Woolrich nodded. “I think my assistant’s point is simply that there are plenty of opportunities for you both if fieldwork doesn’t pan out. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” said Bayliss.

“Got it double,” said Nelson.

“We’re done here. Salzman, would you see them out?”

“My pleasure, sir.”

Salzman came from around the desk and held out a hand in the direction of the door. Bayliss and Nelson got up and followed the dead man.

“Just one more thing,” called Woolrich. The three of them stopped by the open door. “Which one of you punched me in my nether regions the other day?”

Bayliss and Nelson pointed at each other.

“Well, that clears that right up. Dismissed.”

As Salzman ushered them through the door he said, “See you crazy kids soon. I’ll bring the bone saw.”

Nelson turned to him. “You should really consider those teeth-whitening strips. I’m only mentioning it because we’re colleagues.”

Salzman winked at them the way a shark winks at a guppy before swallowing it and closed the office door.

Bayliss and Nelson walked to the elevator.

“Do you think he means it?” said Bayliss. “About the spiders and mooks?”

“Who? Captain Twitchy? Nah. He’s just trying to make his quota of diabolical prick points.”

“I could use a drink,” said Bayliss.

“I could use a brewery. Let’s get out of here.”

NINETEEN

FAST EDDIE SAT WITH HIS BACK TO THE WALL AT A table in a strip joint called La Belle Captive. Racer X and Harrison had been drinking shots with him for the past two hours. The name of the place made Racer X suspicious. He didn’t speak much French, but he was sure the word captive meant the same thing in every language. So far, the only thing captive had been his wallet, but he kept his eyes open for anything fishy.

Harrison seemed cool, but Racer X’s head swam. However, he refused to let on that he was drunk. He was afraid Fast Eddie might find another elevator shaft to push him into.

“It was a good job,” Eddie said. He’d been saying it every few minutes since they’d been at the club. Racer X noted that at first Eddie had been merely saying it. Now he was growling it like a bulldozer someone was running on meth instead of gasoline.

A pretty redhead in a cutoff Little Mermaid T-shirt sat down next to Racer X. “Hi. I’m Ariel,” she said.

“Ariel. That’s a pretty name,” Racer X said.

“Thanks! What’s your name?” said Ariel.

“His name is fuck off,” said Fast Eddie. “All our names are fuck off. So fuck off.”

Ariel shoved her chair back and stood. Racer X reached into his pocket with drunk numb fingers and handed her a twenty.

She looked at it and said, “Thanks. At least there’s one gentleman at this table.”