Decker stifled a smile and brought back two cups of coffee. A moment later, McKay’s counsel emerged from the room. Oscar Beltran was Hispanic, in his early thirties, and had been with the Public Defender’s Office for the last five years. Decker nodded to the rookie, and the kid turned to go back inside the interview quarters.

“Position yourself near the exit,” Decker said.

The kid nodded and closed the door behind her.

Eyes upon the young patrol officer, Beltran said, “They keep making them younger.”

Decker said, “What are you complaining about? You’re not exactly an old fart.”

“I feel like an old fart,” Beltran said. “Must be the job.”

“It’s defending all those psychos, Oscar,” Pomerantz said.

Beltran laughed. “Everybody’s entitled to representation, Counselor.”

“Ain’t that lucky for old Leek McKay,” Pomerantz said.

“Kurt, you’re after the wrong person,” Beltran said. “McKay’s small time—a petty criminal.”

“Ain’t no petty criminals, Counselor,” Decker said. “Just petty crimes.”

“Are we going to dance, or are we going to talk?” Beltran said. “Without McKay, you don’t have anyone for the Booker murder. We all know that, so let’s not putz around.”

“Putz?” Decker smiled. “I like your Spanish.”

“In deference to you, Sergeant,” Beltran said.

Pomerantz said, “We’ve got a phone call from the hospital to McKay, Oscar. It doesn’t look good for your man.”

“Kurt,” Beltran said, “you don’t have a case with a phone call!”

“Au contraire,” Pomerantz said. “I think we can make a good one.”

“Fine,” Beltran said. “Make your case, and I’ll see you in court.”

Decker said, “Oscar, we know that I can get Golden Valley Home for the Aged to press a multitude of embezzlement and fraud charges against your client. And they’d stick like glue. Either way, McKay’s going to get charged.”

“Big difference between embezzlement and accessory to murder,” Beltran said.

Pomerantz said, “Murder and kidnapping—”

“Murder only. He doesn’t know shit about the kidnap—”

“So you say,” Pomerantz broke in.

Beltran said, “You want to play poker, I’ll call your bluff. Take what you’ve got to court.”

“Fine, I’ll call Golden Valley.” Decker looked at Pomerantz. “Let’s go for time, Kurt. I think we can get one to three—”

Beltran said, “Who’s pleading this, Kurt? You or him?”

“The man used to be a lawyer,” Pomerantz said. “Old habits are hard to break.”

“C’mon,” Beltran said, “you want to let loose a nutcase like Tandy Roberts, boys? I don’t think so. You want her running around doing mischief when she should be in treatment? I don’t think so. And without my boy McKay, you don’t have anything on her!”

Pomerantz said, “Bottom line: What will you buy?”

“Everything dropped in exchange for cooperation. And I mean everything. No embezzlement, no accessory, no payback, no community service—”