“Some people figure you’re all like that.”

Leland grinned. “Come on. He’s going to wish he’d been hit by a truck.”

The reporters and photographers saw them before they reached the bottom of the stairs. Flashbulbs began to shoot off. Leland took a breath. “Save that stuff for later. You know Captain Richardson, I think.”

Some of the men nodded. “Do you have a statement, Lieutenant?”

“Was I supposed to?” he asked. “When they made me press officer they didn’t tell me I’d have to do that.”

A few smiled. “You are handling the news releases, then,” one said.

“Just as I’m doing now. Questions and answers. There’ll be no releases as you know them. We don’t have men or time for that.”

“Who gave the orders, Lieutenant, if you don’t mind?”

“I’ve been on top of the case from the start,” he said, evading the question. “The decision was made on the theory that you people would be most interested in the murder.”

“How do you feel about Davis’ charge that you’re being used as a shield?”

“I’m giving the information, not concealing it.”

“Is the Department concealing evidence?”

“For the moment, of course it is. It’s intelligent police work. When the time comes, we’ll reveal what we have.”

“Davis says that the trip to Lake Wokoma was a smoke-making expedition.”

“The trip to Wokoma was confidential. Davis did our case a disservice by revealing it at this time.” He wanted to draw the reporters into asking about Friday night. “There’s more to police work than flashing around a badge.”

One was caught. “Why was Davis there on Friday night?”

“He was buffing.”

“Buffing, did you say?”

“That’s what I said. Buffing.”

“A buff is a fellow who hangs around the police, isn’t he?” one of them asked.

“That’s right,” Leland said.

“You disapprove of buffing?”

Now Leland had his chance. “Oh, no. We have buffs here at the Fifth all the time. They run errands, get cigarettes and coffee and so forth, and generally make themselves helpful.”

“Can we quote?”

“What are you here for?”

One of the reporters wanted to play the game. “Did you send Mr. Davis out for coffee?”

Leland grinned. “Oh, no. We were too busy.”

Another reporter cut short the laughter. “What’s the progress on the case?”

“Considerable. We have to keep it confidential. I’m certain that there’ll be something for you in the next forty-eight to seventy-two hours.”

“Nothing now, though?”

“Sorry,” Leland said.

“Has the Commissioner or the Mayor spoken to you about the case?”

“The line of responsibility isn’t changed in this case. I answer to Captain Richardson. He’s my boss. He has his superiors, and so forth.”

“Did you speak with the Commissioner, Captain?”

“A table of organization is available at headquarters,” Leland said.

“Perhaps I wasn’t heard—” the reporter started.