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"In ten minutes, give or take, you will find me in the groundfloor stairwell, on the southeast corner of the building."
"Yes, sir," Matt said.
"It's important, Matt," Washington said. "Trust me."
"Certainly."
Wait a minute! If my intention is to put Dolan off-balance, the kid can help. Dolan doesn't like him.
"I don't have time to explain this, even if I were sure I could," Washington said. "But I just changed my mind. I want you to come with me. I'm looking for your friend, Sergeant Dolan."
Matt's face registered surprise.
"I don't want you to open your mouth, understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"You any kind of an actor?"
"I don't know."
"Let us suppose that I have caught your friend Dolan doing something he shouldn't have," Washington said, "and I told you. Do you think you could work up a smug, self-satisfied look? So that Dolan would think you know he's in trouble and are very pleased about it?"
"If that son of a bitch is in trouble, I wouldn't have to do very much acting," Matt said.
"Just keep your mouth shut," Washington said. "I mean that. If I blow this, we could both be in trouble."
"Okay," Matt said.
"And there, obviously at the intervention of a benign deity," Washington said softly, "is the son of a bitch."
Matt looked over his shoulder. Sergeant Dolan was coming down the crowded corridor. At the moment Matt looked, Dolan spotted them. He did not look very happy about it.
"Sergeant Dolan," Washington called out, "may I see you a moment, please?"
He walked over to him with Matt at his heels.
"What's on your mind, Washington?" Sergeant Dolan asked.
Washington turned to Matt and handed him two of the three large manila envelopes.
"Give one to Chief Lowenstein and the other one to Chief Coughlin," he said.
"Yes, sir."
"But I'd suggest you stick around, Matt, until we have Sergeant Dolan's explanation."
"Yes, sir."
"You know Officer Payne, don't you, Sergeant? He's Inspector Wohl' s special assistant."
"Yeah, I know him. Whaddaya say, Payne?"
Matt nodded at Sergeant Dolan.
"Sorry to bother you again, Sergeant," Washington said. "But I've come up with some more photographs. I'd like to show them to you."
He handed Dolan the third envelope. Dolan opened it. His face showed that what he considered the worst possible scenario had begun to play.
