Matt looked at her in surprise.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Sorry for what, Mother?”
“I was out of line,” she said.
Matt met her eyes. It made her uncomfortable, but she couldn’t look away.
After a long moment, he said, “I guess that makes us even.”
And then he looked away, and unwrapped his knife and fork from its napkin wrap and attacked the sandwich.
Olivia took a healthy swallow of her drink, and when the bartender delivered the second round, emptied what was left of hers into the new glass.
She was astonished at the speed with which Matt emptied his plate of the roast beef, the potatoes, and the beans. She had taken only her third bite when she saw him lay his knife and fork on the empty plate and slide it across the bar toward the bartender.
“Very nice,” Matt said.
“Glad you liked it.”
“Did you know Cheryl Williamson?” Matt asked the bartender.
“I guess you heard?” the bartender replied.
Matt nodded.
“Goddamned cops,” the bartender said. “I guess you heard what those bastards did? Or didn’t do. Pardon the French.”
“What did you say your name was?” Matt asked.
“Charley,” the bartender said.
“Mother, show Charley your badge,” Matt said.
She looked at him in surprise.
“Detective Lassiter, show Charley your badge,” Matt ordered.
Olivia pulled her oversweater far enough to one side so the bartender could see her badge, which she had pinned to the waistband of her skirt.
“Sorry, I didn’t know… ” Charley the bartender said, uncomfortably.
“No problem,” Matt said. “The reason we don’t wear uniforms is so people can’t spot us as cops right off. By the way, I’m Sergeant Payne. My friends call me ‘Matt.’ ”
He extended his hand across the bar until Charley the bartender took it.
“Tell me, Charley,” Matt said, as he slipped back onto his stool. “Have you made up your mind for all eternity, or would you be interested in the facts about what those goddamned bastard cops did or didn’t do?”
“Hey, Sergeant, I said I was sorry…”
“If we’re going to be friends, call me Matt,” Matt said. “And that wasn’t the question, Charley. Are you interested in the facts, or have you made up your mind, and don’t want the facts to get in the way?”
“Okay. Let’s have the facts,” Charley said.
“Mother, give Charley the facts,” Matt said.
“Is that your name?” Charley blurted.