Shakes all around. Banfer’s grip was a mite too firm, his arm remained stiff, his eyes wary. The smile he’d arrived with seemed glued to his face. “Pretty morning, eh?”

“Don’t imagine Beverly Hills would allow anything less, Counselor.”

Banfer chuckled. “You’d be surprised.” His suit was the same dark gray we’d seen yesterday, a slightly shiny silk-and-wool. His shirt was a TV blue spread-collar, his tie a pink Hermès patterned with bugles. Fifty to fifty-five, with thin, wavy hair tinted brown and throwing off red highlights the way men’s dyed hair often does, he radiated an odd mix of good cheer and anxiety. As if he enjoyed being on edge.

Milo motioned to the space we’d created between us on the bench.

Banfer said, “Mind if we walk? That piece of shit they call art makes me queasy and any chance to exercise is welcome.”

“Sure.”

The three of us headed west. The granite pathways are supposed to resist dust but Banfer’s black wingtips turned gray within seconds. Every few yards, he managed to wipe the shoes on the back of his trousers without breaking step. At Crescent Drive we paused until cross-traffic cleared. A helmeted bicyclist rounded the corner and sped toward us and Banfer had to step to the right to avoid collision.

“Totally illegal,” he said, still smiling. “No bikes allowed. Want to chase him down and give him a ticket, Lieutenant?”

Milo hadn’t told Banfer his rank. Banfer did his homework.

“Above my pay grade, Counselor.”

Banfer chuckled again. “So why did I ask for this meeting?”

He paused, as if really expecting an answer.

Milo and I kept walking.

Banfer said, “First off, thanks for being accommodating, got a tough week, if not now, it would have to wait.”

“Happy to oblige, Mr. Banfer. What’s on your mind?”

“Floyd’s fine. Okay, let me start with a given: Jack Weathers is a good man.”

Milo didn’t answer.

Banfer said, “You kind of scared him, popping in like that.”

“Not my intention.”

Banfer picked up his pace. “Be that as it may, Lieutenant, here’s the thing: Jack and Daisy are good people, run a good business, perform a good service—did you know they used to be in the Industry? Small screen mostly, Jack played music and acted, did a whole bunch of Hawaii Five-O’s, some Gunsmoke, couple of Magnums. Daisy was on Lawrence Welk for years. Then Jack did real estate out in the Valley and Daisy did some dance teaching, she was a dancer before she was an actress, performed with Martha Graham, knew Cyd Charisse, I’m talking talent.”

“Impressive,” said Milo.

“I’d say.”

Several more steps. A group of younger Persian women glided past, trim in black velour, wearing pearls and diamonds, listening to iPods.