‘Jesus Christ, I was only looking for two. I wouldn’t be chasing him for two if I could get him for thirty.’

Vincent said, ‘Yeah, I gathered that. What I want to know is who wants the thirty. And for what.’

‘Why should I know?’

Vincent said, ‘Because this isn’t a huge town, is it? How many people other than you are prepared to murder someone over a debt?’

‘Fuck you, it wasn’t me.’

‘Yeah, but you’re a friendly guy, right? You talk to people and you hear things. And I take it you and Lamar moved in a similar circle, or had folks in common. So who would he talk to about a job worth thirty million bucks?’

‘Yeah, look. I don’t know how many different ways I can say it: I don’t know what he was into. We don’t all go to … I don’t know, fucking knitting club or something, talk about what’s going on.’

‘Where’s Andre?’

‘Huh?’

Vincent showed his teeth, enunciating clearly: ‘Where. Is. Andre. Gutierrez?’

Sly waved vaguely. ‘At a clinic with dumbass. Getting his nose fixed.’

Vincent said, ‘I spoke to a US Marshal earlier—he told me Andre’s about the worst guy you could ever meet. Which makes me think Lamar being murdered is something that’s potentially in his orbit, if it’s not in yours. You follow?’

‘Not really.’

‘I’m saying that to pull off a triple-murder, you have to be an ice-cold piece of shit. And creatures like that are pretty rare, as I understand it. You know? How many of those guys are going to be in the same zip code on any given morning, and they’ve never heard of each other?’

‘Excuse me for having never fucking considered it.’

Vincent said, ‘You’re telling me you’re not involved, I guess that’ll have to do for now. But if Andre or Lou or your boy were part of it, or know what’s going on, you can let them know they’re on notice.’

Sly threw his head back and laughed. A big horseshoe of pink teeth. ‘Yeah? Great, I’ll pass that on. You come out here, get me while I’m playing a round, that’s one thing. But you think everyone’s going to stand in line while you teach them a lesson? Good luck to you, pal.’

Vincent said, ‘I never heard someone sound so confident with a broken nose. You know how I found you? Your wife told me where you are. I wouldn’t be so sure everyone’s got your back.’

‘Sure. Thanks for the valuable insight.’

Vincent said, ‘You’re going to be in the gun for this. In fact, there’s a patrol car outside your house right now.’

No answer. No sign of his buddies now, either. Maybe they’d figured it was best just to play the next hole.