“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.” She turned pink. “I mean, I love spending time with you, but I know you’re busy and I don’t like to bother you—”

“You’re never a bother. What did you find?”

“Travis has a MyFace profile under his nom de rap.” She looked down at her notes. “He has several of them: Rated-X. Travis-X, X Marks the Spot, or plain X. I downloaded whatever songs he uploaded. I thought maybe there’s something in his lyrics that I would find interesting. He’s really hard to understand. It took me a long time and slowing down the speed to get them all down.”

She handed him several pieces of paper.

“Look at number three, second paragraph: ‘All Bets Are Off.’”

“Which one?”

“‘All Bets Are Off’: paragraph three.”

Decker read the doggerel to himself.

Take it all, take it all, that’s my philoso-phy

This whole fuckin’ world ain’t got integri-ty

So mess up the ho’ with the beasti-al-ity

It’s me for all and it’s all for me

Like music and the crime—the shit of B and E

You grab it for yourself and fuck etern-ity.

“Charming. What am I looking for?”

“Look at line five, Daddy. Like the music and the crime—the shit of B and E. Not just the crime of B and E. The music and the crime—the shit of B and E. Maybe I’m reading too much into it because I want to, but maybe he’s not just talking about breaking and entering.”

Decker said, “Banks and Ekerling.”

“Maybe you should see Marilyn Eustis again.”

“She knows that Travis Martel and Geraldo Perry were arrested for the murder. She told police she didn’t know either one of them.”

“Maybe she doesn’t know them, but it could be that there’s something in Ekerling’s files about them.”

“I’m sure the police went over his files. Besides, from what she told me, Ekerling didn’t produce a lot of rap.” Decker regarded the rap words again. “But it is worth another look. Thanks for the tip. Did you relay this information to Garrett and Diaz?”

“Not yet. I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, especially because you seem to be doing a good job of that. Besides, you’re the one investigating homicides. Me? I’m a peon in GTA. And maybe B and E is just breaking and entering. Still, I’m passing it on to you. If you want to pursue it, fine.”

Decker said, “It’s worth a second look.”

“That’s what I thought. If it goes anywhere, you can pass it on to Garrett and Diaz so there won’t be any hard feelings.”

“Absolutely. Thanks, Cynthia, you’re thinking like a pro.”