“The lady protesting too much?” he said. “If she is Barnett’s love-interest, questioning her further is only going to alert him. I’m gonna call the coroner about Nestor’s belongings, check out his dump on Shatto despite what Krug said. Anita was right about Krug. He doesn’t give a shit. I also know a Ramparts uniform who might be able to turn me on to some street junkies, maybe I’ll get lucky and find out Nestor blabbed to someone else. Better check into Jane Hannabee’s death, too. Big-time fun, huh?”

“Can you handle more complication?”

“What doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.”

“If Malley’s anger extends to everyone he perceives as having been on the boys’ side, and killing Rand rekindled his rage, the Daneys could be in jeopardy. If Malley was outside Rand’s window that night, he could’ve been spying on them as well.”

He thought about that. “Yeah, they should probably be warned, but it’s tricky. What if they go over to Malley’s place and try to talk things out? Being all spiritual and positive about basic human goodness and all that. If we’re right about what happened to Rand, heartfelt discussion with Cowboy Barnett is not a prescription for longevity.”

“Warn them not to have contact with him,” I said.

“Think I can compete with God?”

“Good point,” I said. “Cherish, especially, might try to talk things out. She fancies herself a therapist.”

“God bless the God-pushers. You like feel-good religion, Alex? Inherent blessedness of the human spirit, eternal forgiveness, the certainty of an afterlife where all is bright and airy?”

“Everyone needs comfort.”

He laughed angrily. “Give me that old-time religion, bro. And I ain’t talking rousing hymns and babbling in tongues. My childhood was nuns who smacked my hands raw and priests stoked by guilt and hellfire and blood sacrifice.”

“Blood sacrifice sells movies,” I said.

“Sells entire civilizations.”

“Optimism’s for wimps?”

“Hey, it’s great if you can swallow it,” he said. “Blind Faith 101.”

* * *

After dropping me back at my place, Milo leaned out the passenger window. “Has my resolute negativity brought you down? Because there’s something you can do for me while I’m up to my neck in Nestorania.”

“Sure.

“How about you warn the Daneys? Be psychologically sensitive and hold back if you sense they’re gonna do something stupid. And as long as we’re putting out warnings, what about the boys’ lawyers— talk about getting on Malley’s wrong side. Remember their names?”

“Sydney Weider for Troy, Lauritz Montez for Rand.”

“That just rolled off your tongue. The case stayed with you.”

“Until Rand called, I thought I’d forgotten about it.”

“So much for optimism, pal. Anyway, feel free to schmooze with them, too. I hate talking to lawyers.”

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 24

Monday, I called the Daneys’ home. No one answered, so I turned to Sydney Weider and Lauritz Montez.