“I doubt I could help you with anything.”

“Don’t be so sure, Victor. We think your help can be enormous.”

“Like the fat lady at the circus,” said Hanratty.

“Are we talking about your mother again, Hanratty?” I said.

“Let’s start with tonight, shall we?” said Sims. “When did you meet up with Mrs. Denniston, and where?”

I closed my eyes, tried to figure out what I should do, failed, and decided instead to punt. “You haven’t read me my rights.”

“You’re not a suspect, Victor. We don’t need to read you your rights, which you, anyway, know better than we do. But we would very much appreciate your full assistance.”

“And I would appreciate a full body massage.”

“And a happy ending, too, I assume.”

“Are you volunteering?”

He shook his head wearily. “You’re not going to help.”

I glanced at the mirror. “Not tonight I won’t.”

“Maybe Hanratty here can persuade you,” said Sims. “My wife once asked him over to help rearrange our furniture. He made a mess of it, of course, smashed china, battered walls. Like a bull in the bridal section of Macy’s. I wouldn’t want that to happen to your face, not that it couldn’t use some rearranging.”

I rubbed my jaw.

“Make it easy on yourself, Victor.”

“I don’t think so,” I said. “One of those rights you failed to read to me is the right to remain silent. I don’t exercise much, but I’m exercising that.”

“We could subpoena you and drop you in front of a grand jury.”

“And I could plead the Fifth unless you give me immunity.” I turned to the mirror and grinned. “Are you ready to give me immunity, right here and right now?”

“What did I tell you?” said Hanratty.