Carp showed no reaction. It was as though he hadn’t heard it. He said, “I saw them putting you in the car. Then the car drove away. It occurred to me I wouldn’t see you around anymore. Then today I heard some talk that Mr. Macy and Mr. Lattimore have dispensed with each other. At any rate, that’s the accepted theory.”

Corey smiled lazily. He aimed the smile at the coffee cup. He sighed sadly. You feel sorry for Carp? he asked himself. You feel sorry for this little man because he knows too much? Or maybe you feel sorry for yourself. Could be this deal winds up with you the loser.

He heard Carp saying, “As to what actually happened, I have my own theory.”

“Let’s hear it,” Corey murmured, still smiling down at the coffee cup.

Carp said, “I don’t think Mr. Macy and Mr. Lattimore shot each other. I’m quite sure it didn’t happen that way. It’s my conclusion that you did the shooting.”

Corey widened the smile just a trifle. He gave Carp a side glance, then looked again at the coffee cup.

“I’m positive you did the shooting,” Carp said. “And yet, I must admit, I’m rather puzzled. It stands to reason you did it in self-defense, that’s one factor. The other factor is, you’re a policeman. It would seem that you’d report the matter. I’m wondering why you didn’t report it.”

“You wanna report it?”

“I can’t do that,” Carp said.

“Yes you can.” Corey gestured idly toward the pay phone on the wall near the door. “All you hafta do is make a call. Just ask for the police. Then tell them what you saw last night.”

“But I can’t do that,” Carp said solemnly. “It’s against my principles.”

“What principles?” The smile faded from Corey’s face. He turned and looked at the little man. “What are you giving me here?”

“I’m not an informer.”

“You’re not an informer providing you get paid to keep your mouth closed.”

Carp looked off to one side. “You embarrass me.”

“Yeah, I know. You feel awful about it. So what’s your price?”

Carp sighed heavily. “What a world we live in.”

“Come on. We’re talking business. What’s this gonna cost me?”

“Nothing,” Carp said. “Nothing at all.”

Corey winced. “Say what?”

The little man shrugged and said, “I was offering friendship and trust and confidence. Such things are priceless commodities. I thought perhaps you’d understand.”

“You gotta be kidding,” Corey frowned. “Or maybe I’m on another track. I just don’t get this line of talk.”