“We’re good,” Lester said. He stepped away from the wall and shrugged the tension out of his neck and shoulders. “And one thing. You don’t ever put hands on me again. Clear?”

“Clear. Let’s walk.”

They hustled toward Hillside Avenue, Lester matching Ted’s longer strides.

“The file’s a dead end. It was signed out to Barbara Miller. She’s in her nineties. I very much doubt that she was down in the records room today destroying her own case file.”

Lester nodded. “I talked to the guards. They said anybody could walk out with a bunch of loose pages. All they check for is the blue folder. And I don’t think they’re too careful about that either. They ask to look in briefcases, backpacks, and bags, but anyone could tuck a case file down their pants and walk out with it.”

“Whoever did this was smart. She must have used Barbara Miller’s ID. If we hadn’t shown up, that file would have gone into the stacks with nobody checking it. It might never have been discovered.”

“You’d think all those records would be scanned and kept online,” Lester said.

A semi with a long trailer was trying to make the turn and had traffic blocked in all directions. Lester marched into the intersection, holding up one hand to part the waters. Ted stayed close on his heels. Whatever juju was keeping Lester from getting run over might not extend to a lagging follower.

“Where we going?” Lester asked when they had landed safely on the far corner.

“Down the block,” Ted said, pointing toward a strip of storefronts. “It’s always about money. Property records are all online because there’s real money involved. Civil case proceedings? Nobody cares. That’s why I’m able to make a buck at this. If it was all on the web, anybody could do it.”

“Are those the only records? No copies?”

“The lawyers would keep files,” Ted said.

“How do we get a look at them, then?”

Ted imagined calling Jacqueline Clavette and begging to dig through her files. “Not gonna happen.”

“So what will you do?”

He weighed the question. He owed no one a thing. Not Cheryl, not the cop, and not Richie. He could walk away and feel no responsibility. That was the smart move. But someone had taken a big chance just to hide information. He had a strong urge to kick the hornet’s nest.

“We follow the money.”

-9-

-9-

They took a table in the Dominican restaurant on Hillside. It was early for the lunch crowd; the waiter was setting tables. Ted ordered coffee. Lester asked for a screwdriver.

“Just a little something for the arthritis. And go easy on the OJ. I’ve got to watch my sugar.”

Ted opened his iPad and began to search. “Give me the address on one of Miller’s properties. Any one. Or block and lot if it’s there.”