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out. Otherwise, I'd be drowning in paper.”
    “So what do you need?”
    “Any case of home vandalism that took place during the past two months. I need specifics. The nature of the vandalism. Whether there was an injury involved. The neighborhoods where the crimes took place, which homes.”
    “Why do you need to know which homes?”
    I could picture his frown. “I want a sense of what type of homes are being targeted.” In a way, that was true.
    “Vandals are democratic, Molly. Of course, a run-down neighborhood is a tempting target. So what's your angle?”
    “I'm curious to see if there are patterns. I noticed that some of the vandalism is more serious. Pellet guns, for instance.”
    “We're not living in Mayberry. Everybody's upping the ante. Drivers used to honk at each other. Now they're using AK-47s.” He paused. “So that's your pitch? No offense, Molly, but the IRS manual is probably more exciting.”
    “I'm still fleshing it out.” I wasn't about to tell Connors my theory, which was half-baked at best. “I checked out burglary crime statistics on the LAPD Web site, but there are no details. Vandalism is under Burglary, right?”
    “Right. Unless we're talking gang graffiti. That's handled by S-E-U. Special Enforcement Unit. It used to be called CRASH. Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums. That's tracked pretty regularly.”
    “I'm more interested in home vandalism. Cases in Hollywood, Wilshire, Rampart, Northeast, West L.A., and Southwest.” All of which contained HARP districts.
    “Vandalisms are low priority, although with Bratton as chief, that's changing. Unless there's a stalking or hate crime element—a swastika, for instance. Or if it's a church.” There was a question in his voice.
    “No, nothing like that.”
    “You're looking for a pattern. Any particular MO?”
    Lemons, I thought. “Not that I know of.”
    “If a cop in Burglary noticed a trend in his area, he might write up a crime bulletin that would be distributed to all the divisions and surrounding jurisdictions. Other than that, you'll have to make nice to your pals at the different divisions.”
    “And ask them to photocopy sixty days of DOs? They'll never do it.” If I were a detective,
I
wouldn't do it.
    “They can try FASTRAC.” He spelled it for me.
    “It sounds liked a subway system.”
    “Focus Accounting Strategy Teamwork Resources Commitment.” He repeated it, slowly, while I wrote down the words. “It's a monthly crime control meeting at the bureau level that examines crime statistics. The statistics are derived from a computerized database managed by CADs at each division. Crime Analysis Detail.”
    “CADs? Who comes up with these acronyms?”
    “So if someone were inclined,” Connors continued, ignoring my comment as I'd known he would, “he could ask CAD to do a search for home vandalisms that occurred within the past two months in that division or bureau. Shouldn't take long.”
    “Do they have street addresses?”
    “Sure.”
    “How often is FASTRAC updated?”
    “Every day. I just finished looking at eighteen pages of printouts from last night.”
    I was loving FASTRAC. If I could buy stock in it, I would. “So if someone were inclined, could he get information from
all
the division CADs?”
    “Is that a subtle request?”
    “Can you get it for me, Andy? Plus crime bulletins about vandalism, if there are any.”
    “What about your dry cleaning? Do you want me to pick that up? Walk your dog?”
    “I don't have a dog, but it's nice of you to offer. I really appreciate this, Andy.”
    “I'm a homicide detective, in case you forgot.”
    “One of the best.”
    “
One
of the best?”
    “If I said the best, you'd think I was flattering you just to get my way.”
    “Which you'd
never
do.” He laughed. “I'll check into it.”
    “When should I stop by to get the report?”
    “I'll phone you. It'll be a while.”
    “You said yourself it shouldn't take long.”
    “You're nagging,