the sort of thing you could do in the middle of a cocktail party. Not unless you wanted to be the center of

attention."

"Yeah, I guess that would do it," Loomis said. "So what you're telling me is that I can safely eliminate any

adepts who can produce witnesses to account for their whereabouts last night?"

"Unless the witnesses were involved themselves," Ramirez said.

"I don't even want to think about that," Loomis said. He sighed heavily. "That would mean we had some

sort of cult on our hands, wouldn't it?"

"Not a very attractive possibility," Ramirez replied. "But I wouldn't overlook it."

"You see?" said Loomis with a smile. "You're already starting to think like a cop."

Ramirez grimaced and looked out past the barricades, where the crowd of reporters was waiting. "Do

you suppose there's any way I can avoid all that?"

Loomis beckoned to one of the men. "Have the officer who brought Professor Ramirez down bring his

unit up through the line," he said. "And move those people back so he can get through without being

hassled."

"Thank you," said Ramirez.

"Thankyou ," said Loomis. "I appreciate your help on this. I wouldn't want to have to handle this thing all

by myself."

"I only wish you could," Ramirez said. "Tell me, Lieutenant Loomis—"

"Joe."

"Paul," Ramirez replied. "Tell me something, Joe. Have you ever had to investigate a crime where you

knew a policeman was the perpetrator?"

"Yeah," said Loomis grimly. "Once. Back in Chicago."

"Then you can imagine how I feel right now. I know all the adepts in this town. Many of them are close

friends of mine."

Loomis nodded. "Not a very nice feeling, is it?"

A police cruiser came gliding silently past the police barricades, floating several inches above the ground,

operating on the stored power of its thaumaturgic batteries. It settled gently to the ground and Loomis

opened the back door for Ramirez.

"If any of those reporters bother you at the office, just give them my name and tell them I asked you not

to talk about the case. Better yet, don't even talk to them. Have your secretary run interference for you.

How long do you figure it'll take to get those files together?"

"Not very long. It may take a while to get the clearance for those Bureau files, but I can access most of

the university records through my computer. However, I think it would be best if you were to get a