to compromise your ethics. We'll work something out. Forget we mentioned it."

to compromise your ethics. We'll work something out. Forget we mentioned it."

saying long e's, so that it came out "reeleenos."

"Refried bean knishes?" said Paul.

"Sort of a cross between a deep-fried burrito and a potato pancake," Wyrdrune said.

Paul's eyes grew wide. "Andchrayn? "

"Horseradish sauce. Broom must have been reading your Mexican cookbooks. We're about to have

Mexican food, deli style."

Paul rolled his eyes. "Oy,gevalt! " he said.

The watch room was full to capacity. All the seats were taken and police officers stood at the back and

along the sides of the room, as well as by the stairs. Each of them had a pad and pen and was taking

notes. The sergeant had brought them all to order and handed the briefing over to Loomis, who went up

to the podium.

"All right, people, before I proceed, one word of caution," he said. "What you're about to hearstays in

this room, understood?" He looked around at them. "That means you don't tell your wives, or your

husbands, or your girlfriends or your boyfriends or your best buddies, you don't tellanybody . And if any

member of the press so much as looks in your direction, you develop a sudden case of lockjaw. I don't

want any leaks on this one. Because if one word of this gets out, I'll make each and every one of your

lives so miserable you'll want to eat your gun.Got it? "