Squeeze Me

Crosby is sickened as he watches the President publicly denounce illegal aliens on TV. Diego’s situation is dire: “Diego Beltrán had been indicted, tried and convicted in a breezy golf-course rant. Finding an untainted jury anywhere but the North Pole would be impossible” (123). Demonstrators have begun to gather outside Diego’s jail cell, maintaining continuous protests.

As the police chief contemplates the grim spectacle, he gets an unexpected visit from Angie, who reveals her theory about how Kiki died. Crosby discloses details of the investigation, and they compare notes. Angie also informs him that she has set up Uric for capture. Posing as someone from the tip hotline, she has instructed Uric to go to a nearby bank the following morning to collect his reward. Angie urges Crosby to have a police detail waiting for him there.

Meanwhile, Mockingbird has become interested in the news story of Kiki’s stolen jewelry. She is fascinated by the conch pearls and resolves to get a pair of earrings made from them. Angie’s friend Spalding now works as a waiter at Casa Bellicosa, and he tells Mockingbird that divers in his homeland of South Africa are able to find the best conch pearls.