Year of the Jackpot 2

with him. Right, Mr. Breen?"
"Wellyes. 1m a friend. I'll take care of her."
The transvestite said suspiciously, "I didn't hear her say
that."
Her companion said, "Gracepleasel There's our bus."
"And I didn't hear her say she was your client," the cop
retorted. "You look like a" His words were drowned out
by the bus's brakes, "and besides that, if you don't climb
on that bus and get off my territory, I'll . . . I'll . . ."
"YouTI what?"
"Grace! We'll miss our bus."
"Just a moment, Norman. Dear, is this man really a friend
of yours? Are you with him?"
The girl looked uncertainly at Breen, then said in a low
voice, "Uh, yes. That's right."
"Well . . ." The lawyer's companion pulled at her arm.
She shoved her card into Breen's hand and got on the bus;
it pulled away.
Breen pocketed the card. Kawonski wiped his forehead.
"Why did you do it, lady?" he said peevishly.
The girl looked puzzled. "I . . . I don't know."
"You hear that, Mr. Breen? That's what they all say. And
if you pull 'em in, there's six more the next day. The Chief
said" He sighed. "The Chief saidwell, if I had arrested
her like that female shyster wanted me to. I'd be out at a
hundred and ninety-sixth and Ploughed Ground tomorrow
morning, thinking about retirement. So get her out of here,
will you?"
The girl said, "But-"
"No 'buts,' lady. Just be glad a real gentleman like Mr.
Breen is willing to help you." He gathered up her clothes,
handed them to her. When she reached for them she again
exposed an uncustomary amount of skin; Kawonski hastily
gave them to Breen instead, who crowded them into his
coat pockets.
She let Breen lead her to where his car was parked, got in
and tucked the raincoat around her so that she was rather
more dressed than a girl usually is. She looked at him.
She saw a medium-sized and undistinguished man who
was slipping down the wrong side of thirty-five and looked
older. His eyes had that mild and slightly naked look of tlie
habitual spectacles wearer who is not at the moment with
glasses; his hair was gray at the temples and thin on top.
His herringbone suit, black shoes, white shirt, and neat tie
smacked more of the East than of California.
He saw a face which he classified as "pretty" and "whole-