Gurney took a slow sip from his mug. “The cemetery sequence will do a couple of things. It establishes the point at which Carl was hit, and the obstructed angle from the apartment window to that position will undermine the police scenario for the source of the shot. And the fact that the video was in police hands from the beginning—Klemper’s hands—will support a charge of evidence suppression.” He fell silent, unsettled for a moment by the memory of his conversation with Klemper at Riverside Mall.

He saw Kyle watching him curiously and went on. “The street sequence is useful in a couple of ways—for what it shows and what it doesn’t show. The simple fact that it doesn’t show Kay Spalter entering the building would have made it an important piece of exculpatory evidence for the defense. So, at the very least, it supports serious charges of evidence suppression and police misconduct.”

“So … how come you don’t sound happier?”

“Happier?” Gurney hesitated. “I guess I’ll be happier when we get closer to the end point.”

“What is the end point?”

“I’d like to know what really happened.”

“You mean, find out who killed Carl?”

“Yes. That’s the thing that really matters. If Kay is innocent, then someone else wanted Carl dead, planned it, and hired Panikos to accomplish it. I want to know who that was. And the little assassin who pulled the trigger? So far he’s managed to kill nine other people in the process—not counting the scores of people he’s killed before, always managing to walk away and do it again. I’d rather he didn’t walk away this time.”

“How close do you think you are to stopping him?”

“Hard to say.”

Kyle’s intelligent, inquisitive gaze remained fixed on him, in evident expectation of a better answer. As Gurney was reaching for one and finding it elusive, he was reprieved by the ring of his cell phone.

It was Hardwick. As usual, the man didn’t waste time saying hello. “Got your message about the video-phone thing with Jonah Spalter. Where the hell is he?”

“I have no idea. But his willingness to have a conversation this way is better than nothing. You want to come here at eight instead of nine, be part of it?”

“Nine’s the best I can do. Same with Esti. But we both have a deep and abiding faith in your interview skills. You have the software to record the call?”

“No, but I can download it. You have any specific questions you’d like me to ask?”

“Yeah. Ask him if he hired the hit on his brother.”

“Great idea. Any other advice?”

“Yeah. Don’t fuck it up. See you at nine.”

Gurney slipped the phone back in his pocket.

Kyle cocked his head curiously. “What do you need to download?”