Suddenly I could see an APD officer inside the copter talking to the pilot-no one I knew through Rand, but clearly high ranking and highly interested.

I laughed out loud. "Secret-agent-man, now copter-salesman- man-"

"It wasn't my idea," he said, mouth quirking up in an embarrassed smile that made him seem even less 'agent' and even more 'human'. "They're fun, but personally, I drive a Prius."

"Riiight," I said. "Well, as it so happens I've made an appointment for my break, but I don't want you to have wasted all the gas on this trip. What can I do for you?"

"Based on your comments last night, I believe you can help our investigation into the murder. I had hoped to ask you a whole series of questions," he said, calmly staring up at me, radiating disapproval without dropping into an accusatory tone. "Is this appointment of yours something that can't wait?"

"Yes, it's urgent, and a friend is doing me a favor," I said. Suddenly, inspiration struck me. "Hang on. You don't happen to have a picture of the victim's tattoo on you?"

"Why?" I expected him to say 'yes' or 'no' or play neutral, but he had a cheerful directness that was hard not to like, and when he pursed his lips thoughtfully I felt like I could stare at his lips all day. Then they moved. "It is evidence, you know."

"I'm seeing a graphomancer," I said. "Maybe she could shed some light on it-more information about what the mark does, or who did the design."

He leaned back, thinking, and, damnit, I started to think the smile was just from looking at me. "I thought you said Sumner did it?"

"Sumner didn't do his own designs," I said. "He used graphomancers. Even I use graphomancers-"