“Had no idea they was cops,” Burgess said again, scratching under his cap. “That one never would have entered my mind. They come on board all in black, and red and blue, like Batman and Robin. And next thing Batman’s kicked the fool out of the little bastard and’s about to blow his fucking brains all over my bus while Robin cuffs ’im. Ho-ly smoke.” He shook his head, as if he’d seen a vision. “And that’s the po-lice chief. That’s what I heard. Can you believe it?”

By five P.M., the story was in the bag and destined for 1-A above the fold. Brazil had already seen the headline in the composing room:

POLICE CHIEF AND DEPUTY FOIL ABDUCTION OF BUS
BATMAN AND ROBIN IN HEELS?

West got a preview a little later when Brazil, in uniform, hopped in her car for another night out on the town. He was full of himself and thought this story was his best yet. He was thrilled over what Hammer and West had pulled off, almost wanted their autographs, or a poster of the two of them to hang in his room.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” West exclaimed again as they sped along South Boulevard not going anywhere in particular. “You didn’t have to put in the Batman shit.”

“Yes I did,” Brazil insisted, his mood sinking like the sun as his world got dark and stormy. “It was a quote. It’s not like I made it up.”

“Fuck.” West would be the laughingstock of the entire department tomorrow. “Goddamn son-of-a-bitch.” She lit a cigarette, imagining Goode laughing.

“This is an ego thing.” Brazil didn’t like his work criticized and could take but just so much of it. “You’re just pissed because you don’t like being a sidekick, Robin instead of Batman, because it reminds you of your real situation. You aren’t Batman. She is.”

West gave him a look that was heat-seeking, like a missile. He would not survive this night and probably should have remained silent.

“I’m just being honest,” he added. “That’s all.”

“Oh yeah?” She launched another look. “Well, let me tell you honest for a minute. I don’t give a flying fuck what someone quotes to you, okay? You know what quotes like that are called in the real world? They’re called bullshit. They’re called perjury, hearsay, impeaching a witness, slander, dis-fucking-respect.”

“How do you spell that last one? I guess it’s hyphenated?” Brazil was trying not to laugh and pretending to take notes as West gestured with her cigarette and got increasingly ridiculous.

“Point is, just because someone says something, Sherlock, doesn’t mean it’s gospel, worth repeating, worth printing. Got it?”

He nodded with mock seriousness.

“And I don’t wear high heels and don’t want anybody thinking I do,” she added.

“How come?” he asked.

“How come what?”

“You don’t want people thinking it,” he said.

“I don’t want people thinking about me, period.”

“How come you don’t ever wear high heels. Or skirts?” He wasn’t going to let her duck him.