we will, if you want. Shall I get them started on it?”

“I wish you would, Parker. And let me know right away.”

When Parker closed the door behind him, Herron got off the table and walked around the Turtle, looking him over.

“I must say—uh—Catell, you don’t look much the way I figured. You don’t look much like your pictures, either.”

“Couldn’t have been a very flattering likelihood,” said the Turtle “You know how them mug shots distract a guy’s personality.”

“Yeah. I guess. Tell me, Catell, how’s your health been lately?”

“Lately? Fine, till yesterday.”

“Yeah? Then what?”

“Well, it’s like this: There was this guy they call Poison Pop; old geezer runs the clink at the Twenty-ninth Precinct in San Pedro. Now, soon as me and the boys—”

“Never mind. All right, Catell, let’s cut out the bull and get down to cases. I guess you know we got you dead to rights this time and anything you do to stall the investigation can only make things worse. You understand that?”

“You mean worse than life? What, I ask, can be worse than life?”

“Where’s the gold, Catell?”

“What gold?”

“When did you see it last?”

“See who?”

“Dick, you got that down? Catell, every attempt to stall this investigation will be held against you And just to get things straight, it might interest you to know that we are preparing a charge of assault with intent to kill. One of the guards at the university isn’t doing so hot.”

“Listen, Herron, you I can do without.”

“Now you listen, Catell—”

“Catell? You talking to me, Herron? Because if you are, Buster, you got the wrong man.”

Herron didn’t say anything for a moment. He watched the stenographer finish his entry.

“That’s the name you gave when arrested.”

“That’s the name they give me when I was arrested. For what, I know not. And now, if you please, who is Catell?”

“What’s your name?”

“Who’s Catell?”

“Listen, you. What I said before about co-operation still goes, no matter who you are. What’s your name?”

“I wanna lawyer.”

“All I want is your name, for chrissakes. You can give me your name without fear of self-incrimination, can’t you?”

“You wouldn’t say that if you knew what my handle was.”

“What is it?”

“Egbert.”

“Egbert? Egbert what?”

“Egbert the Terrible.”

“Oh, for chrissakes!”

“I useta be a wrestler. They gimme the handle on account—”

“What you got, Parker?” The door had opened and Parker came in with papers in his hand.

“They don’t match up, Herron. This guy ain’t Catell.”

“Didn’t I tell ya, Mr. Herron? Didn’t I just—”

“Aw, shut up. So who’s this guy, Parker?”

“Local dip. Two minor convictions.”

“And his name?”

“Turtforth. Egbert Turtforth. And get this: Used to be a specialty wrestler called Egbert the Terrible. Then for a while he was a magician with—”

“For the lovamike, get out of here. Hold him under your own charges, drop him in a well, I don’t care what. Dick, let’s go. Wait till Jones hears about this. Christ, I can just see him now.”

They walked across the hall to the large room where Herron’s desk was.

“One blind alley after another. One funk after another. So help me, Dick, I don’t think there is such a guy as Catell. I think this whole thing is nothing but a sly way of testing a man’s sanity. Did you ever hear such a name as Egforth?”

“Egbert. Egbert Turtforth.”

“All right, all right. And I bet you can read that name backward and get a valuable clue on how to win a box top free. I have a good mind right now—”

“You’re wanted on line three, Herron.” An agent at one of the desks was holding the phone, waving at Herron to take the call at his own desk.

Herron picked up the receiver. “Agent Herron speaking, may I help you?”

It was a woman’s voice. It was a slurry voice that nevertheless made no attempt to disguise itself. “Hi, you Herron? Listen, I bet you haven’t found my boyfriend Catell yet, have you? Well, it’s time you got a little help around here. Wanna meet me?”

“Who’s this calling? Your name, please.”

“I’m in the Lifeboat, Beverly and La Cienaga, you know. You come on over, Mr. Herron. Ask for Selma.”

Chapter Fifteen

When Catell woke in the morning, he remembered the way the night had started. He turned, leaning on his elbow. Lily was asleep there, her naked back a breathing curve. Catell remembered the rest of the night and felt better.

For the next five days they lived together, seeing no one, needing no one.

“I’ve never had it like this,” he said. “Never in my life.”

“Me neither,” she said.

“That’s because you’re so young,” he answered.

They