“Of course not. Do you think I would order a detective to fuck somebody in the line of duty?”

She thought about it for a moment. “I guess not.”

“That would be very unprofessional, even if it was a good idea in the context of the thing.”

“Are you saying, unofficially, that it might be a good idea for me to fuck him?”

“Are you wearing a wire or something?”

“No, Boss.”

“That sounds like the kind of question somebody who was wearing a wire would ask.”

“I’m not. You want to search me?”

“We’re not going there, Detective. All I’m saying is that you have a certain amount of personal discretion in how you handle this. Suffice it to say, if you’re ever asked in court whether you fucked him, the answer had better be an emphatic no. Never mind what Daltry says.”

“I think I get the picture.”

“Good. Just remember that I ordered you never to fuck him.”

“You did? I missed that.”

“Well, I’m ordering you now, just in case you’re ever asked about that in court.”

“Got it.”

“You’re going to need to wear a wire.”

“All right.”

“The new equipment is very good: hard to detect and it works like a charm.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“You can actually wear the microphone in your hair, in a whatayacallit.”

“A barrette?”

“Yeah, that. Or even glued to your scalp, under your hair.”

“So, even if I took all my clothes off, I would still be wired?”

“That’s an extreme example, but yes.”

“What is it we want to learn about Daltry? Whether he had the woman killed?”

“Somehow I don’t think he’s going to confess to you. What we want to know is who he got to do it. The guy cut off this woman’s head in a fit of rage, and that doesn’t square with a hired pro. Maybe it’s somebody who’s Daltry’s friend, or something. We’re looking for suspects so we can work their alibis and see who was available to run out to New Jersey and commit this heinous act.”

“How soon do I start?”

“Just as soon as you’ve researched Daltry.”

“I can do that in a few minutes, on the Internet.”

“Okay, this evening, then.”

“What am I going to have for backup?”

“I’m putting four detectives on this. Who’s your partner? I forget.”

“Bernstein.”

“And what’s your last name again?”

“Bernstein.”

“You’re not married to your partner, are you?”

“Nope. No relation.”

“Okay, Bernstein and four other detectives.”

“Do I get to choose?”

“I get to choose.”

“Who do you choose, Boss?”

“You get started on the Internet thing, and I’ll see who doesn’t have enough work to do.”

“Can I make a request?”

“Maybe.”

“Can I have another woman as one of the four?”

“Why?”