‘Gordon Jacobs …’ Glass’s voice echoed around the columns of City Hall’s marble foyer as they climbed the stairs to Tuesday Reed’s office. He was as bitter, as irascible and stirred as she had ever seen him. ‘Was your Al, teflon-hearted scumbag.’

‘I heard something about it on the radio – ’

‘Blown away in a Safeway parking lot. Now isn’t that some epitaph?’

At the top of the stairs, they turned and headed down the corridor.

‘They said nothing about the leads. About suspects.’

‘This vermin’s been done once already for felonious assault – against some piece he was shacked up with – ’

‘Mr Jacobs’ former de facto, I take it you mean?’