"Sure, cover your ass. But walk quickly. I've been here since six a.m., which is an hour after Weinberg woke me up and gave me my orders. Morning's aren't my fun time. This particular morning, my knee's being a nasty bitch. So what I'm gonna do right now is go for a nice, loose walk and when I get back, I strongly prefer to see you the hell out of here so I can get the hell out of here and do the job they officially pay me for."

Favoring me with a contemptuous glance. "Be careful, Doctor."

We watched him stride off, limping slightly.

I said, "Who'd he play for?"

"U. Nevada, didn't make the big-time."

"What do they officially pay him for?"

"He used to work Sex Crimes. Now he pushes paper and attends meetings."

"And occasionally plays watchman."

"Funny 'bout that."

We continued toward the green house.

I said, "If it's all so hush-hush how'd you get the chief to approve me?"

"I'll answer that once you're approved."

The bungalow's front porch creaked under our weight. A hummingbird feeder dangling from the overhang was empty and dry. Milo pulled out a tagged key and unlocked the door and we stepped into a small, dim living room. Blank space atop a TV table.

I said, "Her video gear's at the lab?"

Nod.

"Where was the DVD found?"

"Stuck in the middle of a stack of her favorite movies. Or so the file claims."

"Creighton didn't mention it."

"Like I said, it got messengered."

"By who?"

"Guy in a suit."

"And a badge?"

"That, too."

I said, "Any explanation?"

"A note in the envelope said it was found in a stack of the victim's DVDs."

"But not cataloged as evidence."

"Funny 'bout that."

"Who took the initial call?"

"Two North Hollywood D's who have absolutely nothing to say to me."

"Are you planning to tell me what got the gears grinding?"

"It wasn't her," he said. "They couldn't care less about her. That's the point, Alex."

I said, "The suspects are the point. Where they're employed."

"You never heard that from me."

"A school has that much clout?"

"It does when the right people's kids are enrolled. You ever have patients from Windsor Prep?"

"A few."

"Any pattern you'd care to share?"

"Affluent, attractive kids. For the most part, bright, but under lots of pressure academically, athletically, and socially. In other words, no different from any other prep school."

"This case makes it real different."

"Because of one student in particular."

Silence.

"College applications go in soon," I said. "Here's a wild guess: The chief has a kid aiming for the Ivy League."

He shoved a coarse shock of hair off his brow. Fuzzy light advertised every pock and knot on his face. "I never heard that from you."

"Son or daughter?"

"Son," he said. "Only child. Another Einstein, according to his mommy, the Virgin Mary."

"Talk about a mixed metaphor."