"Detective Warren is going to have a theory about a competitor of Daniel Clark's by ten in the morning. Detective Warren is going to have a theory about Frank Vaccaro by noon. Warren is not going to come back to you, Hale."
I look at her.
"Chief."
"Hale."
"Did you set this."
She looks at me.
"No, Hale."
"All right."
"I did not set this."
"All right."
"And I am not going to ask you whetheryouset this."
"All right."
"Because I know you did not set this."
"All right."
"And I am also not going to ask you whether thewitnessset this."
I do not say anything.
Val looks at the building.
"Run your line, Lieutenant."
"Yes, Chief."
I walk back to the truck.
---
I am at the deck gun at six-twenty-two with the big rookie when I see her.
I see her at the south end of the lot, past the chain-link, past the parked patrol car, past the line of yellow tape Doyle has pulled across the entrance of the access road. The smoke is rolling at the south wall and the wind is from the north, and the smoke is moving across her at her hip, and she is walking out of the smoke, and she is walking out of the smoke at a measured pace in a long camel coat and a black turtleneck and dark wide-leg trousers and the kind of boots that are not made for a fire scene, and her hair is down at her shoulders the colour of pale wheat, and her face is so so very beautiful, and she is looking at the building.
My breath stops.
Evangeline.
The big rookie says, "Lieutenant."
I do not answer.
"Lieutenant. Civilian, south fence."
"I see her."
"Should I."
