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"Oh, come on," she said "You don't have to do that"

I tucked the money into her hand "The client can afford it," I said

"Well…" She closed her fingers around the bills "Actually, that was fun Not asyou and your wife on a South Seas cruise, though Be sure and call o someplace wonderful"

"I will"

"Or even Omaha," she said

"The client can afford it,' " TJ said "Thought we didn't have a client"

"We don't"

" 'Social engineering' What you did is you used a co, it was soers on the keys"

"I suppose that's one way to put it"

"Let's see the lists," he said "See how ot"

"Mr A Johnson," I said "Fleest Express fro planes in Milwaukee He flew back to Philadelphia on the uess is cash"

"You think it's hiht up there with Smith and Jones"

"Thafs true"

" 'Cordin' to Phyllis, you got to show ID to get on a plane"

"They've tightened up all their security measures"

"Case you a terrorist," he said, "they want to make sure it's really you They probably do the same when you buy the ticket, if you payin' cash Ask for ID"

I nodded "Same with a check, but then they alant proof of identity for a check Of course, it's not that hard to get ID"

"Store right on the Deuce, print up all kinds of shit Student ID, Sheriff cards Wouldn't onna look too hard at it if you're behind the counter at the airlines?"

"Especially if the custoed white ets you through," he agreed

"And the ID itimate," I said "Maybe he had a client na on to a driver's license for some poor bastard ouldn't need it while he was locked up in Green Haven"

He scratched his head "We got a name of a dude flew to O ht him in," Joe Durkin said "This is the very h and low for I'll ask him a few questions soon as I remember where I put my rubber hose"

"Bet I knohere it's at," TJ said "You want, I help you look for it"

Durkin grinned and gave hi with my friend here?" he de crack and uys were dedicated Seven days a week, fifty-teeks a year, soothing the emotional pain of the public Turns out you coast just like everybody else"

"Hell yes," TJ said "I didn't want to do nothin' but work all the tiain for me, will you? Po-leese"

"Po-leese"

"Jesus, I love it when you talk dirty Matt, I don't knohat gives me the idea, but somehow I think you're here for a reason"

We were in the squad room at Midtown North, on West Fifty-fourth Street I took a chair and explained what I wanted while TJ went over to the board and thuh a sheaf of Wanted flyers

"When you find one with your picture on it," Joe advised hiraph it for ht You want me to call the Omaha police and ask them to check hotel records for some zip named Johnson"

"I'd appreciate it," I said

"You'd appreciate it In a tangible way, do you suppose?"

"Tangible Yes, I suppose I-"

"I like that word," he said "Tangible It ives rise to a question Why don't you reach out and touch soht? The Hilton?"

"That's the place to start I'm not positive that's where he stayed, but-"

"But you'd start there Why didn't you? Use their eight hundred nuain"

"I called," I said "I didn't get anywhere"

"You identify yourself as a police officer?"

"That's illegal" He gave iven that iood"

"Since when did you beco a little information out of a desk clerk?" He looked at the slip of paper in front of him "Omaha," he said "What the hell ever happened in Omaha?" He looked at me "Jesus Christ," he said

"Not Him personally," TJ put in, "but this dude who said he was real tight with Hiuy What was his name?"