"Guy named Harry Smith," Jesse said. f "Never heard of him," Suitcase Simpson said.

"Said he's buying property on Stiles Island, told me he wanted to get a feel for the town before he commits."

Suitcase shrugged.

"So. That makes sense. Guy's gonna lay out big bucks, wants to know he's in the right place."

"Maybe."

"What else?"

Suitcase was a big round kid with blond hair and red cheeks.

He'd been a tackle on the Paradise High School team. He was ten years younger than Jesse and smarter than you thought he'd be.

"I don't know," Jesse said.

"I felt like I was getting hustled."

"What'd he say?"

"He asked about crime and how many policemen we had and how Stiles Island Security tied in with us."

"You think he's going to pull a job, and before he does, he comes and, like, checks with the chief of police?" Suitcase said.

"Doesn't seem likely, does it?"

"Nope."

Jesse let his swivel chair back and put his feet up on the desk and looked out the window at the desultory traffic on Summer Street.

"When I was working South Central," Jesse said, "some of the gang bangers would see you parked on the street, and they'd come over and talk with you. Buddy-buddy like, couple of cops, couple of robbers passing the time."

"In L.A.?"

"In L.A."

"Why would they do that?" Suitcase said.

"I'd figure they hated cops."

"They did, and they didn't," Jesse said.

"We were how they knew what they were, if you follow what I'm saying."

"You were what?" Suitcase said.

"They were the other side of us. We were the law tough guys;

they were the outlaw tough guys. They kind of flirted with us."

"Flirted?"

"Like a woman," Jesse said, "who wants you to be interested in her, but probably won't go to bed with you."

"Like a cock-teaser," Suitcase said.

"Like that," Jesse said.

"Want us to know they were bad. Didn't want us to catch them at it."

"And you're saying Harry Smith is a cock-teaser?"

Jesse grinned.

"Talking to him reminds me of talking to those gang bangers

"He's letting you know he's bad?" Suitcase said.

"He might be," Jesse said.

"Why would he do that?"

"Maybe he likes foreplay," Jesse said.

"Foreplay?"

"Some bad guys are bad guys because they like the action. They get excited by the danger of being a bad guy. And it gets more exciting if you make it more dangerous. Not getting caught is even more fun if you almost get caught."

"Jesus, Jesse, sometimes you get these theories..."

"You know any compulsive gamblers?"

"Every cop knows a compulsive gambler," Suitcase said.

"They get in trouble."

"Right, what is it they like about gambling."

"The action?"

"And what creates the action?"

"I don't know."

"What makes gambling a gamble?" Jesse said.

Suitcase stared at him, concentrating. Jesse waited. Then Suitcase's wide pink face relaxed a little.

"That you might lose."

"That's it. You get it about the gang bangers and Smith?"

"Yeah. If he's that way. I mean, you're the chief, Jesse, and I'm just a patrolman..."

"Senior investigative patrolman," Jesse said.

"Yeah, sure, but whatever, but maybe Mr. Smith is just worried about the security of his real estate investment."

"Maybe he is," Jesse said.

"Let's see if we can find out."

Jesse handed Suitcase a pink telephone message slip. There were numbers written on the back.

"When Smith left here," Jesse said, "his wife picked him up in a car with those plates on it. Why don't you run them down."

Suitcase took the slip and folded it into his shirt pocket.

"If he's buying real estate on Stiles," Suitcase said, "he must be doing business with one of the brokers."

"Marcy Campbell," Jesse said.

"I saw her with him and his wife at the regatta dance."

"You know I never been to one of them?"

"I'll get you a paid detail for the next one," Jesse said.

"See what you're missing."

"Want me to talk to Mrs. Campbell too?"

"No, I'll do that."

Suitcase did a small double take.

"Something going on, Jesse?"

Jesse smiled.

"What makes you think so?" Jesse said.

"Just something about how you said that so quick," Suitcase said.

"You tagging Mrs. Campbell?"

"We're friends, Suit," Jesse said.

"I like her."

"Lotta people been friends with Mrs. Campbell."

"Find out about Harry Smith, Suit. I'll talk with Mrs. Campbell."