There was little to be gained by frightening these poor civilians worse than they had already been frightened. It was almost always the same on these calls … break-in in progress. Before they could arrive on the scene, the burglar was long gone, probably hiding under a car somewhere three or four blocks away. Or safely behind the wheel of a non-descript sedan, motoring calmly back into the city, richer enough, if he was lucky, to feed his habit for another twenty-four hours. If not, it was back to the streets. Maybe this time an elderly pensioner coming home from the late movies, or a newsstand operator going to work. But wherever, however, he would get what he needed to keep him flying for another day. There was never any choice for a heroin addict.

The door opened as they stepped onto the covered front porch and a fortyish woman wearing an expensive-looking robe ushered them in with a salesgirl's smile. «Come in, Officers, come in. I'm so glad you got here quickly,» she gushed. «My daughter Lucy and I have been scared out of our wits. I tell you, it was horrible. Horrible! Oh where are my manners … I'm Kate Barrett, you know, of Barrett's Department Store down at the shopping center.»

«Yes, ma'am.»

«And this is my daughter Lucy. Would you two fine officers care for something to drink? I know you can't drink on duty, but I could spill a little brandy when I pour your coffee,» she said, lowering her voice as if Lucy was too young to hear, and winking at the two policemen. But there was little doubt about Lucy's maturity, as both officers quickly noticed. She was wearing just what she had on when they heard the glass breaking by the back door – baby doll pajamas you could read a newspaper through, though with her body, who'd want to read a newspaper? Officer Manners took out his note-pad and began to record the facts, but his eyes kept wandering from the pad and stealing surreptitious glances at the most beautiful chest he had seen in a long time. Christ, he thought, if my old lady had a pair of knockers like those, I'd never leave the house!