Noah tipped back his bottle of beer, took a swallow and gave his friend a long look across the booth where they were just finishing a late lunch.

"Okay," he said, setting the bottle down. "Out with it."

Jeff gave him a lopsided grin. "Out with what?"

"Whatever you've been dying to ask me since I walked in here." He chuckled. "For a detective you don't make a very good interrogator."

"Not so, my friend." Jeff took a drink of his own beer. "The hallmark of ...