“According to talk, they shot each other,” Carp said. “They were found on a vacant lot near the river.”

Corey gazed past the little man. His lips scarcely moved as he said, “Do I know the people?”

“You know the people,” Carp said. “We both know the people. It was Mr. Macy and Mr. Lattimore.”

Corey kept gazing off to one side. He said to himself, you’re dealing with a manipulator. Whatever else he is, he’s a slick manipulator and I have a feeling this is gonna cost you some U.S. currency.

He heard Carp saying, “At present, my living quarters are on Marion Street.”

Corey blinked a few times. Marion Street was where the taxi had come to a stop and he’d climbed out and the headlights of the other car had come closer and closer.

“I’m a rather light sleeper,” Carp said. “The slightest noise and I’m awake. In this case it was the noise of an automobile. I came to the window and saw you getting out of the taxi. Then I saw the other car. Shall we have more coffee?”

Corey nodded. Carp called to Terese. She served the refills and went away. Then Carp said, “I watched it from the window, from the second floor. At first they just stood there and asked you some questions. Then Mr. Lattimore grabbed you and forced you to your knees and held you there while Mr. Macy went through your pockets. I’m relating this in detail so you’ll know I saw it as it happened.”

Corey spooned some sugar into his coffee. He stirred it very slowly.

The little man said, “What Mr. Macy took from your pockets was a pistol and some kind of identification card and a shiny metal object shaped something like a badge. I assume that’s what it was, a badge, a police badge.”

“You got good eyes,” Corey said. He was gazing down at the coffee cup. “You check them items from a second floor window, you got damn good eyes.”

“Of course I couldn’t read the printing on the card,” Carp said matter-of-factly. “You understand I’m only guessing it was an identification card. If I’m not mistaken, there were words stenciled diagonally across the card. Or maybe it wasn’t stenciling. Maybe the words were applied to the card with a rubber stamp.”

“That’s right,” Corey said. “The words were stamped.”

“I perceived two words,” Carp said. “Each word had five letters. From that distance I couldn’t make out the lettering.”

Corey kept looking down at the coffee cup.

Carp leaned very close. “What were the two words?”

“If I tell you, you’re in hot water,” Corey said. Then he looked at the little man. “I think you’re in hot water already.”

But Carp looked dry and cool and his tone remained matter-of-fact. “What were the two words?”

“Night Squad.”