"I can't tell you that. Have you told the police?"

"No, of course not."

"Do you know where Steve was on Saturday night?"

"He was with me. He didn't kill Sanchez. I swear it."

"How long had the blackmail been going on?"

"All season. Sultan found out something . . . about Steve's past. At spring training, he told him that he would tell the story unless Steve paid him money. We paid him $5,000 every month."

"Forgive me, but that doesn't seem like a lot of money for someone making Steve's salary."

"I don't think it was just the money. I think Sanchez liked having control over us. He was a terrible man."

"What did he have on Steve? Was it so bad?"

"I can't tell you."

"I understand. But this could be tied up with the murders. Do you know anyone else he was blackmailing?"

"No."

She got up and began to rinse out the coffee cups. I took my cue.

"If you think of anything else, please let me know. I appreciate you giving me this time, Sandi. I really hope things work out for you."

"Thank you for being understanding."

Karin Gardiner walked with me to the elevator.

"You'll be careful, won't you? She shouldn't have told you. She doesn't realize how it might look."

"But it might help catch a murderer. Don't worry. I'm not going to write anything about blackmail."

As the elevator came, we shook hands.

"Trust me," I said.

"I haven't much choice."

Chapter 16.

I went from Sandi's to the office. I tried to reach Joe Kelsey, but he wasn't at home or with Eddie Carter. I left a message for him with Carter's wife, then called the gallery. Sally answered.

"How's T.C.?"

"Great. He thinks it's all a terrific adventure."

"I'm worried about you both."

"Don't worry. Your cute cop friend has sent an inconspicuous young man to stay with us for the next couple of days. I've put him to work helping T.C. with his homework. I called the school and got some assignments. There was one creepy thing, though."

"What's that?"

"The principal's office said that a man had called, someone saying he was his father. He said he was going to pick him up after school. Roger is still in Windsor, and he didn't call."

"Someone's looking for him, or the glove. The break-in wasn't a coincidence."

"Exactly."

"I don't like it."

"I'm not too fond of it myself, but we're well protected."

"Good. I'll call you from the ballpark and see you when I get home."

"Okay. Don't worry."

I was working on my story when Jake Watson wandered by.

"What have you got?"

"Bereaved widow ponders the meaning of life and death, while small son with big blue eyes wonders where his daddy's gone. And she's not pondering it anywhere else but the Planet."

"That's my girl."

"Right. Am I covering alone tonight?"

"No. Glebe's going to be there to do a column. Do you need any more help?"

"At some point I will. You're working me pretty hard these days."

"I'll make it up to you when the season's over."

"If I last that long."

"You can do it, kid."

"Not if you don't leave me alone and let me finish this heart-rending piece of work."

"I'll buy you a beer when you're done."

"You're on."

I'd finished by three-thirty and Jake and I adjourned to the Final Edition, the bar on the main floor of the Planet building. It was full of the drunken dregs of the lunch crowd, complaining about their editors' insensitivity, churlishness, and general stupidity. The same scene was played out by the same crowd almost every day. We managed to get the waitress's attention and ordered a couple of beers, cold and fast.

"That was a tough one. I like Sandi Thorson. She's going through a hard time."

"I'm surprised at your sentimentality, Kate."

"This cactus-like exterior hides a sensitive flower underneath, boss. You know that."

"Yeah, sure. What else have you got? Any line on the killer?"

"None I can write about yet, but there's some interesting stuff I can use after it's over."

I told him what Munro had told me and what I'd been able to dig up about blackmail. I also told him that I had recognized Kelsey's voice on the tape from Sanchez's apartment. Jake was a friend as well as a boss, and I trusted him absolutely. He wouldn't betray a confidence, and I needed him as a sounding board.

"The problem is, none of it hangs together. Thorson appears to have had a motive, but if he killed Sanchez, who killed Thorson? And it certainly couldn't have been Thorson in Sally's apartment last night."

"Have you talked to Munro today?"

"Not yet. I want to talk to Joe Kelsey first."

"Are you sure? You're taking a risk."

"Not at the ballpark. There are lots of people around. Besides, I know it couldn't be Joe."

"Just be careful."

I finished my beer, stood up, and saluted.

"Yessir, boss. I'll talk to you later."

I went back to the office and picked up a phone message from Andy Munro. No more "Staff Sergeant Munro," eh? I put it in my pocket and left for the ballpark.

I went immediately to the Titan clubhouse, which the police had reopened. No Joe. I went into the players' lounge, which was empty. I heard noises from the weight room and poked my head around the corner. Joe was there, alone, working on one of the machines.

"Hi, Kate," he grunted. "I got your message. Sorry I didn't call back."

"That's okay. I knew where to find you. Can we talk?"

"For a minute."

I didn't know how to begin.

"This is a bit tough, Preacher. We've got to talk, but you must trust me. What you tell me never has to come out."

He stopped working the machine and picked up a towel.

"Yeah?"

"I heard a tape of the messages left on Sultan's answering machine Saturday night. The police wanted to see if I recognized any of the voices. I lied and told them I didn't."

He wiped his face and sat down on a bench.

"They're going to ask you about it eventually. They know which players were at Brandy's that night."

"What if I did call?"

"Preacher, was Sultan blackmailing you?"

"Why are you asking?"

"I know he was blackmailing at least one other player. Was that why you were calling him? You said something about having the money. If it wasn't blackmail, the police think it was for drugs. Which was it?"

"Not drugs, Kate. I'm through with that. I swear it."

I wanted to believe him.

"You've got to talk, Joe. They're suspicious of you because of the bat and because of your fight with Steve. This is no time to be hiding anything."

I put my hand on his arm.

"Kate, believe me. There are some things I have to hide."

"And Sultan found out?"

He nodded, and was about to speak when Stinger Swain walked in. He stopped, then leered at us.

I stepped back, embarrassed.

"Looking for some Christian counselling, Miss Lonelyhearts? Or is God's own Superstar looking for a bit of ink? Or are you both looking for a little privacy?"

"Shut up, Stinger." Kelsey brushed past him and left the room.

"Do you work at being an asshole, Swain?"

"Watch your language, Katie, baby. You wouldn't want me to think you're not a lady, now, would you?"

He was still laughing, a horrible cackling sound, when I went out the door.

I looked for Joe, but he was shagging fly balls in right field. He avoided me until it was time for the press to leave the field.

Gloves Gardiner had nothing new to tell me.

"Look, Gloves. I know that Sanchez was blackmailing at least two players. That could be why he was killed, but I'd bet big money it was neither of the two I know about. Are you sure you can't think of anything a little bit out of the ordinary that might help?"

"There's one thing. Karin and I were out for dinner a couple of weeks ago and we ran into Sultan having a drink with David Sloane. Sultan was drinking, that is, not Sloane."