Зима тревоги нашей

           Whatwasit—grandjury?"

           "Thenyoudoknow?"

           "Alittle."

           "What’sbehindit?"

           "Progress."

           Stoneycameclosetomeandhisironhandgraspedmyupperarmsotightlythatithurt."Ethan,"hesaidfiercely,"doyouthinkI’magoodcop?"

           "Thebest."

           "Iaimtobe.Iwanttobe.Eth—doyouthinkit’srighttomakeamantellonhisfriendstosavehimself?"

           "No,Idon’t."

           "NeitherdoI.Ican’tadmiresuchagovernment.Whatscaresme,Eth,is—Iwon’tbesuchagoodcopanymorebecauseIwon’tadmirewhatI’mdoing."

           "Didtheycatchyouout,Chief?"

           "It’slikeyousaid.Somanylawsyoucan’ttakeadeepbreathwithoutyoubreakone.ButJesusChrist!Theguysweremyfriends.Youwon’tleak,Ethan?"

           "NoIwon’t.YouforgotyourTVdinner,Chief."

           "Yeah!"hesaid."I’llgohomeandtakeoffmyshoesandwatchhowthosetelevisioncopsdoit.Youknow,sometimesanemptyhouseisanicerest.Seeyou,Eth."

           IlikedStoney.Iguessheisagoodofficer.Iwonderwherethelinefalls.

           Iwasclosingupshop,drawinginthefruitbinsfromthedoorway,whenJoeyMorphysaunteredin.

           "Quick!"Isaid,andIclosedthedoublefrontdoorsanddrewthedarkgreenshades."Speakinawhisper."

           "What’sgotintoyou?"

           "Someonemightwanttobuysomething."

           "Yeah!Iknowwhatyoumean.God!Ihatelongholidays.Bringsouttheworstineverybody.Theystartoutmadandcomehomepoopedandbroke."