This is going to be looking at stuff from the other end, in its way.
“None taken.” Bernice had her ‘sardonic drawl’ down good, Greg noted. “Sir, why aren’t we taking this man in custody?”
“Because I haven’t done anything yet, Inquisitor Jones. At least, not where anybody can see. Besides, it’s a free country, isn’t it? A man wants to stop by, offer a friendly suggestion or two, why, there’s no harm in that. But we all have things to do, places to see, problems to solve. I shan’t keep you further.” Behind him, the van started up again. Nick touched his hat as the side door opened. “Good day, Inquisitors. No gods but ours!”
Bernice flicked Greg a look as the van pulled out of the parking lot. “We’re not following them?”
“Nope, Jones. Now, can you tell me why we’re not?”
It took her a second, but she got it. “Because they want us to? Only, you said it wasn’t an ambush.” She stopped, one hand still holding her seat belt strap. “They’d lead us all over the city, wouldn’t they? And while we were doing that, we wouldn’t be doing our job.”
“Got it in one,” Greg agreed. “Now tell me the implications of that,” he went on as they pulled out of the parking lot.