RANSVESTIA

said, the worried edge still in her words. "Don't go, please. Cut her loose, even if she is your brother."

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Bud grunted, but that failed to appease her.

"Please, Tyler," she said. "Please don't go and see that that THING.”

"Perhaps I won't," said Bud noncommittally. "I think I'm too busy anyway."

In the end, his wife hung up without a firm refusal on his part. Bud himself didn't trust his emotions enough to give a final answer yet on Alan/Linda. But, deep down, he knew he'd have to see 'her' and explain before he could do what his wife asked,

"Let's go and see Candy," said Hamilton as soon as he had put the phone back on its cradle. He fastened his tie and picked up his jacket.

Pezanski opened the door to let the others proceed him "Lieutenant," said Al Seivers, and it took Bud a few moments, putting on his jacket as he strode down the stairs to the outdoor parking lot to remember that Seivers was talking to him.

In the car, Seivers tried to fill him in on the street talk about Bassaglia's killing. "Rumor has it that there was another guy up there in the bedroom with Louie and Candy," said Al with a deep frown on his face. "I heard from one of my straight- est stoolies the word is out that you got this guy stashed some- where and that you're going to get him off on the shooting of Buck's men if he gives you one of the Bucks."

Hamilton nodded. "How about you, Ray? he asked.

The young detective looked out of the window with mild interest. No one had yet officially said anything about his being out for coffee at the time of the shooting -- but he knew that he was under scrutiny, both for possibly pay-off and for possible incompetence. He's trying to be Joe Cool, thought Buck com- passionately, trying to show that nothing will ever hurt him. "I heard much the same thing from Morrir, the shoeshine boy, this afternoon," he said. "Word was also out that there was a big price on the name of Louie's bodyguard. Even one of Louie's muscle could collect."

"How much?" asked Bud.

"Ten big ones, I was told," Pezanski said guardedly, look- ing back to Hamilton in the rear seat. His unspoken gesture said, 'but don't believe me, you know who I am.'

Neither Pezanski nor Seivers liked the idea of staying out- side Candy's apartment and relieving the watch there, but Hamil- ton made it a direct order.

He rang the bell, and didn't have to wait long for the slim

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