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four dead Colombians had been solved。
Henderson had borrowed a skycap's uniform and cap； put them on one of his black detectives； and had him falsely finger the Colombian woman as the person in a purple Cadillac who had dropped off two men at the Miami International Airport。 Confronted by this direct； if false； identification； she had broken down。 The child； as it turned out； was the maid's； not her own； and the child was not supposed to be killed。 She was upset about that； which helped to make up her mind； too。 The killers were back safely in Cartagena and would never be extradited。 But at least their names were known now； so it was unlikely that the same pair would be used in Miami for more assassinations。
〃I knew she was in on it for sure； Hoke； when you told me there were no packages in the trunk。 The woman had nine hundred bucks in her purse； and there is no way that a woman could shop for two hours with that kind of money and not buy something。〃
Henderson shrugged。 〃But she hasn't been arraigned yet。 I've got a hunch that they'll set bail for a hundred thousand and let her skip back to Colombia。 That's what usually happens。〃
Hoke nodded； and made a circle with his thumb and forefinger。 Henderson pulled his chair closer to the bed。
〃You got any idea who did this to you； Hoke？〃
〃Uh…uh。〃 Hoke rolled his head back and forth on the pillow。
〃Got any ideas？〃
Hoke nodded and then shrugged。 He was tired； and he wanted Henderson to leave。
〃I talked some to Eddie Cohen； the old fart on the desk； and he says he didn't see any strangers in the hotel。 The manager questioned some of the old ladies who sit around the TV set in the lobby； and they didn't notice anyone either。〃
Henderson got up； and walked to the window。 He looked down into the parking lot。 〃I…ah…I checked your room； Hoke； and I really don't think you should be living in a crummy place like that。 All those social security types and Marielitos… it's depressing as shit； Hoke。 When you get out of here； you'll have to recuperate for a couple of weeks。 I can put you up at my house。 We can put a cot out in the Florida room； and Marie'！！ look after you。〃
〃No dice； Bill。〃 Hoke closed his eyes。 After a few seconds； Henderson tapped him on the shoulder。
〃Well； think about it anyway； old sport。 I'd better get outta here and let you get some rest。 If you need anything； let me know。〃
After Henderson left； Hoke found the carton of Kools and the new Bic lighter his partner had left in a paper sack on the floor beside his bed。 Hoke had lost his desire to smoke； if he was lucky； maybe the desire wouldn't return。
Captain Willie Brownley was Hoke's third visitor。 The captain had been there to look in on him a couple of times before。 Brownley was black； and it was the first time Hoke had seen the Homicide chief in civilian clothes。 He always wore his uniform in the office； plete with buttoned…up jacket。 Now he wore a pink Golden Bear knitted shirt； mauve corduroy jeans； a white belt； and white shoes。 With his gold…rimmed glasses； Brownley looked more like a Liberty City dentist than a police captain。 Hoke had known Brownley for ten years； and at one time had worked for Brownley when he manded the Traffic Division。 Although Brownley had little aptitude for Homicide work； he had been placed in charge of that division so that he could eventually be promoted to major。 The black caucus in the union had been demanding a black major for several years； and Brownley was being groomed。
Brownley opened his briefcase on the bed and handed Hoke a one…pound box of fudge that had been wrapped in gold paper and tied with a flexible gold string。
〃My wife made some fudge for you； Hoke；〃 he said。 〃And if you can't eat it now； you'll be able to later。 And the boys asked me to bring you this card。〃 He handed Hoke a Hallmark get…well card that had been signed by forty of the forty…seven members of the Homicide Division； including Captain Brownley。
Without thinking； Hoke had counted the signatures and was wondering why the other seven hadn't signed。 Then he felt ashamed of himself。 There were a hundred reasons…sickness； leave； shift changes…why they all couldn't sign the card。
〃For a while there；〃 Captain Brownley said； 〃we were worried about you； but Dr。 Goldstein said you're going to be fine。 The only immediate problem is to take care of the paperwork on your lost gun and shield。 I hate to lay it on you； Hoke； but we've got to protect you。
〃I've brought the forms along and a legal pad； and you can take care of the paperwork now。 It's been about six years since a Homicide cop lost his shield and gun； but the big question to answer in your case is why you were living in Miami Beach instead of Miami in the first place。 I knew you were living in the Eldorado； and I okayed it as a temporary residence。 But you've been there for almost a year now； and that puts both of us in a spot。 As you know； all Miami cops are supposed to live in Miami…〃
〃I know at least a dozen who don't…〃
〃I know more than that； Hoke； including a city missioner who mutes down here from Boca Raton。 But he has an official address in Miami to beat the system； and we can do the same。 Henderson told me your official address is his house； so put that down on the forms。〃
〃There's no way I can live with Henderson and his wife。〃
〃I'm not asking you to； all I want you to do is use his address on the forms so we can cover our ass。 First； fill out the Victim's Report so I can get a cop from Robbery to begin an investigation。 Next； you've got to send me a red…liner memo explaining the circumstances； and third； you need to fill in this Lost and Damaged Equipment form。 As soon as you've done this； I'll get the badge and gun numbers into the puter。 Just write the info on the yellow pad and sign the forms。 I can have them typed at the station。 It's a legitimate loss； so the city'll replace your gun and badge at no cost to you； and that's about it； I'll do everything I can to prevent an investigation of why you were living in the Eldorado instead of Miami。〃
〃That rule's never enforced；〃 Hoke said。 〃There're guys with condos in Hialeah and Kendall； captain。〃
〃Nothing is enforced until something happens。 Then it's a different story。 A black division chief isn't allowed to make any mistakes。 I gave you temporary permission to live on the Beach； and you stayed for a year。 It's my mistake for not following up on you； because now there's a thief running around Dade County with your gun and buzzer。 If he ever realizes the kind of power that represents； the department'll be in a lot of trouble。〃
Hoke shrugged and reached for the ball point pen。 〃When do you want all this info？〃
〃Why don't you do it now？ I'll go down to the cafeteria downstairs and get a sandwich and some coffee。 I want to get that info into the puter。〃 Brownley turned in the doorway。 〃You want anything？ Coffee？〃
Hoke shook his head； and pulled his wheeled tray closer to the bed。
〃Okay； then； Hoke； I'll be back in an hour。 Don't let the nurse or no one else touch my briefcase。〃
Hoke filled in the forms； and wrote the red…liner memo。 Although it was possible for a cop to be suspended with pay for not living in Miami； the rule was never enforced； and he thought Brownley was a little paranoid about it。 But then； Brownley wanted that promotion； and Hoke didn't want to jeopardize it。 Perhaps he would； after all； have to move away from the Eldorado…but he sure as hell wouldn't move in with Henderson。 Hoke didn't like Marie Henderson； and he liked Henderson's kids even less。
When Captain Brownley returned for the forms； Hoke told him to thank his wife for the fudge。
〃I'll tell her。 D'you want any visitors； Hoke？〃
〃I'd rather not； captain。 I look like hell； and it hurts me to talk。〃
〃Okay； I'll pass the word； but I'll be back ex officio。 One other thing； Hoke； you'll have a new partner when you e back to duty。 I let Henderson stay with you when he was promoted to sergeant because you guys work well together； but things've changed lately。 I'm getting five new investigators； all Cubans； all bilingual； and neither you nor Henderson speak Spanish。 I've put Lopez with Henderson； and you'll have a bilingual partner when you get back。 Even if you and Henderson were bilingual； I'd have to break you up。 I'm too short on experienced people to let two sergeants work together any longer。〃
〃I'm not surprised；〃 Hoke said。 〃Did you know that Red Farris resigned？〃
〃In Robbery？〃
〃Yeah； and he had ten years in。 He was in Homicide before you came in as chief。〃
〃I knew Red。 I didn't know him well； but I knew him enough to talk to him。 He was a good man。 We're losing too many good people； Hoke。〃
With his memory refreshed by the reports he had just written； Hoke went over again in his mind what had happened。 There had been a knock on the door。 Was it timid or imperious？ Was it three raps or two？ He couldn't remember。 Masculine or feminine…he felt； somehow； that it was feminine； but he wasn't sure。 His response had been so automatic； it was as if he had known the caller。 He had hidden his drink behind the photograph of his two daughters。 Why？ He was e