After all, there was no sense in making an enemy out of Lynch.

Lynch said, "I can have him there by then, and you can get together and talk."

Malone ducked past Lynch, rubbed at his chin and looked for Mike.

He looked at Lynch for a long minute, and then said: "Lieutenant—"

"And that means I'm going to have to be informed," Lynch said.

Lynch opened his mouth, closed it and then took the notebook.

Lynch was doing yeoman duty, but it was hard to tell what side he was on.

"Just a general feeling of noise is all we get," Lynch said.

Lynch's voice was already coming over it when Malone thumbed it on.

Unfortunately, Malone thought, Lynch had had absolutely no choice.