Year of the Jackpot 1

grinning at her, and a mixed pair of transvestites who were
apparently waiting for the bus had their eyes on her. None
of the passers-by stopped. They glanced at her, then with the
self-conscious indifference to the unusual of the true South-
ern Californian, they went on their various ways. The trans-
vestites were frankly staring. The male member of the team
wore a frilly feminine blouse but his skirt was a conservative
Scottish kilthis female companion wore a business suit and
Homburg hat; she stared with lively interest.
As Breen approached the girl hung a scrap of nylon on
the bus stop bench, then reached for her shoes. A police of-
ficer, looking hot and unhappy, crossed with the lights and
came up to them. "Okay," he said in a tired voice, "that'll
be all, lady. Get them duds back on and clear out of here."
The femalte transvestite took a cigar out of her mouth.
"Just," she said, "what business is it of yours, officer?"
The cop turned to her. "Keep out of this I" He ran his eyes
over her get up, that of her companion. "I ought to run both
of you in, too."
The transvestite raised her eyebrows. "Arrest us for being
clothed, arrest her for not being. I think I'm going to like
this." She turned to the girl, who was standing still and say-
ing nothing, as if she were puzzled by what was going on.
"I'm a lawyer, dear." She pulled a card from her vest pocket.
"If this uniformed Neanderthal persists in annoying you,
I'll be delighted to handle him."
The man in the kilt said, "Grace! Pleasel"
She shook him off. "Quiet, Normanthis is our business."
She went on to the policeman, "Well? Call the wagon. In
the meantime my client will answer no questions."
The official looked unhappy enough to cry and his face
was getting dangerously red. Breen quietly stepped forward
and slipped his raincoat around the shoulders of the girl.
She looked startled and spoke for the first time. "Uh
thanks." She pulled the coat about her, cape fashion.
The female attorney glanced at Breen then back to the
cop. "Well, officer? Ready to arrest us?"
He shoved his face close to hers. "I ain't going to give
you the satisfaction]" He sighed and added, "Thanks, Mr.
Breenyou know this lady?"
"Ill take care of her. You can forget it, Kawonski."
"I sure hope so. If she's with you, III do just that. But get
her out of here, Mr. Breenpleasel"
The lawyer interrupted. "Just a momentyou're interfer-
ing with my client."
Kawonski said, "Shut up, you! You heard Mr. Breenshe's