Part 12 (1/2)

”Yes, sir.”

”It seems to me the first thing we need is the tapes. How are they coming?”

”Slowly and painfully.”

Weisbach chuckled.

”Captain Sabara said you were working on them late last night.”

”Yes, sir.”

”How would you like some more overtime, Detective Payne?”

”I'm very much afraid the inspector means tonight,” Matt said.

”Other plans, Matt? Unbreakable?”

”No, sir. I can go out there. But, Inspector, I can't finish them tonight.”

”Maybe we can come up with something tomorrow. Get you some help. But the more I could have before the meeting tomorrow, the better.”

”Yes, sir. I'll go out there and do what I can.”

”I appreciate it, Matt. Maybe I can make it up to you.”

”I'll do what I can, sir.”

”Thank you, Matt. See you in the morning.”

”Yes, sir.”

Matt put the telephone back in its cradle.

”s.h.i.+t!” he said.

His doorbell sounded.

”Now what?”

He had an intercom, but it was less trouble to go down the stairs and open the door than to use it, and he did so.

The two men he had seen in the lobby were standing there.

”Matthew Payne?” the taller one said.

Matt nodded.

”I'm Special Agent Jernigan of the FBI, and this is Special Agent Leibowitz.” He showed Matt his identification, then went on: ”We'd like to talk to you. May we come in?”

”Talk to me about what?”

”May we come in?”

”Talk to me about what?” Matt repeated.

”If you don't mind, Mr. Payne, we'll ask the questions,” Special Agent Jernigan said.

”What is this, some sort of a joke?” Matt asked, aware that his temper was simmering just below the surface.

”I a.s.sure you, this is not a joke.”

”Ask your questions,” Matt said.

”Is Miss Susan Reynolds in your apartment?”

”I don't see how that's any of your business, but no, she's not.”

”We'll decide what's our business, if you don't mind.”

”And I will decide whether or not I'll answer your questions, if you don't mind.”

”You understand, of course, Mr. Payne, that interfering with a federal investigation is a crime?”

”I heard that somewhere. But I also heard that declining to answer questions is not considered interfering with an investigation. I think they call that the Fifth Amendment.”

”We understand, Mr. Payne,” Agent Leibowitz said, ”that you were with Miss Reynolds last night?”

Matt understood when Leibowitz spoke that Leibowitz was the senior agent of the two, and that Leibowitz had opened his mouth only because he understood that Agent Jernigan and the interviewee had developed a personality conflict that would interfere with the interview.

”Yes, I was,” Matt said.

”Would you mind telling us where you went with her when you left the Nesbitt residence together?”

”I did not leave the Nesbitt residence with anyone,” Matt said.

Christ, have these guys been talking to Daffy? What the h.e.l.l is this all about?

”We believe you did,” Agent Leibowitz said.

”Frankly, I don't care if you believe in the Easter Bunny,” Matt said. ”I'm telling you I left the Nesbitt residence alone, and that's absolutely the last thing I'm going to tell you until you tell me what this is all about.”

”I don't understand your hostility, frankly, Mr. Payne,” Leibowitz said. ”You have something against the FBI?”

”Some of my best friends are FBI agents, but I don't think I would want my sister to marry one,” Matt said.

Matt saw that Agent Jernigan's face had grown red. And that pleased him.

”Where are you employed, Mr. Payne?” Jernigan asked, somewhat menacingly.

”I don't think you're supposed to be asking any more questions, are you? Didn't Agent Leibowitz take over the interview?”