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"Well, Detective Meyer, I think I'd like to know right now what this is all about, or I shall feel compelled to advise my client to remain silent."

Meyer took a deep breath. Willis shrugged in resignation.

"We feel your client possesses knowledge of an impending crime," Meyer said.

"What crime?"

"Well, if you'll permit us to question him …"

"No, not until you answer me," Baum said.

"Mr. Baum," Willis said, "we can book him for Compounding, Section 570 of the Penal Law, or we can book him for …"

"Just a moment, young man," Baum said. "Would you mind explaining that?"

"Yes, sir, we have reason to believe that your client has been promised money or other property to conceal a crime. Now that's either a felony or a misdemeanor, sir, depending on what the crime is he's agreed to conceal. I think you know that, sir."

"And what's this crime he's agreed to conceal?"

"We might also be able to book him for Conspiracy, Section 580, if he's actually involved in this planned crime."

"Do you have definite knowledge that a crime is to take place?" Baum asked.

"We have reasonable knowledge, sir, yes, sir."

"You realize, do you not, that no agreement amounts to a conspiracy

unless some act beside such agreement is done to effect the object thereof?"

"Look, Mr. Baum," Meyer said, "this isn't a court of law, so let's not argue the case right here and now, okay? We're not going to book your client for anything provided he co-operates a little and answers …"

"I hope I didn't detect a threat in that statement," Baum said.

"Oh, for Christ's sake," Meyer said, "we know that a man named Anthony La Bresca and another man named Peter Calucci are planning to commit a crime, misdemeanor or felony we don't know which, on March fifteenth. We also have very good reason to believe that your client here knows exactly what they're up to and has demanded money from them to keep such knowledge or information from reaching the police. Now, Mr. Baum, we don't want to pull in La Bresca and Calucci for conspiracy because (a) it wouldn't stick without that 'act' you were talking about, and (b) we might end up with only a misdemeanor, depending on what they've cooked up. As I'm sure you know, if they've planned the crime of murder, kidnaping, robbery One, selling narcotics, arson or extortion, and if they've committed some act other than their agreement to pull the job, each of them is guilty of a felony. And as I'm sure you also know, some very big officials in this city were recently murdered, and the possibility exists that La Bresca and Calucci are somehow involved and that this crime they've planned may have to do with extortion or murder, or both, which would automatically make the conspiracy a felony. As you can see, therefore, we're not after your client per se, we're merely trying to prevent a crime. So can we cut all the legal bullshit and get a little co-operation from you, and especially from him?"

"It seems to me he's been co-operating splendidly," Baum said.

"It seems to me he's been lying splendidly," Meyer said.

"Considering what's involved here …" Baum started.

"Mr. Baum, could we please …?"

"… I think you had better charge Mr. Di Fillippi with whatever it is you have in mind. We'll let the courts settle the matter of his guilt or innocence."

"While two hoods pull off their job, right?"

"I'm not interested in the entrapment of two hoodlums," Baum said. "I'm advising my client to say nothing further, in accordance with the rights granted to him under …"

"Thanks a lot, Mr. Baum."

"Are you going to book him, or not?"

"We're going to book him," Meyer said.

"For what?"

"Compounding a crime, Section 570 of the Penal Law."

"Very well, I suggest you do that with reasonable dispatch," Baum said. "It seems to me he's been held in custody an extremely long time as it is. I know you're aware …"

"Mr. Baum, we're aware of it inside out and backwards. Take him down, Hal. Charge him as specified."

"Hey, wait a minute," Di Fillippi said.

"I suggest that you go with them," Baum said. "Don't worry about a thing. Before you're even arraigned, I'll have contacted a bail bondsman. You'll be back on the street …"

"Hey, wait one goddamn minute," Di Fillippi said.

"What if those two guys go ahead with …?"

"Dominick, I advise you to remain silent."

"Yeah? What can I get for this 'compounding,' whatever the hell it is?"

"Depends on what they do," Meyer said.

"Dominick …"

"If they commit a crime punishable by death or by life imprisonment you can get five years. If they commit …"

"What about a holdup?" Di Fillippi asked.

"Dominick, as your attorney, I must again strongly advise you …"

"What about a holdup?" Di Fillippi said again.

"Is that what they've planned?" Meyer said.

"You didn't answer me."

"If they commit a robbery, and you take money from them to conceal the crime, you can get three years in prison."

"Mmm," Di Fillippi said.

"Will you answer some questions for us?"

"Will you let me go if I do?"

"Dominick, you don't have to …"