Pynchon is friends with Lieutenant Polk. Polk is investigating a scheme to manipulate the city's diamond markets. Polk tells him about it in case something happens to him. The scheme becomes more and more complicated, and it eventually turns out that the plan is intentionally going to cut Grendel out of his normal percent of the illegal profits. Polk tells him about this, but says to keep a lid on it until he has proof. Pynchon agrees, but actually goes right off to tell the higher-ups at the police about it, fearing Grendel's power. They immediately interrogate Polk about it, and he is ticked at his friend for telling them.