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〃Thanks a lot；〃 Teddy said。 〃And congratulations again； Sergeant Henderson。 mander。〃 Teddy left the office； and they watched him through the glass as he crossed the squad room toward his desk。
〃What do you think of Gonzalez； Bill？〃
〃I don't know yet。 But he's got a lot of guts。 It takes nerve for a white man to go down to the Royale Theater and hang around in the men's room there for a chance to talk to an old ticket…taker。 I know he's armed； and all that； but I wouldn't want to hang around in there alone for very long。 Jesus； look at Armando！〃
Armando Quevedo was ing toward the office from the men's room。 He had a short haircut； with white sidewalls； and he was wearing a brown silk suit with an opened collar shirt； and a wide grin。
Quevedo stood in the doorway and spread his arms。 〃Congratulations； Bill；〃 he said。 〃Thanks to your promotion； I finally got my three stripes。〃
〃And a haircut；〃 Hoke said。
〃You would've got your three stripes no matter who got the mander rank；〃 Henderson said。 〃So you don't have to thank me。 Besides； your score was the highest on the division list。〃
〃I know； but thanks just the same。〃
〃If you guys haven't got anything else to do；〃 Hoke said； 〃why don't you do it somewhere else。 I've got work to do； and people will be ing around all morning to congratulate you。〃
〃e on； Bill；〃 Quevedo said。 〃I'll take you down to the cafeteria and buy you a second breakfast。〃
〃Why not？〃 Henderson got up from the desk。 〃Can I bring you anything； Hoke？ Coffee？〃
〃No； I don't think so。 Ellita fixed a pot of Cuban coffee at home this morning。〃
After the two detectives left； Hoke closed the Gerald Hickey case； wrote a summary memo in longhand； and then placed the file next to the typewriter on Ellita's side of the desk。 〃Accidental OD。〃 The folder； thickened now with additional papers； would go into the closed files。 He wouldn't have to think about it again； Hoke thought； for at least four more years。 And in four more years； he'd only have another four to go until retirement。 And maybe； just maybe； Loretta Hickey wouldn't e back。 After a few months； or a year； when he had saved some money； he might even be able to write to her and offer to buy the damned house in Green Lakes。
At 10 A。M。； Hoke and Henderson knocked on Major Brownley's door。 He beckoned them in； got to his feet； and came around the desk to shake hands with Henderson。
〃Congratulations； Bill。〃
〃Thank you； sir；〃 Henderson said； towering over the major。
〃Sit down； sit down；〃 Brownley said。 He went behind his desk and picked up his burning cigar from the piston ashtray。 〃Where's Officer Sanchez？〃
〃She's got a doctor's appointment；〃 Hoke said as he sat down。
〃Couldn't she make it for another time？〃
〃Female trouble。 She had to see her gynecologist。〃
〃Oh； that's different。 Well； we don't need her anyway。 You can fill her in； Hoke。 You probably think I'm disappointed about the colonelcies being shot down； and I am…a little。 But I knew the money wasn't in the budget in the first place。 Of course； the money wasn't in the budget for the manders either； but the city manager just didn't want that much brass in the department。 When he gets fired…and no manager lasts more than two or three years in Miami…the chief may get through to the next one。 Anyway； even though I left the choice of the mander promotion up to Captain Slater； I approved of it because the final decision was mine。 You outrank Henderson； Hoke； and I want to clear up any resentment you might have。〃
〃I don't have any。〃 Hoke sat back in his chair。 〃I'm happy doing what I'm doing； and I don't think you could find a better candidate in the division than Bill。 After all； we worked together for more than three years。〃
〃Okay； Hoke。 Henderson will be Captain Slater's assistant； and Slater felt that he could work better with Bill than he could with you。 It's that simple。 And I agreed with him； because I think Bill can work with almost anybody。〃
〃Slater isn't all that easy to get along with；〃 Henderson said。 〃What's my job description？〃
〃I'm getting to that。 You'll take Slater's desk out in the bullpen； and he'll take back his old office。 That means that you'll have to furnish an office in Room 3 for Hoke and Sanchez。 I'm leaving them on the cold cases； as a permanent assignment。 So get them some filing cabinets； a typewriter； and a typing table。 You can take the big double desk in there for yourself and replace it with Slater's smaller desk。 You'll need the double desk because you're getting a secretary。 You'll need one； because all of the paperwork in the division will go through you before you take it to Slater。〃
〃Will I still report directly to you； or do I report to Captain Slater？〃 Hoke said。
〃To me。 But send copies of your weekly reports to Bill here。 He'll have to know what's going on。 Still； I want to give you as much leeway as possible。 Another thing； Bill。 When you get your secretary； make an inventory of everything in the division； supplies and all； because you'll have to sign for all the division property。〃
〃Jesus Christ；〃 Henderson said。 He took out a handkerchief and wiped his face。
〃What's the matter？〃 Brownley said。
〃That's a lot of paperwork。〃
〃I know。 That's what the rank calls for。 You'll also be responsible for shift assignments； overtime； things like that。 But Captain Slater'll fill you in on the specifics。 It's a desk job； Bill； and you won't have to go out into the hot sun any longer。 It might sound a little tough now； but you'll work into it all right。 Besides； you'll have a secretary。 What would you rather have； a male or a female？〃
〃Female。 I don't want any gay secretary。〃
〃A male secretary isn't necessarily gay； Bill。 The way unemployment is in Miami right now； I could get you a male secretary with a degree in economics。 The line…item pays ten thousand a year； with COLA increments every six months。〃
〃I'd rather have a woman。〃
〃Okay。 But when you advertise the position； remember that you can't specify that you would rather have a woman。 You and Slater can work out the ad。 Now we haven't got a written job description for you yet； but there's no hurry。 None of the divisions know exactly what to do with this new rank。 But I'll work on it with Captain Slater； and you can put any suggestions you have in writing and send them to me。 Okay？ I guess you'd better get going。 You've got a lot to do。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃 Henderson got up； gave the major a halfhearted salute； and left the office。 Hoke stood up； too。
〃Just a minute； Hoke； I want to talk to you。〃
Hoke sat down again； and took out his cigarettes。 He lit a Kool and put the match into the major's ashtray。
〃I understand；〃 the major said； 〃that Officer Sanchez is living with you now。〃
〃She's renting a room from me in my new house in Green Lakes。 But that doesn't mean she's living with me； if that's what you're implying。 I've got my two daughters with me now； and she's been a big help to me with them。〃
〃I didn't mean to imply anything。〃
〃Yes you did； Major； but that's your hang…up； not mine。 I know you're a deacon in your church and all； but there's no rule against us living together； even if we were。 We're partners； and withou