The two detectives said nothing.
"Cheer up," she said.
Carella nodded.
Nellie shook hands with Meyer.
"Good night," she said. "I'll talk to you.”
"Good night," he said.
She extended her hand to Carella. He took it.
"Good night," she said. "Good night, Nellie.”
Their eyes met.
"Come on," she said. "Half a loaf is better than none.”
Carella nodded.
He was thinking that yesterday afternoon Samson Wilbur Cole had walked out of that courtroom a free man, and today Emma Katherine Bowles was walking, too. He was thinking that nowadays if you got anywhere near half a loaf you were lucky.
Most of the time, all you got were the crumbs left on the table.
"Come on, Steve," she said softly.
For an instant-but only an instant-it seemed as if she might lean in to kiss him gently and comfortingly on the cheek. The moment passed. She released his hand.
"See you guys," she said, and went out of the squadroom.
THE END