can neutralize DNA. It's possible as soon as Hauer and Winterthorn were summoned, they conspired to hedge with partial truth. But I really don't know."

He cursed. "In a normal situation, I'da popped in on them, there'd be no chance to collude. What about their personalities?"

"Winterthorn's an excitable boy. My guess is nothing much shocks Hauer."

"Unflappable sociopath?"

"He's got the pretentiousness."

"Mr. Amateur Psychologist."

"Mile wide, inch deep," I said. "One day he can get his own talk show. Or run for office."

He laughed. Smoked, pulled out his cell, and punched in Claudia Hauer's number. The resulting conversation was brief, pleasant, ambiguous.