�Unit 1-7-3-Beta, item Southbound on Eleventh Avenue.�

�Unit 1-8-9er Alpha, 10-4. Item is proceeding to Joe DiMaggio Highway.� After a few seconds, the radio crackled again, �Unit 1-8-9er Alpha, item has exited Little West Street.�

�10-4.�

Dr. Hubley and Dr. Pachla sat quietly on the couch. They were tired and dirty, and their stomachs took turns growling. Each time one of their heads lolled forward, one of their jailers would toss a book on the ground in front of them or menace them with a knife.

�Look, ladies,� the Ricardo-voice said from behind. �It has become very apparent to me that one or both of you are in love with this Denby person. But let me assure you, he is the lowest form of scum that crawls the earth. I can�t tell you how many times women have told me how much they wished a brother or an uncle would have knocked some sense into them so they would not take up with the wrong sort of man. Well, here I am. I am your brother, your uncle. I�m here to tell you that you are only hurting yourself by protecting him.�

�You�re wrong. We don�t even know Denby,� Dr. Pachla said. �I don�t know any other way I can explain this to you. Even if you torture and kill us, we are not able to give you the information you seek.�

�Would you really treat your own sister, your niece, this way?� Dr. Hubley whispered. She wished desperately she could have stared him in the eye when she said that. She didn�t dare move her already-aching head, though, fearing the men behind her would pistol-whip her again. Seconds later, Dr. Hubley had to fight the impulse to turn her head again when the door to the warehouse opened and footsteps approached.

�Dr. Muzqu�z,� the Ricardo-voice said from behind them. �Thank you for coming. Are you certain you were not followed?�

�Absolutely certain. I took a circuitous route. I thought someone was behind me on Seventh, but I lost him when I turned,� Dr. Muzqu�z said with a smug voice.

�Why am I not surprised you are here?� Dr. Pachla sighed.

�If you had just minded your business as you were told, we wouldn�t be having this little conversation,� Dr. Muzqu�z sneered.

�I think it�s a fair question,� Dr. Hubley started, then winced at movement in her peripheral vision.

�What? She didn�t ask anything,� Dr. Muzqu�z said.