Rawlings called shortly after I got home. “Just wanted to hear your sweet voice, Ms. W. Make sure you hadn’t fallen under a semi or something. I tried reaching you yesterday, but didn’t put out an APB—figured if you were dead your corpse would keep another day.”

“I went out of town,” I said, annoyed to find myself offering an explanation. “It’s been almost three days since anyone tried to kill me. Life is getting dull. I kind of like the squad cars, though. I never thought the sight of a blue-and-white would cheer me so much.”

“I figure a classy dame like you expects presents, Ms. W., and since I can’t afford diamonds I gotta offer you what I have. How about dinner tomorrow?”

I laughed a little. “How about Wednesday? I’m going to be working late tomorrow.”

He was busy Wednesday. We settled on Friday, at Costa del Sol, a Mexican place on Belmont just west of the yuppie fringe. “If your work tomorrow involves taking on armed punks and you’re not telling me about it, I’m going to be just a little peeved,” he added.

I felt an unexpected spurt of anger, but tried to speak temperately. “I appreciate the squad cars and the concern, Sergeant, but I’m not turning my life over to you. If that’s the exchange, I’d rather take my chances on the street.” Temperateness and I apparently don’t mix too well.

“Is that how it looks to you, Vic?” He sounded surprised. “I’m a cop. And however much I like you, I don’t want civilians in the line of fire—it makes police work ten times harder. I also get cold chills when I think about someone climbing a ladder to your window and breaking in as cool as ice.”

“It gives me cold chills, too, but I’m taking care of the situation. Anyway, I’m a civilian—I don’t like cops telling me how to do my job. Besides, for a week you guys wouldn’t believe there was a line of fire out there. Now I’ve proved it to you, you want me to pack up and go home. Maybe cops and PI’s shouldn’t get so friendly together.” I regretted the last sentence as soon as it left my mouth.

“Unh. Low blow, Ms. W. Low blow. I don’t see that our work has to be in conflict, but maybe you do.”