"We are investigating allegations that your radio car partner, Abel Wozniak, has been or is involved in a string of warehouse burglaries that have occurred this past year."

McConnell watched for a reaction, but the boy's face was as fiat as piss on a plate. "How about that, son? How you feel, hearin' that?"

Pike stared at him for a moment, then shrugged so small it was tough to see.

Krantz barked, "How long have you been partnered with Officer Wozniak?" "Two years"

"And you expect us to believe you don't know what he's doing?"

The blue eyes went to the parrot, and McConnell wondered what on earth could be behind those eyes. Pike didn't answer.

Krantz stood. He was given to pacing, which annoyed McConnell, but McConnell let him do it because it also annoyed the person they were questioning. "Have you ever accepted graft or committed any act which you know to be in violation of the law?"

"No, sir."

"Have you ever witnessed Officer Wozniak commit an act which you know to be in violation of the law?"

"No, sir."

Louise Barshop said, "Has Officer Wozniak ever mentioned committing such acts to you, or done or said anything that would lead you to conclude that he had?"

"No, ma'am."

Krantz said, "Do you know Carlos Reena or Jesus Uribe, also known as the Chihuahua Brothers?" Reena and Uribe were fences operating out of a junkyard near Whiteman Airport in Pacoima.

"I know who they are, but I don't know them."

"Have you ever seen Officer Wozniak with either of these men?"

"No, sir."

"Has Officer Wozniak ever mentioned them to you?"

"No, sir."

Krantz fired off the questions as fast as Pike answered, and grew increasingly irritated because Pike would pause before answering, and each pause was a little longer or shorter than the one before it, which prevented Krantz from working up a rhythm. McConnell realized that Pike was doing this on purpose, and liked him for it. He could tell that Krantz was getting irritated because he began to shift his weight from one foot to the other. McConnell didn't like fidgeters. His first wife had been a fidgeted, and he'd gotten rid of her. McConnell said, "Officer Pike, let me at this time inform you that you are under orders not to reveal that this interview has taken place, and not to reveal to anyone what we have questioned you about. If you do, you will be brought up on charges of failing to obey a lawful administrative order, and fired. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, sir. May I ask a question?"

"Fire away." McConnell glanced at his watch and felt a cold sweat sprout over his skin. They had been at this only eight minutes, and the pressure in his lower gut was building. He wondered if anyone else could hear the rumble going on down there.

"Do you suspect that I'm involved?"

"Not at this time."

Krantz glared at McConnell. "That's still to be determined, Officer." Krantz actually stalked around the table and leaned over so the three of them could have a little huddle, Krantz whispering, "Please let me drive the questions, Mr. McConnell. I'm trying to create a certain mood with this man. I have to make him fear me." Saying it like McConnell was just some incompetent old fuck standing in the way of Harvey Krantz driving in the game-winning run so he could be elected Chief of Police of the Lord Jesus Christ Amen!

McConnell whispered back, "I don't think it's workin', Harvey. He don't look scared, and I wanna finish up." McConnell was certain that if he didn't find a way to pass some gas soon, he was gonna have a major explosion back there.

Krantz turned back to Pike and paced the length of the table. "You don't expect us to believe this, do you?"

The blue eyes followed Krantz, but Pike said nothing.

"We're all police officers here. We've all ridden in a car." Krantz fingered through his stack of files. "The smart way to play this is to co-operate. If you co-operate, we can help you."

McConnell said, "Son, why did you become a police officer?"

Krantz snapped an ugly scowl his way, and McConnell would've given anything to slap it off his face.

Pike said, "I wanted to do good."

Well, there it is, McConnell thought. He was liking this boy. Liking him just fine.

Krantz made a hissing sound to let everybody know he was pissed, then snatched a yellow legal pad from the table and started barking off names. "Tell us whether or not you know anything about the following places of business. Baker Metalworks."

"No, sir."

"Chanceros Electronics."

"No, sir."

One by one he named fourteen different warehouses scattered around the Ramparts Division area that had been burglarized, and after every location, Pike answered, "No, sir."

As Krantz snapped off the names, he paced in an ever-tightening circle around Pike, and McConnell would've sworn that Pike was following Krantz with his ears, not even bothering to use his eyes. McConnell reached under the table and rubbed his belly. Christ.

"Thomas Brothers Auto Parts."

"No, sir."

"Wordley Aircraft Supply."

"No, sir"

Krantz slapped the tablet in frustration. "Are you telling us you don't know about any of this?"

"Yes, sir."

Krantz, red-faced and eyes bulging, leaned over Pike and shouted, "You're lying! You're in on it with him, and you're going to jail!"

McConnell said, "I think we've walked far enough down this road, Harvey. Officer Pike seems to be telling the truth."

Harvey Krantz said, "Bullshit, Mike! This sonofabitch knows something!" When he said it, Krantz jabbed Pike on the shoulder with his right index finger, and the rest happened almost too fast for McConnell to see.

McConnell would later say that, for a guy who looked so calm that he might've been falling asleep, Pike came out of the chair as fast as a striking snake. His left hand twisted Krantz's hand to the side, his right clutched Krantz's throat. Pike lifted Krantz up and backward, pinning him against the wall a good six inches off the floor. Harvey Krantz made a gurgling sound and his eyes bulged. Louise Barshop jumped backward, scrambling for her purse. McConnell jumped, too, shouting, "Step back! Officer, let go and step back!"

Pike didn't let go. Pike held Harvey Krantz against the wall, Krantz's face turning purple, his eyes staring at Pike the way deer will stare at oncoming headlights.

Louise Barshop shouted, "Leave go, Pike. Leave go now/" She had her purse, and McConnell thought she was about to pull her Beretta and cut loose.

McConnell felt his stomach clench when Pike, who hadn't let go, whispered something to Krantz that no one else could hear. For years afterward, and well into his retirement, Detective-Three Mike McConnell wondered what Pike had said, because, in that moment, in that lull amid the shouting and the falling chairs, they heard the drip-drip-drip sound and everybody looked down to see the urine running from Krantz's pants. Then the most awful smell enveloped them, and Louise Barshop said, "Oh, God."

Harvey Krantz had shit his pants.

McConnell said, as sternly as he could muster, "Put him down, now, son."

Pike did, and Harvey hunched over, his eyes filling with rage and shame as the mess spread down his pants. He lurched knock-kneed out of the room.

Pike returned to his seat as if nothing had happened.

Louise Barshop looked embarrassed and said, "Well, I don't know."