Commissioner Grinspy inspected the scene.  It was always a pity to
lose one of his men in the line of duty.  It reflected badly on the
force, on him, and on his brother, the mayor.  He wasn't really
saddened today, though - he hated Pavacic.  That guy just couldn't
follow instructions.  If he was going to messing around with Duez
every time he needed a lead, that was his business, but to do it
without backup was just plain stupid.  Everybody knew that all types
of lowlife frequented this place, and to go around flashing a police
badge and making threats was not a good idea.

Duez had showed him the `security' video, and it was clear that this
character on the floor was responsible for killing his detective.  The
woman responsible for the second death, though, was on the loose with
a hostage, and as if simply to complicate the commissioner's job, had
stolen whatever ID her victim might have had.

As his men took statements from the piano player and the bartender, he
stepped outside to get some air and to collect his thoughts.  The
thought collection was interrupted by the ringing of his cellular
phone.

Inside, Duez reviewed the murders with Conroy. "You hired this guy?"

"Yes.  I figured my goods were hidden well enough..."

"Your goods are never hidden well enough," Duez interrupted.

"I figured the INFORMATION was disguised in such a way," she rephrased
it, "that I could get a professional to recover it for me without
arousing too much suspicion."

"In this industry, the reason people become professionals is because
they aren't good enough to make it as an amateur.  Hiring him was a
mistake, and it's going to be a costly one.  I don't know who that
woman was, but she meant business.  Watch this." He rewound the tape
again. "Mr. Private Eye followed you in, now this guy shows up.  He
was here for a reason, probably following you, too.  She came in with
something in mind, too, but it was probably the second guy, seeing as
she only asked about him at the end.  Anyway, your PI friend is going
to snitch on you as soon as she pulls out a knife on him, and she'll
be back looking to make the connection."

"And I suppose you'd rather I wasn't here to complicate things for
you," said Conroy flatly.  She sounded in control, but she was really
frightened.  On the monitor she saw the woman haul the dead second guy
up against the bar still holding the gun on the first guy, glancing
wildly back and forth.  She was a crazy one, Conroy was sure.  Duez
was probably right about what would happen, too, and he just said he
didn't want to have to protect her.

The phone rang. "Excuse me a moment," he said to Conroy, who was still
fixed on the replay. "Yes?  Yes.  I see.  I'm certain she will be," he
said into the phone.  Conroy turned around, curious. "Tonight at
midnight?  West Park.  Of course.  Of course.  Of course not." Duez
hung up the phone.

"What was that?" Conroy asked impatiently.

"It seems one of my associates has turned up what you were seeking."

Meanwhile, some distance from the city Lew sat in his study.  His
phone rang.  It was a call placed to an extension at a Xerox office
building in Dallas.  He answered it. "Yes?  How unfortunate, and yet
also fortunate.  Thank you." He turned to Wongca. "You'll be pleased
to know that earlier today Meidan was on the trail of the courier when
he lost his head and, well, lost his head.  So he will not be back
this evening."

"What a relief!" she sighed.

The phone rang again.  This time it was an overseas call to a local
internet service provider dial-in line in Osaka.  Lew answered it. "I
see.  I certainly would," he said into the phone.  Wongca turned
around, curious. "Tonight at midnight?  West Park.  Of course.  Of
course.  Of course not." Lew hung up the phone.

"What was that?" Wongca asked impatiently.

"It seems one of our associates has turned up what we were seeking."

Meanwhile, in the industrial district, Hofstee pulled up to the almost
empty hotel.  She pulled out a knife and showed it to Horatio.  Then
she cut a hole in the back of his coat and pushed the knife through so
he could feel the steel on his back. "I want you to keep quiet,
understood?"

"Yes!" he said.

"I said QUIET!" she yelled, pressing the blade into his skin.  Horatio
bit his lip and nodded violently, almost convulsing.  She pulled him
out of the car and led him into the side door.  Unfortunately, the
hallway was not empty.  A cleaning lady was replacing the towels in
the room across the hall.  Hofstee flashed her fake badge and said,
"Please don't be alarmed, ma'am.  GHPD, everything is under control."

The cleaning lady went about her business, but Hofstee suspected they
would have to dispose of Horatio and check out ASAP.

Hofstee was surprised when she saw that Kima already had someone
gagged and taped to a chair in the hotel room.  Horatio was even more
surprised to see his partner there.

"Well, well.  What have we got here?" Kima asked, excited that she was
going to get to `interrogate' someone else.

"His ID says `Horatio,' but he seems to go by Hunter, P.I."

"Of Spade & Hunter, Private Investigators?"

"Yes, you've heard of them?" Hofstee racked her brains, she was
missing something here.

"Nope," grinned Kima, "But we've got a matched set." She picked Stras'
business card up from the table and passed it to Hofstee.  Stras
struggled against the duct tape that held him down, and Horatio
started to cry.  Kima and Hofstee filled eachother in on how they
happened upon their prisoners.  Kima took off Stras' gag. "Now you
know our stories, why don't you tell us yours?"

"This is NOT legal," yelled Stras. "We will never tell you.  I want my
lawyer here.  I'm going to..."

Kima put the gag back on. "Why don't you tell us?" she asked Horatio,
who sat silently weeping.  When he failed to respond, she went
on. "Well, why don't you think about it while I cut off your friend's
fingers.  If you feel like talking, I'll listen.  When I get bored,
I'll turn my attention to you." She pulled out a nice fish knife and
grabbed Stras' hand. "Oh!  He's a fighter," she giggled as Stras
fought to get his hand free.

"OK!  I'll talk!" Horatio was near panic. "This lady, a lady, some
lady..." He choked and started sobbing again.  Kima brandished the
knife, and he went on.  He told the whole story as he knew it.

Hofstee paced. "Meidan must have been following her, too.  You've got
to go back to the bar and see if you can pick up her trail.  Take
Hunter with you, he knows what she looks like and what car she
drives.  They've all seen me, even got me on tape, so I'd better not
go.  Take the radio and keep me posted."

"You've been so helpful," Kima beamed at Horatio. "I hope you can keep
it up a bit longer.  And in the future, if you get a chance, you might
teach your partner a thing or two about cooperation."