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morning. You’ll need their report for your insurance.”
    Wilson made a disgusted snort as he helped Ethan carry the pile of shattered glass on the cardboard to the garbage can.
    “There’s no insurance here, lady. We pay as we go, one oyster at a time. I’m not made of money.”
    He cocked an eye at Pike.
    “You know what that emergency room is gonna cost?”
    Wilson appeared to be breathing hard. Pike thought he had probably left the hospital against the doctor’s advice, but here he was, making his place right. Pike liked him for that, and knew he would play it the same way. He turned back to Dru.
    “Anything missing?”
    “No, the police had us look. They just broke the window and threw in the paint. I don’t think they came inside.”
    Wilson said, “It was the same two cops as yesterday, the Mexican gal, what’s her name?”
    Dru frowned.
    “Officer Hydeck probably wouldn’t appreciate being called a Mexican. Or a gal.”
    “She’s supposed to tell the detectives, for all the good that’s gonna do. I said, you know what, do me a favor, don’t. You shoulda seen those idiots who came to the hospital.”
    Wilson stopped sweeping to squint at Pike.
    “What’s with all the questions about you? They were more interested in you than me. They’re not gonna find the asshat who did this.”
    Dru glanced up at Pike.
    “It has to be the man they arrested, doesn’t it? Him and his friend?”
    Pike explained about Mendoza being still in custody, which left Wilson thoroughly disgusted.
    “Doesn’t matter if it was him or his friends or his goddamned relatives. You watch. When he gets out, he’s gonna come back and break it himself.”
    Wilson lifted the broom to continue sweeping, but hesitated as if he had lost his train of thought. Then he pivoted in a slow circle and staggered into the tables.
    Dru screamed, “Wilson!”
    Ethan caught him first, sagging with the older man’s weight as Pike grabbed Wilson’s arms.
    Wilson clutched a table for support and eased onto a stool.
    “I’m okay. Just lemme sit—”
    Dru’s face had paled.
    “You take it easy now. Breathe. You calm down, and I’m taking you home.”
    He pushed at her hands, but Pike caught his wrists and put himself between them. Wilson tried to pull away, but couldn’t. Pike made his voice gentle.
    “You’re going to hurt yourself. You see?”
    Wilson glared up at him, but Pike did not move, and didn’t let go. Pike held him until Wilson relaxed. Then Pike let go, and Wilson averted his eyes.
    “We got the glass man coming. We have to get this mess cleaned up. We get this mess squared away, I’ll go home, but, Jesus, give it a rest.”
    Pike looked at Dru, then gave them some space.
    He walked out the front door and stood on the sidewalk. He thought about the police. Hydeck was a good officer, but this wasn’t the crime of the century. Button and Futardo would have issued paper on Alberto Gomer yesterday. They might or might not have visited his last known address, but if Gomer didn’t answer the door, they weren’t going to spend a lot of time on a simple assault case. They would kick it back to the patrol officers like Hydeck and McIntosh. Gomer’s picture would have been distributed at roll call along with the pictures and warrants of the rapists, murderers, pedophiles, and other dangerous criminals believed to be in the area. Hydeck and McIntosh would probably drop a word with the Venice bangers they knew, asking about the vandalism, and telling them it better not happen again, but that was as far as their investigation would go. They were too busy cleaning up after the rapists and murderers.
    Pike scanned the buildings and cars and rooflines again. He waited for the feeling that he was being watched, but now he felt nothing and went back inside.
    He looked at Wilson first, then Dru.
    “This won’t happen again.”
    Wilson scowled.
    “What are you, a swami? How do you know it won’t happen again?”
    “I’ll talk to