"Thank you. I'm a lawyer. I understand."

"Are you? Well… Cucullus non facit monachum."

Translated, the cowl does not make the monk. That really hurt. "Look, Phyllis-"

"No-you listen, I speak. Apologize to that detective. Kiss his… his fanny as much as it takes, then be gone. I promised him you'd depart immediately."

I glanced again at the briefcase by the foot of the bed. Bian Tran's eyes followed mine, and she smiled. I needed to even the score, and I knew how to do it.

I informed Phyllis, and by extension Enders and Tran, who were being rude and eavesdropping, "Of course. I'll just tell Enders you changed your mind."

"I… What?"

"Problem-? No… Detective Enders looks like a bright guy with good sense-"

"You'll explain nothing. I told you-"

"Complications? Just one. Call the Office of the Secretary of Defense."

"Drummond, are you listening to-"

"Exactly-what is a military police officer doing in a civilian apartment building outside military jurisdiction and poking her nose into this?"

Enders recognized something was amiss, and he was now staring with some annoyance at Tran. For some reason she had lost her smile. Actually, she looked pissed.

Phyllis, also annoyed, was saying, "Drummond, you're out of your mind. The last thing we want-"

"Tell Jim… I mean, the Director… tell him we'll discuss this when I return." I punched off and handed the phone to Enders, who regarded me with newfound appreciation.

Major Tran also was looking at me, probably wondering how she was going to spend the rest of her day. She suggested to me, with a tiny note of apprehension, "We need to have a word. Alone."

Enders demanded, "What's going on here?"

I turned to Enders. "Understand that the victim was a Pentagon employee. He worked in a very sensitive office and possibly there are highly classified materials in his briefcase. I suspect that's why the major is here." I gave Tran a pointed look and added, "I know that's why I'm here."