G Is for Gumshoe

enforcement. With the underpowered thirty-two round, penetration is the most important-"
    "All right. I got it," I said irritably. "Is that all you did last night? Sit around thinking up this stuff?"
    "That's all I did," he said. He opened the paper and checked the front page. "Actually I have a Colt.45 out in the car. You can practice with both guns when we go up to the firing range."
    "When are we doing that?"
    "After the gun shop opens at ten."
    "I don't want to go out."
    "We're not going to let the guy affect your life this way." His gray eyes came up to mine. "Okay?"
    "I'm scared," I said.
    "Why do you think we're doing this?"
    "What about the banquet?"
    "I think we should go. He won't make another move for days. He wants you to think about your mortality. He wants your anxiety to mount until you jump every time the phone rings."
    "I already do that."
    "Have some breakfast. You'll feel better."
    I poured my cereal and some milk, still brooding while I ate.
    Dietz broke the silence, looking across the paper at me. "I want to say one thing again so listen carefully," he said. "A truly professional assassin kills either at close range or very long range. Up close, the weapon of choice would probably be a suppressed.22 long rifle with subsonic ammunition. From a distance, a bolt-action.308. Messinger is a bad-ass, but he's also an amateur. I'm going to nail him."
    "What if he gets you first?"
    "He won't." He went back to the sports section.
    I felt better, I swear to God.

15
    Dietz and I went to the office first. I checked my answering machine (no messages) while he glanced at the mail from the day before (no letter bombs). I locked up again and we went next door to the California Fidelity offices, where Vera was just getting in. She was wearing a two-piece outfit of red parachute material, long flowing skirt, blousy top with long sleeves and a red belt at the waist. Since I'd seen her yesterday, her hair had turned very blond, with streaks, and her glasses had changed to aviator shades with blue lenses. As usual she looked like the kind of woman any guy would love to jump out of an airplane with, an effect that wasn't lost on Dietz. She was carrying a garment on a hanger, covered by a cleaning bag. "Oh hi. You guys going tonight?"
    "That's what we stopped by to tell you," I said. "Should I call the hotel?"
    "I already did that," she said. "I figured you'd be there. This is for you." She indicated the cleaning bag. "Come on back to my office and you can take a look. This is girl stuff," she said to Dietz. "You still off cigarettes?"
    "Day three," he said.
    I hadn't realized he was counting.
    "This is day seven for me," she said.
    "How are you doing?"
    "Not too bad. I've got all this manic energy. I feel amped. I must have counted on the nicotine to mellow me out. What about you?"
    "I'm okay," he said mildly. "I like to do things to test myself."
    "I'll bet you do," she said and laughed down in her throat. "We'll be back in a sec." She breezed on toward the back.
    "Was that nasty, what you said to him? It sounded nasty," I asked, scurrying to keep up.
    She glanced over her shoulder. "Listen, babycakes, when I get around to nasty you won't have any doubts."
    She anchored the hanger over the edge of her cubicle and stuck an unlit Virginia Slim in her mouth, dragging on it cold. She closed her eyes, as if praying. "Oh God, for a light… for smoke… for the first heady hit of a cigarette…" She opened her eyes and shook her head. "I hate doing things that are good for me. Why did I decide to do this?"
    "You were coughing up blood."
    "Oh yeah. I forgot that part. Ah well. Take a look." She eased the plastic bag off the hanger. Under it was a black silk jumpsuit with spaghetti straps and a tiny belt. The matching jacket had a Mandarin collar and long sleeves. "What do you think?"
    "It looks perfect."
    "Good. Make sure it fits. Otherwise give me a call and I'll scare up something else. You can bring it with you at six and get dressed in my room. I'm staying at the Edgewater so I won't have to drive myself home afterward. I hate having to monitor my alcohol intake."
    "Don't you have a date? I thought you'd be coming with Neil."
    "I'm meeting him there. That way he's free to do anything he wants. I'll bring the jewelry tonight and maybe help you do something with your hair. I can tell I'm going to have to dress you."
    "Vera, I'm not helpless."
    "Of course you're not helpless. You're completely ignorant when it comes to