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A block later； one of the motorcycle cops disguised as a Shriner reported sighting a heavyset black male resembling Daniel 〃Viceroy〃 Wilson； watching the parade from the steps of the county courthouse。
As the queen's float passed the building； Keyes leaned out of the octopus's mouth to see a squad of officers swarm up the marble steps like indigo ants。 The search proved fruitless； however； three large black men were briefly detained； questioned； and released。 They were； in order of size； a Boca Raton stockbroker； a city councilman from Cleveland； and a seven…foot Rastafarian marijuana wholesaler。 None bore the slightest resemblance to Viceroy Wilson； and the motorcycle cop's radio alert was dismissed as a false alarm。
Al Garcia refused to take any painkillers while he watched the parade from his hospital room in Homestead。 He wanted to be fully cognizant； and he wanted his vision clear。 Two young nurses asked if they could sit and watch with him； and Garcia was delighted to have pany。 One of the nurses remarked that Michael Landon was the second…handsomest man on television； next to Rick Springfield； the singer。
As the floats rolled by； Garcia impatiently drummed the plaster cast that was glued to his left side。 He worried that if trouble broke out； the TV cameras wouldn't show it； that's the way it worked at baseball games； when fans ran onto the field。 Prime time was too precious to waste on misfits。
Finally the queen's float came into view； emitting a tremulous screech that Garcia took for brake trouble； when actually it was just the whale music。 One of the nurses remarked on how gorgeous Kara Lynn looked； but Garcia wasn't paying attention。 He put on his glasses and squinted at the dopey octopus's smile until he spotted Keyes； his schoolboy face bobbing in and out of the shadow。 Pain and all； Garcia had to chuckle。 Poor Brian looked wretched。
At 8：55； the last marching band clanged into view playing something by Neil Diamond。 The NEC cameras cut back to Jane Pauley and Michael Landon in the blue booth：
Pauley： Another thrilling Orange Bowl spectacle！ I don't know how they do it； year after year。 ＇Cut to Landon。＇
Landon： It's amazing； isn't it； Jane？ I'd just like to thank NEC and the Orange Bowl organizers for inviting us to spend New Year's Eve in beautiful South Florida。 One of the local weathermen just handed me a list of temperatures around the country and； before we sign off； I'd like to share some of these ＇holds up temp list＇。 New York； twenty…one 。。。
Pauley ＇VOJ＇： Brrrrr。
Landon： Wichita； nine below； Knoxville； thirty…nine； Chicago； three degrees and snow！ Indianapolis…Jane； are you ready？ ＇Cut to Pauley。＇
Pauley： Oh boy； let's have it。
Landon： Six degrees！
Pauley ＇pinning on a Go Irish！ button＇： Home sweet home。 Well； I promised everyone I'd bring back some fresh oranges； but I'm just sorry there's no way to package this magnificent Miami sunshine。 Thanks for joining us 。。。 good night； everybody。
Landon ＇two…shot； both waving； major smiles＇。 'Night； everybody。 Happy New Year！
Garcia reached for the remote control and turned the channel。 A show about humorous TV bloopers came on and Garcia asked the nurses for a shot of Demerol。 He lay thinking about the killing of Jesus Bernal and the peaceful parade； and contemplated the possibility that the madness was really over。 He felt immense relief。
Ten minutes later the phone rang； sounding five miles away。 It was the chief of police。
〃Hey； Al； how you feeling？〃
〃Pretty damn good； boss。〃
〃We did it； huh？〃
Garcia didn't want to quibble。 〃Yeah；〃 he said。
〃Did you see the pageant？〃
〃Yeah； it was just great。〃
〃Looks like the Nachos are history； buddy。〃
〃Looks that way；〃 Garcia said； thinking： This is the same bozo who thought I wrote the Fuego letters。 But this time he just might be right。 It looks like Wiley took the deep…six after all。
〃What do you say we shitcan the task force？〃 the chief said。
〃Sure。〃 There was no good argument against it。 The parade was over； the girl was safe。
〃First thing tomorrow I'll do up a release。〃
〃Fine； boss。〃
〃And； Al； on my honor： you're getting all the credit on this one。 All the credit you deserve。〃
For what？ Garcia wondered as he hung up。 It wasn't like I shot down the goddamn chopper myself。
After the parade； Brian Keyes drove back to the Shivers house and started packing。 Reed Shivers and his wife got home thirty minutes later。
〃See； all that panic for nothing；〃 Shivers said smugly。
〃I get paid to panic；〃 Keyes said； stuffing his clothes into a canvas athletic bag。 He felt drained and empty。 The end wasn't supposed to have been this easy； but Wiley's moment had e and gone…if the bastard really had been alive； Keyes thought； he would have shown up。 With bells on。
〃Where's Kara Lynn？〃 Keyes asked。
〃She went to a wrap party with the other girls；〃 Mrs。 Shivers said。
〃A wrap party。〃
〃A little tradition in beauty pageants；〃 Mrs。 Shivers explained。 〃Girls only。〃
〃You'd best be off；〃 Reed Shivers said。 He was trying to light his pipe； sucking on the stem like a starving carp。 〃There was a lady from the Eileen Ford agency in the stand…she picked up on Kara Lynn right away。 I'm expecting a call anytime。〃
〃Wonderful；〃 Keyes said。 〃Book a room at the Plaza。〃
The Shiverses walked him to the door。
〃Is your friend going to be all right？〃 Mrs。 Shivers asked。 〃The Cuban policeman。〃
〃I think so。 He's a tough guy。〃
〃You're a brave young man yourself；〃 she said。 Her tone of voice made it plain that she was addressing the hired help。 〃Thank you for all you've done for Kara Lynn。〃
〃Yes；〃 Reed Shivers said grudgingly。 He extended his golden…brown hand； a Yale man's polite but superior handshake。 〃Drive carefully now；〃 he said。
〃Good night； Mr。 and Mrs。 Cleaver。〃
They nodded blankly and shut the front door。
Keyes was standing at the trunk of the MG； squirming out of the shoulder holster； when a brown Buick pulled into the driveway and Kara Lynn got out。 She had changed into blue jeans and a papery white sleeveless blouse； she carried her Orange Bowl gown on a plastic hanger。
〃Where you going； Marlowe？〃
〃Back to the other side of town。〃
A female voice from the Buick shouted： 〃Kara； is that him？〃
Kara Lynn smiled bashfully and waved her friends to leave。 The Buick honked twice as it sped off。
〃We had a little wine；〃 she said。 〃I told 'em about you。〃
Keyes laughed。 〃The private eye in the octopus。〃
Kara Lynn laid the gown across the hood of the sports car and glanced up at the house； checking for her parents at the window。 Then she put her arms around Keyes and said； 〃Let's go somewhere and make love。〃
Keyes kissed her softly。 〃Your folks are waiting inside。 Somebody from a model agency is supposed to call。〃
〃Who cares？〃
〃Your old man。 Besides； I'm worn out。〃
〃Hey； don't look so blue。 We made it。〃 Playfully she took his hands and placed them on her buttocks。 〃The mother lode is safe；〃 she said； kissing him hard。 〃Good work； kiddo。〃
〃I'll call you tomorrow。〃
A yellow porch light came on over the front door。
〃Daddy waits；〃 said Kara Lynn； frowning。
Keyes climbed into the MG an