“That’s the consistent story,” Martinez said. “Believe me, I interviewed everyone in the back en español so no one can say they didn’t understand my questions. Between the whoops of the salsa music and the whir of the dishwashers, you can’t hear yourself think. Besides, you know Latinos. Especially the green-card holders. Close mouthed when it comes to the police. Half of them think we’re in cahoots with INS. Hard to get their confidence, hard to get them to talk. Especially the men. It’s a macho thing, a way they can play one up on us.”

Decker smoothed his mustache. “So Sparks was shot and carved and, supposedly, no one heard a thing.”

“It could be the truth. Maybe the guy used a silencer. Maybe he worked fast.”

“The more likely explanation is we’re working with more than one person.”

“Because of the dual MO.”

“Exactly,” Decker said. “Was there any cash in his wallet?”

“Few bucks in cash and his credit cards were still there. Either it was an incomplete mugging, maybe someone spooked the muggers. Or robbery wasn’t the motive.”

“Shit,” Decker muttered. “Be nice if we could have traced credit cards or something!” He cursed again. “What about the valets, Bert? Did they hear anything?”

“They park the cars in front of the restaurant, not in back.”

“Sound travels at night,” Decker said.

“The street’s a main thoroughfare at eight-thirty. Lots of cars with loud radios, backfires, and revved-up motors.”

Webster sauntered over to them, wearing a set of earphones. He removed them, stowed them in his pocket.

“What are you listening to?” Martinez asked.

“Selections from Saint-Saëns. Specifically, Danse Macabre. Eerily apropos.” He kicked a clod of broken asphalt with his shoe. “Not much in the way of trash, Loo-tenant. Y’all want me to search again, I reckon I have the time. Still got a Samson and Delilah CD to listen to.”

“Got another assignment for you two,” Decker said. “I’m sending you both out to New Chris to interview the staff there.”

Martinez said, “You want us to talk to everyone or just the people who Sparks worked with on a regular basis?”

Decker said, “Talk to everyone.”

“I see you don’t b’lieve in sleep,” Webster said.

“I’m not sleeping, buddy, you’re not sleeping.” Decker’s brain was buzzing. Too much coffee. “We have a gruesome murder and so far the only remote motive we’ve pulled out was an academic tiff between Sparks and one of his colleagues. That’s not much.”

Webster said, “It’s a start.”

“It ain’t enough,” Decker said emphatically. “I’m not saying we’ve got to solve this within the twenty-four-hour cutoff. But we got to do better than this. Sparks was known as a rich man. Could be some hospital worker intended to tail him and rob him. Find out who called in absent today.”