“We kept in touch. At first we couldn’t get together like we wanted to. But later, when they took me off parole, we rented this crib. That is, Ernie pays the rent with the money we give him—”

“But what if the owner walks in?”

Kingsley appeared puzzled for a moment. Then he chuckled softly. “I see what you mean. She told you it was Grogan’s property. She hadda tell you that. Fact is, it’s one of the few houses in the neighborhood that don’t belong to Grogan.”

“And that notice on the front door? No Trespassing?”

“From a door across the street. I made the switch after I got the phone call from Gene. He spotted you on Addison. So then I give Lita some instructions—”

“Very neat,” Corey murmured. “Except there’s one thing I don’t get. I mean, all this engineering with Lita, sending her out to put the flim-flam on me. What made you think it would pay off? Or lemme put it this way—what gave you the idea I had the information you wanted?”

“Lita tipped me,” Kingsley said. “That is, she told me something that put some thoughts in my head. She told me what she saw today. Grogan sitting in his car, and then he opens the door for you. The car pulls away and an hour later it comes back and you’re still in it with Grogan. Real chummy. So during that hour you weren’t just talking about the weather. He musta been telling you what he didn’t feel like telling you last night, when Lita was listening upstairs. Because last night he wasn’t sure he could trust you. But today, for some reason, you’re more than just another name on the payroll and it’s buddy-buddy. He lets you get in that elegant Spanish car. I don’t hafta tell you, he’s very particular about who rides with him in that car. So I’m adding two and two and getting four, telling myself that Grogan rates you high enough to give you all the facts—to tell you what’s in the jackpot and where the jackpot is stashed.”

Corey pretended a look of wonder. He injected pure amazement in his slow-spoken words, “Kingsley, you’re a wizard. I mean that very seriously.”

Delbert Kingsley turned his head and looked at Gene and Ernie. “Didja hear that?” And then, louder, “Didja hear what he said?”