"Yes, sir, that's it," D'Amata said, obviously pleased. "I sort of hoped there'd be something for me here."
"I don't think I follow that," Wohl said.
"I got the idea, Inspector, that you-that is, Highway- knows something about this guy."
"Why would you think that?"
"You knew the name," D'Amata said, just a little defensively.
"That's all?"
"Sir, an hour before somebody shot this guy there was a Highway car in front of his house. With him. Outside the crime scene, I mean."
"You're sure about that?"
"Yes, sir. Half a dozen people in the neighborhood saw it."
"Dave?" Wohl asked.
Pekach threw up his hands in a helpless gesture, making it clear that he knew nothing about a Highway involvement.
"Fascinating," Wohl said. "Moremisterioso."
"Sir?" D'Amata asked, confused.
"Detective D'Amata," Wohl said, "why don't you help yourself to a cup of coffee and then have a chair while Captain Pekach goes and finds out what Highway had to do with Mr. Lanier last night?"
"Inspector, this is the first I've heard anything about this," Pekach said.
"So I gathered," Wohl said sarcastically.
Pekach left the office.
"How did Mr. Lanier meet his untimely demise, D'Amata?"
"Somebody popped him five times with a.38," D'Amata said. "In his bed."
"That would suggest that somebody didn't like him very much," Wohl said. "Any ideas who that might be?"
D'Amata shook his head.
"Have you learned anything that might suggest Mr. Lanier was connected with the mob?"
"He wasa pimp, Inspector," D'Amata said.
"Then let me ask you this: Off the top of your head, would you say that Mr. Lanier was popped, in a crime of passion, so to speak, by one of his ladies, or by somebody who knew what he was doing?"
D'Amata thought that over briefly. "He took two in the head and three in the chest."
"Suggesting?"
"I don't know. Some of those whores are tough enough. A whore could have done it."
"Have you any particular lady in mind?"
"I asked Vice"-he paused and chuckled-"to round up the usual suspects. Actually for a list of girls who worked for him, or did."
Wohl chuckled and then asked, "Whose gun?"