“I told you before … I’m not interested in guarding your body.”

He took a pack of twenties from his top desk drawer and counted them out. “Hundred dollars a night. All you have to do is get me into my apartment safe and sound. I’ll take it from there.”

Suddenly I saw the value of guarding Spiro. I’d be right there on the spot if Kenny actually did show up. I’d be in a position to wheedle information. And I could legally search through Spiro’s house every night. Okay, so along with all that I was selling out for the money, but hell, it could be worse. I could have sold out for fifty. “When do I start?”

“Tonight. I close up at ten. Get here five or ten minutes ahead.”

“Why me? Why don’t you get some big tough guy?”

Spiro put the money back in the drawer. “I’d look like a fag. This way people think you’re after my ass. Better for my image. Unless you keep wearing dresses like that. Then I might reconsider.”

Wonderful.

I left his office and caught sight of Morelli slouched against the wall next to the front door, hands shoved in pants pockets, clearly pissed off. He spotted me, and his expression didn’t change, but the rise and fall of his chest picked up. I plastered a phony smile on my face and breezed across the lobby to him, whisking out the door before Spiro had a chance to see us together.

“I see you got my message,” I said when we reached the truck, turning up the wattage on the smile.

“Not only did you steal my truck, but you parked it illegally.”

“You park illegally all the time.”

“Only when it’s official police business, and I have no other choice … or when it’s raining.”

“I don’t know why you’re upset. You wanted me to talk to Spiro. So that’s what I did. I came here and talked to Spiro.”

“For starters, I had to flag down a blue-and-white to get a ride over here. And more important, I don’t like you running around on your own. I want you in eyesight until we nail Mancuso.”

“I’m touched you’re worried about my safety.”

“Safety hasn’t got much to do with it, Skippy. You have an uncanny knack for running into people you’re looking for, and you’re completely inept at taking them down. I don’t want you screwing up another encounter with Kenny. I want to make sure I’m around next time you stumble across him.”

I settled onto the seat with a sigh. When you’re right, you’re right. And Morelli was right. I wasn’t totally up to speed as a bounty hunter.

We were silent for the ride back to my apartment. I knew these streets like I knew my own hand. Half the time, I drove them unconsciously, suddenly realizing I was in my parking lot, wondering how the devil I’d gotten there. Tonight I paid closer attention. If Kenny was out there, I didn’t want to miss him. Spiro had said Kenny was like smoke, that he lived in the shadows. I told myself this was a romanticized vision. Kenny was your everyday sociopath who went sneaking around thinking he was God’s second cousin.