K R Dwyer (Dean Koontz) - Chase (Original 1972 Ed.) (v2.0)

7/26/2019 K R Dwyer (Dean Koontz) - Chase (Original 1972 Ed.) (v2.0)

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K. R. Dwyer (Dean Koontz) Chase (Original 1972 ed.)

(Revised 1995 and !"lished in Strange Highways)

[Version 2.0 by BuddyDk August 8 2003]

CHASE

#he voi$e on the telehone was tense and !gly. %&o! 'essed in where yo! had no

right 'essing . . . !st want to tell yo! that it doesn*t end here. *ll deal with yo!+ ,r

Chase+ on$e *ve resear$hed yo!r "a$-gro!nd and have weighed a roer !dg'ent onyo!. #hen+ on$e yo!*ve "een 'ade to ay+ *ll deal with the whore+ the llen"y girl./

%Deal with0/ Chase as-ed.

%*' going to -ill yo! and her+ Chase./


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Also available in Star

WHISPERS

NIGHT CHILLS

PHANTOMSSHATTERED


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CHASE

Dean R. Koontz

A STAR BOOK

Published by

the Paperback Division ofW.H. ALLEN & Co. PLC


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tar oo-

3!"lished in 194

"y the 3aer"a$- Division o6

.8. llen & Co. 3C

8ill treet+ ondon 1: 4

;irst !"lished in the


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;or o" 8os-ins


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CHASE

Onet seven o*$lo$-+ seated on the lat6or' as the g!est o6 hono!r+ en Chase was served a "ad roast

"ee6 dinner while vario!s dignitaries tal-ed at hi' 6ro' "oth sides+ "reathing over his salad and his

hal6eaten 6r!it $!. t eight o*$lo$- the 'ayor rose to deliver what roved to "e a "oring anegyri$

to the $ity*s 'ost 6a'o!s Gietna' war hero+ and hal6 an ho!r a6ter he had "eg!n+ resented Chase

with a se$ial s$roll detailing his s!osed a$$o'lish'ents and restating the $ity*s ride in hi'.

8e was also given the -eys to a new ,!stang $onverti"le whi$h he had not "een e>e$ting+ a gi6t

6ro' the ,er$hants/ sso$iation.

y ninethirty Chase was es$orted 6ro' the ron Kettle Resta!rant to the ar-ing lot where his

new $ar waited. t was an eight$ylinder o" with a $o'lete sorts a$-age that in$l!ded a!to'ati$

trans'ission with a 6loor shi6t+ "!$-et seats+ side 'irrors+ whitewalled tyres and a wi$-edly

sar-ling "la$- aint o" that $ontrasted ni$ely with the $ri'son ra$ing stries over the tr!n- and

hood+ red a$$ent lines on "oth sides. t ten 'in!tes a6ter ten+ having osed 6or newsaer

hotograhs with the 'ayor and the o66i$ers o6 the ,er$hants/ sso$iation+ having e>ressed his

gratit!de to everyone resent+ Chase drove away in his reward.

t twenty 'in!tes ast ten he assed thro!gh the s!"!r"an develo'ent -nown as shside+doing slightly 'ore than one h!ndred 'iles an ho!r in a 6orty'ileanho!r zone. 8e $rossed the

threelane ?alasio o!levard against the light+ t!rned a $orner 6o!r "lo$-s on at s!$h a seed that he

lost $ontrol 6or a 'o'ent and sheared o66 a tra66i$ sign. t tenthirty he started ! the long sloe o6

Kana$-away Ridge Road+ trying to see i6 he $o!ld hold the seed a"ove a h!ndred $lear to the

s!''it. t was a dangero!s "it o6 lay+ "!t he did not arti$!larly $are i6 he -illed hi'sel6.

3erhas "e$a!se it had not yet "een "ro-en in+ or erhas "e$a!se the $ar si'ly had not "een

designed 6or that -ind o6 driving+ it wo!ld not er6or' as he wished. #ho!gh he held the a$$elerator

to the 6loor+ the seedo'eter registered at eighty "y the ti'e he was twothirds o6 the way ! the

winding road and had 6allen to seventy when he $rested the rise. 8e too- his 6oot o66 the gas edal+

the 6ire 'o'entarily "!rned o!t o6 hi'+ and let the slee- 'a$hine glide along the 6lat stret$h o6 two

lane that edged the ridge a"ove the $ity.elow lay a anora'a o6 lights to stir the hearts o6 lovers. #ho!gh the le6t side o6 the road lay

against a sheer ro$- wall+ the right was 'aintained as a ar-. ;i6ty yards o6 grassy verge+ dotted

with shr!"s+ led to a restraining rail near the li o6 the $li66. eyond+ the so'eti'es sE!ared and

so'eti'es twisting streets o6 the $ity were e>osed li-e an ele$tri$ 'a+ with se$ial $on$entrations

o6 light toward the downtown area and o!t near the gateway ,all shoing $entre. overs+ 'ostly

teenagers+ ar-ed here+ searated "y stands o6 ine and rows o6 "ra'"les. n are$iation o6 the

dazzling $ity t!rned+ in 'ost every $ase+ dozens o6 ti'es a night+ to are$iation o6 ea$h other.

On$e+ it had even "een that way 6or Chase.

8e !lled the $ar to the "er'+ "ra-ed and $!t the 'otor. #he stillness o6 the night see'ed

$o'lete 6or a 'o'ent+ dee and noiseless. #hen he heard the $ri$-ets+ a $all o6 an owl so'ewhere

$lose "y+ the o$$asional la!ghter o6 yo!ng eole '!66led "y $losed $ar windows.


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tension o6 the sed!$er+ that there was no

'odern Casanova s!$$ess6!l witho!t one.

t was ossi"le+ o6 $o!rse+ that the 'an was engaging in so'e "irddogging+ sotting ar-ers 6or

his own a'!se'ent and their s!rrise. Chase had "een the vi$ti' o6 that ga'e eno!gh ti'es in his

high s$hool years to re'e'"er it well. 8owever+ it was a asti'e !s!ally asso$iated with the

'annerless or !gly or i''at!re+ those -ids who hadn*t the oort!nity to "e inside the $ars where

the real a$tion was. t was not+ so 6ar as Chase -new+ so'ething ad!lts 6o!nd leas!re in. nd this

'an+ easily si> 6oot+ had the "earing o6 an ad!lt+ none o6 the aw-wardness o6 yo!th. nd+ too+ "ird

dogging was a sort 'ost o6ten layed in gro!s as rote$tion against a "eating 6ro' one o6 the

s!rrised lovers. #his+ Chase was s!ddenly s!re+ was so'ething else altogether.

#he 'an $a'e o!t 6ro' "eneath the willow+ still do!"led over and r!nning. 8e stoed againstthe edge o6 a "ra'"le row and loo-ed along it at a threeyearold Chevrolet ar-ed at the end+ near

the sa6ety railing.

Aot s!re what was haening or what he sho!ld do a"o!t it+ Chase t!rned in his seat and wor-ed

the $over o66 the $eiling light in the $ar. 8e !ns$rewed the tiny "!l" and droed it in a o$-et o6

his a$-et. hen he t!rned 6ront again+ he saw that the 'an was at the sa'e la$e+ wat$hing the

Chevrolet+ leaning into the "ra'"les as i6 !naware o6 the'.

girl la!ghed+ the so!nd o6 her voi$e $lear in the night air. o'e o6 the lovers '!st have 6o!nd

it too war' 6or $losed windows.

#he 'an "y the "ra'"les 'oved again+ $losing in on the Chevrolet.

H!ietly+ "e$a!se the 'an was no 'ore than a h!ndred and 6i6ty 6eet 6ro' hi'+ Chase oened the

door and got o!t o6 the ,!stang. 8e let the door stand oen+ 6or he was s!re the so!nd o6 its $losing


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wo!ld alert the intr!der. 8e went aro!nd the $ar and started a$ross the grass+ whi$h had re$ently

"een 'own and was slightly da' and sliery !nder6oot.

head+ a light $a'e on in the Chevrolet+ di66!sed "y the stea'ed windows. o'eone sho!ted+

and a yo!ng girl s$rea'ed. he s$rea'ed again.

Chase had "een wal-ing+ and now he ran as the so!nds o6 a 6ight "!rgeoned ahead. hen he$a'e ! on the Chevrolet+ he saw the door on the driver*s side was oen and the intr!der was

hal6way into the 6ront seat+ 6lailing away at so'ething. hadows "o""led ! and down+ died and

it$hed against the 6rosted glass.

%8old it thereI/ Chase sho!ted+ al'ost dire$tly "ehind the 'an now.

#he stranger reared "a$-+ and as he rose 6ro' the $ar Chase saw the -ni6e. #he 'an held it in his

right hand+ raised as i6 to l!nge it 6orward into so'ething. 8is hand and the weaon were $overed

in "lood.

Chase steed 6orward the last 6ew 6eet+ sla''ed the 'an against the window ost. 8e slied

his ar' aro!nd and "ro!ght it ! "eneath the 'an*s ne$-+ drew his head "a$- and 6or$ed hi' o!t

onto the grass.

#he girl was still s$rea'ing.#he stranger sw!ng his ar' down and "a$-+ trying to $at$h Chase*s thigh with the oint o6 the

"lade. 8e was an a'ate!r. Chase twisted+ 'oving o!t o6 the ar$ o6 the weaon+ si'!ltaneo!sly

drawing his ar' 'ore tightly a$ross the other*s windie.

ro!nd the'+ $ars were starting !. #ro!"le in lovers/ lane "ro!ght g!ilt a6lowering in every

teenage 'ind near"y. Ao one wanted to stay to see what the ro"le' was.

%Dro it+/ Chase said.

#he stranger+ tho!gh he '!st have "een deserate 6or "reath+ sta""ed "a$-ward and 'issed

again.

Chase+ s!ddenly 6!rio!s+ er-ed the 'an onto his toes and alied the last "it o6 e66ort ne$essary

to $ho-e hi' !n$ons$io!s. n the sa'e instant+ the wet grass "etrayed hi'. 8is 6eet slithered+

twisted+ and he went down with the stranger on to. #his ti'e the -ni6e too- Chase in the 'eaty

art o6 his thigh+ !st "elow the hi+ and it was torn 6ro' the other 'an*s hand as Chase "!$-ed !+

tossing hi' aside.

#he 'an rolled and got to his 6eet. 8e too- a 6ew stes toward Chase+ loo-ing 6or the -ni6e+

see'ed s!ddenly to realize the 6or'ida"le nat!re o6 his oonent+ t!rned and ran.

%to hi'I/ Chase sho!ted.

!t 'ost o6 the $ars had gone. #hose still ar-ed along the $li66side rea$ted to this last !roar

!st as their 'ore ti'id $o'rades had a$ted to the 6irst $riesJ lights 6li$-ed on+ engines started+ tyres

sE!ealed as they rea$hed the ave'ent. n a 'o'ent the only $ars in lovers/ lane were the

Chevrolet and Chase*s ,!stang.

#he ain in his leg was "ad+ tho!gh not any worse than a h!ndred others he had end!red. n thelight 6ro' the Chevrolet+ he $o!ld see that the "leeding was slow+ not !gly and rhyth'i$ li-e the

s!rt 6ro' a torn artery. hen he tried+ he $o!ld stand and wal- with little tro!"le.

8e went to the $ar and loo-ed in+ then wished he had not. #he "ody o6 a yo!ng 'an+ erhas

nineteen or twenty+ was srawled hal6 on the seat and hal6 on the 6loor. n the genero!s slashes o6

"lood that $overed hi'+ strea'ing 6ro' what loo-ed li-e two dozen -ni6e wo!nds+ there was roo6

that he $o!ld not "e alive. eyond hi'+ $!rled in the $orner "y the 6ar door+ a etite "r!nette+ a year

or two yo!nger than her lover+ was 'oaning so6tly+ her hands gried so tightly on her -nees that

they loo-ed 'ore li-e $laws lat$hed a"o!t a ie$e o6 ga'e. he was wearing a in- 'inis-irt "!t no

"lo!se or "ra. 8er s'all "reasts were sotted with "lood+ and the niles were ere$t.

Chase wondered why he noti$ed this last detail 'ore lainly than anything else a"o!t the grisly

s$ene.


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%tay there+/ Chase said. %*ll $o'e aro!nd 6or yo!./

he did not resond+ tho!gh she $ontin!ed to 'oan.

Chase al'ost $losed the door on the driver*s side+ then realized that he wo!ld there"y sh!t o66

the light and let the "r!nette alone in the $ar with the $orse. 8e wal-ed aro!nd the $ar+ leaning on

it so that he $o!ld 6avo!r his right leg+ and oened her door. arently these -ids had not "elievedin lo$-s. #hat was+ he s!osed+ art o6 their generation*s oti'is'+ art and ar$el with their

theories on 6ree love+ '!t!al tr!st and "rotherhood. t was the sa'e generation that was s!osed to

live li6e so 6!lly that they all "!t denied the e>isten$e o6 death. #he e>ression on the "r!nette*s

6a$e+ however+ indi$ated that she was no longer trying to deny anything.

%here*s yo!r "lo!se0/ Chase as-ed.

he was no longer loo-ing at the $orse+ "!t she was not loo-ing at hi' either. he stared at her

-nees+ at her whitened -n!$-les+ and she '!'"led.

Chase groed aro!nd on the 6loor !nder her legs and 6o!nd the "alled! gar'ent. %&o! "etter

!t this on+/ he said.

he wo!ld not ta-e it 6ro' hi'. he $ontin!ed to '!'"le.

%Co'e on+ now+/ he said as gently as he $o!ld. 8e was er6e$tly aware that the -iller 'ight nothave gone very 6ar.

he see'ed to "e saying so'ething+ tho!gh her voi$e was lower than "e6ore. hen he "ent

$loser to listen+ he dis$overed that she was saying+ %3lease don*t h!rt 'e. 3lease don*t./

%*' not going to h!rt yo!+/ Chase said+ straightening !. % didn*t do that to yo!r "oy6riend. !t

the 'an who did 'ight still "e hanging aro!nd. ,y $ar*s ! along the road. ill yo! lease $o'e

with 'e0/

he loo-ed ! at hi' then+ "lin-ed+ shoo- her head and got o!t o6 the $ar. 8e handed her the

"lo!se+ whi$h she !nrolled and shoo- o!t "!t $o!ld not see' to get on. he was still in a state o6

sho$-

%&o! $an !t it on in 'y $ar+/ Chase said. %t*s sa6er there./ ll aro!nd+ the shadows !nder the

trees see'ed deeer than "e6ore.

8e !t his ar' aro!nd her and hal6 $arried her "a$- to the ,!stang. #he door on the assenger*s

side was lo$-ed. y the ti'e he got her aro!nd and thro!gh the other door and had 6ollowed her

inside+ she see'ed to have re$overed so'e o6 her senses. he slied one ar' in the "lo!se+ then

the other+ and slowly "!ttoned it. arently she had not "een wearing a "ra. hen he $losed and

lo$-ed his door and started the engine+ she said+ %ho are yo!0/

%3asser"y+/ he said+ % saw the 6ellow and tho!ght so'ething was wrong./

%8e -illed ,i-e+/ she said.

%&o!r "oy6riend0/

he did not resond to that "!t leaned "a$- against the seat+ $hewing her li and wiing a"sent

'indedly at the 6ew sots o6 "lood on her 6a$e.Chase sw!ng the $ar aro!nd and started down Kana$-away Ridge Road at the sa'e a$e he had

$o'e !+ too- the t!rn at the "otto' so 6ast that she was thrown ain6!lly against the door.

%!$-le yo!r seat"elt+/ he said.

he did as he dire$ted+ "!t she aeared to "e in the sa'e !nresonsive 'ood+ staring straight

ahead at the streets that !nrolled "e6ore the'.

%ho was he0/ Chase as-ed as they rea$hed the interse$tion at ?alasio o!levard and too- it

with the light this ti'e.

%,i-e+/ she said.

%Aot yo!r "oy6riend. #he other one./

% don*t -now+/ she said.

%Did yo! see his 6a$e0/


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he nodded.

%&o! didn*t re$ognize hi'0/

%Ao./

% tho!ght it 'ight "e an old lover+ a ree$ted s!itor+ so'ething li-e that./

he said nothing.8er rel!$tan$e to tal- a"o!t it gave Chase ti'e to $onsider the a66air. 8e "egan to wonder+ as he

re$alled the -iller*s aroa$h 6ro' the to o6 the ridge+ whether the 'an had -nown whi$h $ar he

was a6ter or whether any $ar wo!ld have done+ whether this had "een an a$t o6 revenge dire$ted

against ,i-e se$i6i$ally or i6 it was only the wor- o6 a 'ad'an. #he aers+ even "e6ore he had

"een sent overseas+ had "een 6illed with stories o6 'eaningless sla!ghter. 8e had not read any

aers sin$e his dis$harge+ "!t he s!se$ted the sa'e "rand o6 senselessness still 6lo!rished. #hat

ossi"ility 'ade hi' !n$o'6orta"le. t was so si'ilar to Aa'+ to Oeration !les Gerne and his art

in it+ that very "ad old 'e'ories were stirred . . .

;i6teen 'in!tes a6ter they le6t the ridge to+ Chase ar-ed in 6ront o6 oli$e headE!arters on

Kensington ven!e.

%re yo! 6eeling well eno!gh to tal- with the'0/ Chase as-ed.%#he oli$e0/

%&es./

he shr!gged. % g!ess so./ he had re$overed re'ar-a"ly 6ast. he even tho!ght+ now+ to ta-e

Chase*s o$-et $o'" and r!n it thro!gh her dar- hair several ti'es. %8ow do loo-0/

%;ine+/ he said+ wondering i6 it were not "etter to go witho!t a wo'an than to leave "ehind one

who grieved so "rie6 a ti'e as this.

%et*s go+/ she said. he oened her door and steed o!t+ her lovely+ tri' legs 6lashing in a

r!stle o6 "rie6 $loth.

#he door o6 the s'all grey roo' oened+ ad'itting an eE!ally s'all and grey 'an. 8is 6a$e was

lined+ his eyes s!n-en as i6 he had not had any slee in a day or two. 8is light "rown hair was

!n$o'"ed and in need o6 a tri'. 8e $rossed to the ta"le "ehind whi$h Chase and the girl sat+ too-

the only $hair le6t and 6olded into it as i6 he wo!ld never get ! again. 8e said+ %*' Dete$tive

alla$e./

%?lad to 'eet yo!+/ Chase said+ tho!gh he was not glad at all.

#he girl was E!iet+ loo-ing at her nails.

%Aow+ what*s this all a"o!t0/ alla$e as-ed+ 6olding his hands on the to o6 the s$arred ta"le

and loo-ing at ea$h o6 the'+ '!$h li-e a riest or $o!nsellor.

% already told the des- sergeant 'ost o6 it+/ Chase said.

%8e isn*t in ho'i$ide. a'+/ alla$e said. %ho was '!rdered and how0/

Chase said+ %8er "oy6riend+ sta""ed./%Can*t she sea-0/

% $an sea-+/ the girl said.

%hat*s yo!r na'e0/

%o!ise./

%o!ise what0/

%llen"y. o!ise llen"y+/ she said.

alla$e said+ %&o! live in the $ity0/

%n shside./

%8ow old0/

he loo-ed at hi' as i6 she wo!ld 6lare !+ then t!rned her gaze "a$- at her nails again.

%eventeen./


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%n high s$hool0/

% grad!ated in !ne+/ she said. %*' going to $ollege in the 6all+ to 3enn tate./

alla$e said. %ho was the "oy0/

%,i-e. ,i$hael Karnes./

%!st a "oy6riend+ or yo! engaged0/%oy6riend+/ she said. %e*d "een going together 6or a"o!t a year+ -ind o6 steady./

%hat were yo! doing on Kana$-away Ridge Road0/ alla$e as-ed.

he loo-ed at hi'+ levelly this ti'e. %hat do yo! thin-0/

%oo-+/ Chase intere$ted+ %is this really ne$essary0 #he girl wasn*t involved in it. thin- the

'an with the -ni6e 'ight have tried 6or her ne>t i6 hadn*t stoed hi'./

alla$e t!rned 'ore toward Chase. 8e said+ %8ow*d yo! haen to "e there in the 6irst la$e0/

%!st o!t driving+/ Chase said.

alla$e loo-ed at hi' a long 'o'ent+ then said+ %hat*s yo!r na'e0/

%ena'in Chase./

% thought *d seen yo! "e6ore+/ the dete$tive said. 8is 'anner so6tened i''ediately. %&o!r

i$t!re was in the aers today./Chase nodded.

%#hatwas really so'ething yo! did over there+/ alla$e said. %#hat really too- g!ts./

%t wasn*t as '!$h as they 'a-e o!t+/ Chase said.

%*ll "et it wasn*tI/ alla$e said+ tho!gh it was $lear that he tho!ght it '!st even have "een 'ore

than the aers had 'ade it. 8e t!rned to the girl+ who had ta-en a new interest in Chase+ st!dying

hi' 6ro' the $orners o6 her eyes. 8is tone toward her had $hanged too. 8e said+ %&o! want to tell

'e a"o!t it+ !st how it haened0/

he did+ losing so'e o6 her $o'os!re in the ro$ess. #wi$e Chase tho!ght that she was going

to $ry+ and he wished that she wo!ld have. 8er $old 'anner+ so soon a6terward+ 'ade hi' !neasy.

,ay"e she was still trying to deny the e>isten$e o6 death. he held the tears "a$-+ and "y the ti'e

she had 6inished she was hersel6 again.

%&o! saw his 6a$e0/ alla$e as-ed.

%&es./

%Can yo! des$ri"e hi'0/

%Aot really+/ she said. %8e had "rown eyes+ thin-./

%Ao 'o!sta$he or "eard0/

% don*t thin- so./

%ong side"!rns or short0/

%hort+ thin-./

%ny s$ars0/

%Ao./%nything at all 'e'ora"le a"o!t hi'+ the shae o6 his 6a$e+ whether his hair was re$eding or

6!ll+ anything0/

% $an*t re'e'"er+/ she said.

Chase said+ %hen got to her+ she was in a state o6 sho$-. do!"t that she was seeing anything

and registering it roerly./

nstead o6 a grate6!l agree'ent+ o!ise t!rned an angry loo- at hi'. 8e re'e'"ered+ too late+

that the worst thing 6or so'eone o!ise*s age was to lose yo!r $ool+ to 6ail to $oe. 8e had "etrayed

her 'o'entary lase to+ o6 all eole+ a oli$e'an. he wo!ld have little gratit!de 6or hi' now+

whether or not he saved her li6e.

alla$e got !. %Co'e on+/ he said.

%here0/ Chase as-ed.


13/103

%e*ll go o!t there+ with so'e o6 the la" "oys./

%s that really ne$essary0/ Chase as-ed.

%ell+ have to ta-e state'ents 6ro' yo!+ "oth o6 yo!+ in 'ore detail than this. t wo!ld hel+

,r Chase+ to "e on the s$ene when yo!*re des$ri"ing it again./ 8e s'iled+ as i6 again i'ressed

with Chase*s identity+ and said+ %t*ll only ta-e a short while. e*ll need the girl longer than we willyo!./

Chase was sitting in the rear o6 alla$e*s sE!ad $ar+ thirty 6eet 6ro' the s$ene o6 the '!rder+

answering E!estions+ when the sta66 $ar 6ro' the Press-Dispatch arrived. #wo hotograhers and a

reorter got o!t. ;or the 6irst ti'e Chase realized what they were going to do with the story. #hey

were going to 'a-e hi' a hero. gain.

%3lease+/ he said to alla$e+ %$an we -ee the reorters 6ro' -nowing who heled the girl0/

%hy0/

%*' tired o6 reorters+/ Chase said.

alla$e said+ %!t yo! did save her li6e. &o! o!ght to "e ro!d o6 that./

% don*t want to tal- to the'+/ Chase said.%#hat*s ! to yo!+/ alla$e said. %!t *' a6raid they*ll have to -now who interr!ted the -iller.

t*ll "e in the reort+ and the reort is oen to the ress./

ater+ when alla$e was 6inished with hi' and he was getting o!t o6 the $ar to oin another

o66i$er who wo!ld ta-e hi' "a$- to town+ the girl !t a hand on his sho!lder. %#han- yo!+/ she said.

t the sa'e instant a hotograher snaed a i$t!re+ the 6lash"!l" sraying light that lasted 6or

what see'ed an eternity.

n the $ar+ on the way "a$- to town+ the !ni6or'ed o66i$er "ehind the wheel said his na'e was

Don ones+ that he had read a"o!t Chase and that he wo!ld li-e to have Chase*s a!tograh 6or his

-ids. Chase signed his na'e on the "a$- o6 a ho'i$ide reort "lan-+ and at ones*s !rging+ re6a$ed

it with #o Ri$- and !dy ones./ #he o66i$er as-ed a lot o6 E!estions a"o!t Aa' whi$h Chase

answered as shortly as $o!rtesy wo!ld allow.

n his ,!stang+ he drove 'ore sedately than he had "e6ore. #here was no anger in hi' now+

nothing "!t an in6inite weariness.

t a E!arter ast one in the 'orning he ar-ed in 6ront o6 ,rs ;iedling*s ho!se+ relieved that

there were no lights "!rning. 8e !nlo$-ed the 6ront door as E!ietly as the an$ient lo$- wo!ld

er'it+ steed -nowingly aro!nd 'ost o6 the loose "oards in the stair$ase+ and 6inally 'ade his

way to his atti$ aart'ent one large roo' whi$h served as a -it$hen+ "edroo' and living roo'+ a

wal-in $loset and a rivate "ath. 8e lo$-ed his door. 8e 6elt sa6e now. 8e did not have to tal- to

,rs ;iedling or+ against his will+ loo- down her eret!ally !n"!ttoned ho!sedress at the 6ish"elly

$!rves o6 her sagging and altogether !neroti$ "reasts+ wondering why she had to "e so $as!ally

i''odest at her age.8e !ndressed+ washed his 6a$e and hands+ st!died the -ni6e wo!nd in his thigh+ whi$h he had

negle$ted to 'ention to the oli$e. t was shallow+ already $lotted and "eginning to dry into a thin

s$a". 8e washed it+ 6l!shed it with al$ohol+ swa""ed ,erthiolate over it. n the 'ain roo'+ he

$o'leted the 'edi$ation "y o!ring a glass o6 a$- Daniel*s over two i$e $!"es+ and san- down on

the "ed with the wonder6!l st!66. 8e !s!ally $ons!'ed a 6i6th o6 it a day. #oday+ "e$a!se o6 that

da'ned "anE!et+ he had "een 6or$ed to stay o66 it. Drin-ing+ he 6elt $lean again. lone with a "ottle

o6 good liE!or was the only ti'e he 6elt $lean.

8e was o!ring his se$ond glass6!l over the sa'e hal6'elted i$e $!"es when the telehone

rang.

hen he 6irst 'oved into the aart'ent+ he had rotested that he did not reE!ire a telehone+

sin$e no one wo!ld "e $alling hi' and sin$e he had no wish to $onta$t anyone else. ,rs ;iedling


14/103

had not "elieved hi'+ and envisioning a sit!ation wherein she wo!ld "e$o'e a 'essenger servi$e

6or hi'+ insisted on a telehone hoo-! as a $ondition o6 o$$!an$y.

#hat was long "e6ore she -new that he was a hero. t was even "e6ore he -new it.

;or 'onths the hone went !n!sed+ e>$et when she $alled ! 6ro' downstairs to tell hi' 'ail

had "een delivered or to invite hi' to dinner. in$e the anno!n$e'ent "y the hite 8o!se+however+ sin$e all the e>$ite'ent a"o!t the 'edal+ he re$eived two and three $alls a day+ 'ost o6

the' 6ro' er6e$t strangers who o66ered $ongrat!lations he did not want or so!ght interviews 6or

vario!s !"li$ations he had never read. 8e $!t 'ost o6 the' short. #h!s 6ar+ no one had gall eno!gh

to ring hi' ! this late at night+ "!t he s!osed he $o!ld never regain the solit!de he had grown

!sed to in those 6irst 'onths a6ter his dis$harge.

8e $onsidered ignoring the hone+ $on$entrating on his a$- Daniel*s !ntil it had stoed $rying.

!t when it had r!ng 6or the si>teenth ti'e+ he realized the $aller was a good "it 'ore ersistent

than he+ and he answered it. %8ello0/

%Chase0/

%&es./

%Do yo! -now 'e0/%Ao+/ he said+ !na"le to la$e the voi$e. #he 'an so!nded tired "!t aside 6ro' that one $l!e+ he

'ight have "een anywhere "etween twenty and si>ty years old+ 6at or thin+ tall or short.

%8ow*s yo!r leg+ Chase0/ 8is voi$e $ontained a hint o6 h!'o!r+ tho!gh the reason 6or it es$aed

Chase.

%?ood eno!gh+/ Chase said. %;ine./

%&o!*re very good with yo!r hands./

Chase said nothing+ $o!ld not "ring hi'sel6 to sea-+ 6or he had "eg!n to !nderstand !st what

the $all was all a"o!t.

%Gery good with yo!r hands+/ the stranger reeated. % g!ess yo! learned that in the ar'y./

%&es+/ Chase said.

% g!ess yo! learned a lot o6 things in the ar'y+ and g!ess yo! thin- yo! $an ta-e $are o6

yo!rsel6 retty well./

Chase said+ %s thisyou?

#he 'an la!ghed+ 'o'entarily sha-ing o66 the d!ll tone o6 e>ha!stion. %&es+ it*s 'e+/ he said.

%*ve got a "adly "r!ised throat+ and -now 'y voi$e will "e !st aw6!l "y 'orning. Otherwise+

got away a"o!t as lightly as yo! did+ Chase./

Chase re'e'"ered+ with a $larity his 'ind reserved 6or 'o'ents o6 danger+ the str!ggle with

the -iller on the grass "y the Chevrolet. 8e tried to get a $lear i$t!re o6 the 'an*s 6a$e "!t $o!ld

not do any "etter 6or his own sa-e than 6or the oli$e. 8e said+ %8ow did yo! -now that was the

one who stoed yo!0/

% saw yo!r i$t!re in the aer+/ the 'an said. %&o!*re a war hero. &o!r i$t!re waseverywhere. hen yo! were lying on yo!r "a$-+ "eside the -ni6e+ re$ognized yo! and got o!t o6

there 6ast./

Chase said+ %ho are yo!0/

%Do yo! really e>e$t 'e to say0/ #here was a de6inite note o6 a'!se'ent in the 'an*s voi$e.

Chase had 6orgotten his drin- altogether. #he alar's+ the godda'ned alar's in his head+ were

ringing at ea- vol!'e. t 'ight have "een a national holiday+ !dging "y that 'ental $langor.

Chase said. %hat do yo! want0/

#he stranger was silent 6or so long that Chase al'ost as-ed the sa'e E!estion again. !ddenly+

the a'!se'ent gone 6ro' his voi$e+ the -iller said+ %&o! 'essed in where yo! had no right

'essing. &o! don*t -now the tro!"le went to+ i$-ing the roer targets o!t o6 all those yo!ng

6orni$ators+ the ones who 'ost deserved to die. lanned it 6or wee-s+ Chase+ and had given that


15/103

yo!ng sinner his deserved !nish'ent. #he yo!ng wo'an was le6t+ and yo! saved her "e6ore

$o!ld er6or' 'y d!ty+ saved a whore li-e that who had no right to "e sared./

%&o!*re not well+/ Chase said. 8e realized the a"s!rdity o6 that state'ent the 'o'ent he had

so-en+ "!t the -iller had red!$ed hi' to $li$hLs.

% !st wanted to tell yo!+ ,r Chase+ that it doesn*t end here+ not "y a long shot./ #he -iller eitherdid not hear or retended not to hear what Chase had said.

%hat do yo! 'ean0/

%*ll deal with yo!+ Chase+ on$e *ve resear$hed yo!r "a$-gro!nd and have weighed a roer

!dg'ent on yo!. #hen+ when yo!*ve "een 'ade to ay+ *ll deal with the whore+ that girl./

%Deal with0/ Chase as-ed. #he e!he'is' re'inded hi' o6 all the si'ilar evasions o6

vo$a"!lary he had grown a$$!sto'ed to in Aa'. 8e 6elt '!$h older than he was+ 'ore tired than he

had a 'o'ent earlier.

%*' going to -ill yo!+ Chase. *' going to !nish yo! 6or whatever sins are on yo!r re$ord+ and

"e$a!se yo!*ve 'essed in where yo! had no right./ 8e waited a 'o'ent. %Do yo! !nderstand0/

%&es+ "!t /

%*ll "e tal-ing to yo! again+ Chase./%oo-+ i6/

#he 'an h!ng !.

Chase !t his own re$eiver in the $radle o6 the hone and leaned "a$- against the head"oard o6

the "ed. 8e 6elt so'ething $old and aw-ward in his hand+ loo-ed down and was s!rrised to 6ind

the glass o6 whis-ey. 8e raised it to his lis and too- a taste. t was slightly "itter.

8e had to de$ide what to do a"o!t the $all.

#he oli$e wo!ld "e interested+ o6 $o!rse+ 6or they wo!ld see it as their 6irst solid lead to the

'an who had -illed ,i$hael Karnes. #hey wo!ld ro"a"ly want to 'onitor the line in hoes the

'an wo!ld $all again ese$ially sin$e he had said that Chase wo!ld "e hearing 6ro' hi' again.

#hey 'ight even station an o66i$er in Chase*s roo'+ and they were $ertain to !t a tail on hi' "oth

6or his own rote$tion and 6or a $han$e to na" the '!rderer i6 he sho!ld try 6or a se$ond vi$ti'. &et

. . .

#he last 6ew wee-s+ sin$e the news a"o!t the ,edal o6 8onor+ Chase*s daytoday ro!tines had

"een !tterly destroyed. 8e had "een a$$!sto'ed to a dee solit!de+ dist!r"ed only "y his need to

tal- to store $ler-s and to ,rs ;iedling+ his landlady. n the 'ornings he went downtown and had

"rea-6ast at oolworth*s. 8e "o!ght a aer"a$-+ o$$asionally a 'agazine "!t never a newsaer

i$-ed ! what in$identals he reE!ired+ stoed twi$e a wee- at the liE!or store+ sent the noon

ho!r in the ar- wat$hing the girls in their short s-irts as they wal-ed to and 6ro' their o"s+ then

went ho'e and sent the rest o6 the day in his roo'. 8e read d!ring the long a6ternoons+ and he

dran-. y evening he $o!ld not $learly see the rint on the ages+ and he t!rned on the s'all

television set to wat$h the old 'ovies he had al'ost 'e'orized detail "y detail. ro!nd eleveno*$lo$- at night he 6inished the day*s "ottle+ having eaten little or nothing 6or s!er+ and then he

slet.

t was not '!$h+ he s!osed+ $ertainly not what he had on$e tho!ght wo!ld $onstit!te a

reasona"le li6e style+ "!t it was "eara"le. e$a!se it was si'le+ it was also solid+ easy to wor-

within+ e'ty o6 do!"t and !n$ertainty+ la$-ing in $hoi$es and de$isions that 'ight "ring a"o!t

another "rea-down. #hen+ when the 3 and


16/103

6or$ed to leave his roo' was the "anE!et+ and he had "een a"le to $oe with that only "e$a!se he

-new that on$e it was over+ he $o!ld ret!rn to his atti$ aart'ent and i$- ! the !nevent6!l li6e that

had so re$ently "een wren$hed away 6ro' hi'.

#he in$ident in lovers/ lane had $hanged his lans+ ostoned a ret!rn to sta"ility. #he aers

wo!ld $arry it again+ 6ront age and with i$t!res. #here wo!ld "e 'ore $alls+ 'ore $ongrat!lations+'ore interviewers to "e t!rned down. #hen it wo!ld die o!t+ in a wee- or two i6 he $o!ld tolerate

it that long and things wo!ld "e as they had on$e "een+ E!iet and 'anagea"le.

8e too- another si o6 his drin-. t tasted "etter than it had a short while ago.

#here were li'its to what he $o!ld end!re+ however. #wo 'ore wee-s o6 newsaer stories+

telehone $alls+ o" o66ers and 'arriage roosals wo!ld ta-e hi' to the end o6 his 'eagre

reso!r$es. 6+ d!ring that sa'e ti'e+ he had to share his roo' with an o66i$er o6 the law and "e

6ollowed everywhere he went+ he wo!ld not hold !. lready he 6elt the sa'e vag!e e'tiness

6illing hi' that had 6illed hi' so $o'letely in the hosital. t was that la$- o6 !rose+ that loss o6

desire to go on that he '!st stave o66 at all $osts. @ven i6 it 'eant withholding in6or'ation 6ro' the

a!thorities.

8e wo!ldn*t tell the oli$e a"o!t the $all.8e too- 'ore o6 his drin-+ went to the $!"oard and re6reshed it with another sl!g 6ro' the dar-

"ottle.

6ter all+ it was !nli-ely that the -iller was serio!s. 8e had to "e a 'ad'an+ 6or no sane erson

wo!ld atta$- a $o!le in a ar-ed $ar and ha$- one o6 the' nearly to ie$es with a long"laded

"!t$her -ni6e. ,ad'en were dangero!s+ to "e s!re+ "!t they rarely ever did what they ro'ised to

do. Or+ at least+ that was what Chase tho!ght.

8e !nderstood that he was -eeing a lead 6ro' the oli$e+ a $onta$t they 'ight 'a-e good !se

o6. !t the oli$e were $lever. #hey wo!ld 6ind the 'an witho!t Chase*s aid. #hey '!st have

6ingerrints 6ro' the door handle o6 the Chevrolet+ 6ro' the handle o6 the '!rder weaon. #hey

had already tho!ght to iss!e a state'ent that the -iller wo!ld "e s!66ering 6ro' a "adly "r!ised

throat and the res!ltant laryngitis. hat he was -eeing 6ro' the' wo!ld do little to seed ! their

e66i$ient syste' o6 dete$tion and arehension.

8e 6inished his drin-. t had gone down E!i$-ly+ s'oothly.

t was de$ided.

8e o!red 'ore whis-ey and went "a$- to "ed+ slid "eneath the $overs and stared at the "lan-

eye o6 the television set. n a 6ew days everything wo!ld "e "a$- to nor'al. 8e $o!ld settle into old

ro!tines+ living $o'6orta"ly on his disa"ility ension and the 'oderately a'le inheritan$e 6ro' his

arents/ estate. #here wo!ld "e no need to get a o" or to tal- to anyone or to 'a-e de$isions. 8is

only tas- wo!ld "e to $ons!'e eno!gh whis-ey to "e a"le to slee desite the night'ares.

8e 6inished his glass6!l. 8e slet.


17/103

Two

Chase rose early the ne>t 'orning+ 6rightened awa-e "y night'ares 6!ll o6 dead 'en who were

trying to tal- to hi'. 6ter that+ the day deteriorated.

8is 'ista-e was in trying to go on with it in a 'anner that denied anything !n!s!al had

haened. 8e rose+ "athed+ shaved+ dressed and went downstairs to see i6 there was any 'ail on the

hall ta"le 6or hi'. #here was none+ "!t ,rs ;iedling heard hi' and h!rried o!t o6 the eret!ally

dar-ened living roo' to show hi' the 6irst edition o6 thePress-Dispatch! 8is i$t!re was on the

6ront age+ t!rned hal6 toward o!ise llen"y getting o!t o6 the sE!ad $ar. he loo-ed as i6 she was$rying+ one hand griing his ar'+ 6ar 'ore 6!ll o6 grie6 than she had a$t!ally "een.

%*' so ro!d o6 yo!+/ ,rs ;iedling said. he so!nded li-e his 'other. ndeed+ she was old

eno!gh 6or the ost+ in her 'id6i6ties. 8er hair was $!rled tightly in an old6ashioned style and shot

thro!gh with grey. 8er do!ghy 6a$e had "een ro!ged and listi$-ed and had+ e$!liarly+ "een 'ade

to loo- ten years older "y those $os'eti$ tri$-s. he was twenty or thirty o!nds too heavy and

$arried nearly all o6 it in her his.

%t wasn*t anything li-e they said+ not as e>$iting as that+/ Chase told her.

%8ow do yo! -now0 &o! haven*t read it./

%#hey always overwrite. -now+ "e$a!se they did it the last ti'e./

%Oh+ yo!*re !st too 'odest+/ ,rs ;iedling said. he was wearing a "l!e and yellow ho!sedress

with the two to "!ttons oened. 8e $o!ld see not only the allid "!lge o6 her "reasts+ "!t the edge

o6 a yellowed "rassiere as well.

#ho!gh he was '!$h larger and '!$h yo!nger than ,rs ;iedling+ with three ti'es her strength+

she 6rightened hi'. t was+ he had on$e de$ided+ "e$a!se he did not -now what she wanted 6ro'

hi'.

he said+ % "et this "rings twi$e the o" o66ers that the last arti$le "ro!ghtI/

,rs ;iedling was '!$h 'ore interested in Chase*s event!al e'loy'ent than was Chase

hi'sel6. t 6irst he had tho!ght that she was a6raid he wo!ld 6all in arrears on the rent+ "!t he

event!ally de$ided that she "elieved hi' a"o!t his inheritan$e and that her $on$ern went deeer

than that.

he said+ %s *ve o6ten told yo!+ yo!*re yo!ng and strong+ and yo! have a li6eti'e ahead o6 yo!.#he thing 6or a 6ellow li-e yo! is wor-+ hard wor-+ a $han$e to 'a-e so'ething o6 yo!rsel6. Aot

that yo! haven*t done all right so 6ar. !t this lo!nging aro!nd+ not wor-ing it hasn*t "een good 6or

yo!. &o! '!st have lost 6i6teen o!nds sin$e yo! 6irst 'oved in./

Chase did not resond.

,rs ;iedling 'oved $loser to hi' and too- the 'orning aer o!t o6 his hands. he loo-ed at

the i$t!re in the $entre o6 the 6ront age and sighed.

% have to "e going+/ Chase said.

he loo-ed ! 6ro' the aer. %saw yo!r $ar./

%&es+/ he said.

%t tells a"o!t it in the aer. asn*t that ni$e o6 the'+ tho!gh0/

%&es./


18/103

%#hey hardly ever do anything 6or the "oys who serve and don*t 'a-e a "ig rotest o6 it. &o!

read all a"o!t the "ad ones+ "!t no one li6ts a hand 6or good "oys li-e yo!. t*s a"o!t ti'e+ and

hoe yo! enoy the $ar./

% will+/ he said+ oening the 6ront door and steing o!tside "e6ore she $o!ld $arry on any

6!rther.#he night'are+ ,rs ;iedling+ then "rea-6ast+ one "it o6 "ad "!siness a6ter the other . . .

Ordinarily+ the $o!nter at oolworth*s was a g!arantee o6 riva$y+ even i6 every stool was

ta-en. !siness'en reading the 6inan$ial ages+ se$retaries drin-ing $o66ee and $hattering ea$h

other 6!lly awa-e+ la"o!rers sl!'ed 6orward over greasy eggs and otatoes that their wives had not

risen to 6i> 6or the' none o6 the $!sto'ers wanted to tal- or "e noti$ed. #he ro>i'ity o6 the seats+

the el"owtoel"ow $ir$!'stan$es le6t no roo' 6or gra$e6!l dining !nless one $o!ld retend that

there was really no one else a"o!t. #hat #!esday 'orning+ however+ Chase dis$overed+ hal6way

thro!gh his 'eal+ that 'ost o6 the other eole there were wat$hing hi' with only oorly disg!ised

interest.

hen he had sat down+ the ert little "londe waitress had said+ %?ood 'orning+ ,r Chase. hat

will yo! have0/ 8e sho!ld have -nown then that everything was not as it sho!ld "e+ 6or he hadnever "een on 6riendly ter's with her and had never told her his na'e. #he !"iE!ito!s newsaer+

sread a$ross with his li-eness+ "etrayed hi' wherever he went.

8e stoed eating hal6way thro!gh+ le6t a ti+ aid his "ill and got o!t o6 there. 8is hands were

sha-ing+ and the "a$-s o6 his -nees E!ivered as i6 his legs wo!ld let hi' down.

8e went to the newsstand to !r$hase a aer"a$- and was $on6ronted with so 'any $oies o6

his own 6a$e in the aer ra$-s that he t!rned away at the door witho!t going in.

t the liE!or store+ the $ler- $o''ented on the size o6 his !r$hase 6or the 6irst ti'e in 'onths.

Clearly+ he see'ed to 6eel it was i'roer 6or a 'an li-e Chase to drin- so '!$h. io!s 6or the "arren $on6ines o6 his little atti$ roo'+ he wal-ed two "lo$-s toward ho'e

"e6ore he re'e'"ered that he now had a $ar. 8e wal-ed "a$- to it+ e'"arrassed that so'eone

'ight have seen his $on6!sion+ and when he settled in "ehind the wheel he 6elt too tightly wo!nd to

ris- driving. 8e sat there 6or 6i6teen 'in!tes+ loo-ing thro!gh the servi$e 'an!al+ the ownershi

aers and the te'orary owner*s $ard+ then started the engine and drove ho'e.

8e did not go to the ar- to wat$h the girls on their l!n$h ho!r+ "e$a!se he 6eared re$ognition. 6

one o6 the' sho!ld $o'e over to hi' and try to stri-e ! a $onversation+ he wo!ld not -now what

to do.

n his roo'+ he o!red a glass o6 whis-ey over two i$e $!"es and stirred it with his 6inger.

8e t!rned on the television and 6o!nd an old 'ovie starring alla$e eery and ,arie Dressier.

8e had seen it at least hal6 a dozen ti'es+ "!t he -et it on !st the sa'e. #he reetition+ the sta"ility

o6 the seE!ential s$enes thro!gh tho!sands o6 showings in 'ovies theatres and on television soothed his nerves. 8e wat$hed alla$e eery 'a-e a $l!'sy ro'anti$ ass at ,arie Dressier+ and

the 6a'iliarity o6 that aw-wardness+ seen so o6ten "e6ore and in that sa'e e>a$t detail+ was li-e a

"al' on his 'ind.

t 11JB5 the telehone rang.

8e 6inally answered it+ denied er'ission 6or an interview and h!ng !.

t 11J2M it rang again.

#his ti'e it was the ins!ran$e agent with who' the ,er$hants/ sso$iation had ta-en o!t a

year*s oli$y on the ,!stang+ in Chase*s na'e. 8e wanted to -now i6 the $overage was adeE!ate or

whether Chase wo!ld li-e to in$rease it 6or a no'inal s!'. 8e was !set when Chase said it was

adeE!ate.

t 11J5B the hone rang a third ti'e. hen Chase i$-ed it !+ the -iller said+ %8ello+ how has


19/103

yo!r 'orning "een0/

Chase said+ %hat do yo! want0/

%Did yo! see the aers0/ 8is voi$e was hoarse+ a lo!d whiser.

%One o6 the'./

%ovely $overage o6 yo!r herois'+ a great deal o6 !rle rose+ don*t yo! thin-0/% don*t li-e !"li$ity+/ Chase said+ hoing to !t hi'sel6 in the 'an*s good gra$es+ even while

he !nderstood their roles sho!ld "e reversed.

%&o! have a -na$- 6or getting it+ all the sa'e./

%hat do yo! want0/ Chase reeated.

%#o tell yo! to "e "y yo!r hone at si> this evening. have sent the 'orning resear$hing yo!r

"iograhy+ and have si'ilar lans 6or the a6ternoon. t si> *ll tell yo! what *ve 6o!nd./

Chase said+ %hat*s the !rose in that0/

% $an*t very well ass !dg'ent on yo! !ntil -now what sort o6 transgressions yo!*re g!ilty o6+

$an 0/ e$!ting those who deserve it./

Chase said+ % don*t want yo! $alling here again./

%&o! $an sto 'e0/

%*ll have the line "!gged./

%#hat won*t sto 'e+/ the stranger said+ again a'!sed. %*ll si'ly la$e the $alls 6ro' vario!s

"ooths aro!nd the $ity+ and *ll -ee the' too short to tra$e./

%6 re6!se to answer 'y hone0/ Chase as-ed.

%&o!*ll answer it./

%hat 'a-es yo! s!re0/

%&o!*ll want to -now what *ve learned a"o!t yo!+ and yo!*ll want to -now when *ve assed

!dg'ent on yo!+ when yo!*ll die./ 8is voi$e had grown rogressively less a!di"le thro!gh the last


20/103

dozen words+ and now he see'ed !nwilling to 6or$e it any longer. %i> o*$lo$- this evening+/ he

re'inded Chase+ then h!ng !.

Chase droed the re$eiver+ !neasily aware that the -iller -new hi' "etter than he -new

hi'sel6. 8e wo!ld answer every ti'e+ o6 $o!rse. nd 6or the sa'e reasons he had answered all the

n!isan$e $alls o6 the last 6ew wee-s rather than o"tain an !nlisted n!'"er. #he only ro"le' wasthat he did not -now !st what those reasons were.

'!lsively+ he li6ted the re$eiver and la$ed a $all to the oli$e headE!arters downtown. t was

the 6irst ti'e in ten and a hal6 'onths that he had !sed the dial+ initiated a $all. #he oli$e n!'"er+

along with the n!'"ers o6 the 6ireho!se and River Res$!e+ was on a sti$-er at the "ase o6 the hone+

as i6 so'eone had wanted to 'a-e it as easy as ossi"le 6or hi' to 'a-e this 'ove.

hen the des- sergeant answered+ Chase as-ed 6or alla$e+ gave his na'e. t the 'o'ent he

was not a"ove !sing his resent 6a'e to $!t red tae.

%&es+ ,r Chase+ $an hel0/ alla$e as-ed.

8e did not say what he had intended to. nstead he as-ed+ %8ow is the investigation $o'ing

along0/

alla$e was not averse to tal-ing sho. %lowly "!t s!rely+/ he told Chase. %e 6o!nd rints onthe -ni6e and sent $oies o6 the' into ashington and to the state $aital. 6 he*s ever "een arrested

6or a serio!s $ri'e or i6 he*s wor-ed 6or any "ran$h o6 the govern'ent+ we*ll have hi' in twenty

6o!r ho!rs./

%nd i6 he*s never "een rinted0/

alla$e said+ %e*ll get hi' anyway. e 6o!nd a 'an*s ring in the Chevy. t didn*t "elong to the

dead "oy+ and it loo-s as i6 it wo!ld "e too s'all 6or yo!r 6ingers "y a size or three. Didn*t lose a

ring+ did yo!0/

%Ao+/ Chase said.

% tho!ght so. ho!ld have $alled yo! on it+ "!t was retty s!re a"o!t it. t*s his+ right eno!gh./

%nything else "esides the rints and ring0/

%e*re -eeing a $onstant wat$h on the girl and her arents+ tho!gh *d are$iate it i6 yo! didn*t

say anything a"o!t that to anyone. e*d li-e to see hi' try 6or her where we $o!ld get at hi'./

%,ight he0/

%6 he thin-s she $an identi6y hi'+ yes. Re'e'"er+ he -nows she got a good long loo- at his

6a$e+ and he has no way o6 -nowing how "adly her 'ind was wor-ing then./

% g!ess so./

%t*s o$$!rred to 'e that we wo!ldn*t "e 6ar o66 i6 we gave yo! a tail as well. 8ave yo! tho!ght

o6 that0/

lar'ed o!t o6 roortion "y the s!ggestion+ Chase said+ %Ao. don*t see what val!e that wo!ld

have./

%ell+/ alla$e o"served+ %the story was in the aers this 'orning. #ho!gh he ro"a"ly doesn*t6ear yo! identi6ying hi' as '!$h as the girl+ he 'ight "ear a gr!dge o6 so'e sort./

%8e*d have to "e a 'ad'an+ then./

%hat else is he+ ,r Chase0/

%&o! 'ean yo!*ve 6o!nd no 'otives 6ro' E!estioning the girl+ no old lovers who 'ight have /

%Ao+/ alla$e said. %Right now we*re oerating on the ass!'tion that there was no rational

'otive+ that we*re dealing with a sy$hoti$./

% see./

%ell+/ alla$e said+ %*' sorry there isn*t 'ore solid news./

%nd *' sorry to have "othered yo!+/ Chase said. %&o!*ve ro"a"ly not had '!$h slee./

%Aone+/ alla$e ad'itted.

#hey said good"ye+ and Chase h!ng ! witho!t telling hi' a thing+ tho!gh he had intended to


21/103

sill it all. twenty6o!rho!r g!ard on the girl. #hey wo!ld do the sa'e to hi'+ worse i6 they

-new he*d "een $onta$ted. #he walls see'ed to sway+ alternately $losing in li-e the aws o6 an

i''ense vi$e and swinging o!t li-e 6lat grey gates. #he 6loor rose and 6ell li-e waves. nsta"ility

swelled aro!nd hi'+ the very thing that had landed hi' in the hosital and had event!ally led to his

seventy6iveer$ent disa"ility ension. 8e $o!ld not let it ta-e hold again+ and he -new the "estway to 6ight it was to $onstri$t the eri'eters o6 his world+ gain sola$e 6ro' solit!de. 8e went to get

another drin-.

#he telehone wo-e hi' 6ro' his na !st as the dead 'en+ standing in a ring aro!nd hi'+

rea$hed 6or hi' with so6t+ white+ $orr!ted hands. 8e sat straight ! in "ed and $ried o!t+ his ar's

held "e6ore hi' to ward o66 their $old to!$h. hen he saw where he was and that he was alone+ he

san- "a$-+ e>ha!sted+ and listened to the ringing. nsistently+ the thing so!nded again and again

!ntil+ a6ter thirty harsh e>losions+ he had no $hoi$e "!t to i$- it !.

%&es./

% was a"o!t to $o'e $he$- on yo!+/ ,rs ;iedling said. %re yo! all right0/

%*' o-ay/ he said.%t too- yo! so long to answer./

% was aslee./

he hesitated+ as i6 6ra'ing what she was a"o!t to say. %*' having wiss stea-+ '!shroo's+

"a-ed $orn and 'ashed otatoes 6or s!er. o!ld yo! li-e to $o'e downF there*s 'ore than $an

!se./

% don*t thin- /

% straing "oy li-e yo! needs his reg!lar 'eals+/ she said.

%*ve already eaten./

he was silent 6or a long while+ then said+ %ll right. !t wish yo!*d waited+ %$a!se got all

this 6ood./

%*' sorry+ "!t *' st!66ed+/ he said.

%#o'orrow night+ 'ay"e./

%,ay"e+/ he said. 8e rang o66 "e6ore she $o!ld s!ggest a latenight sna$- together.

#he i$e 'elted in his glass+ dil!ting what whis-ey he had not dr!n-. 8e e'tied the sadly

$olo!red res!lt into the "athroo' sin-+ got new i$e and a new shot o6 liE!or. t tasted as "itter as a

"ite o6 le'on rind. 8e dran- it anyway. #here was nothing else in the $!"oard or re6rigerator "!t a

"ag o6 inesa ales+ and they wo!ld "e in6initely worse.

8e t!rned on the s'all "la$-andwhite television set again and rotated the dial slowly thro!gh

all the lo$al $hannels+ 6o!nd nothing "!t the news and a single $artoon rogra''e. 8e wat$hed the

$artoons.

Aone o6 the' were 6!nny.6ter that was over+ he 6o!nd an old 'ovie and let the dial set on it.

#he sta$- o6 glasses on the $!"oard le6t no roo' 6or hi' to la$e his resent glass when he was

6inished with it. 8e $arried the' into the "athroo' and washed the' in the sin- with hot water and

vory soa+ dried the' with a $lean towel and ret!rned the' to the $!"oard.

@>$et 6or the hone $all+ he had the whole evening ahead o6 hi'.

t si> o*$lo$- on the nose+ the telehone rang.

%8ello0/

%?ood evening+ Chase+/ the -iller said. 8is voi$e was still aw6!l.

Chase sat down on the "ed.

%8ow are yo! tonight0/

%O-ay+/ Chase said.


22/103

%&o! -now what *ve "een ! to all day0/

%Resear$h./

%#hat*s right./

%#ell 'e what yo! 6o!nd+/ Chase said+ as i6 all o6 it wo!ld "e news to hi' even tho!gh he was

the s!"e$t. nd 'ay"e it would"e.%;irst o6 all+ yo! were "orn here a little over twenty6o!r years ago on !ne 11+ 197+ in ,er$y

8osital. &o!r arents died in an a!to'o"ile a$$ident when yo! were eighteen. &o! went to s$hool

at tate and grad!ated in a threeyear a$$elerated rogra''e+ having 'aored in "!siness

ad'inistration. &o! did well in all s!"e$ts e>$et a 6ew reE!ired $o!rses+ $hie6ly asi$ 3hysi$al

$ien$es+ iology and + Che'istry and asi$ Co'osition./ #he -iller whisered on 6or three

'ore long 'in!tes+ listing i'ersonal 6a$ts that Chase had tho!ght ended with hi'sel6. !t

$o!rtho!se re$ords+ $ollege 6iles+ newsaer 'org!es and hal6 a dozen other so!r$es had rovided

6ar 'ore in6or'ation a"o!t his li6e than the -iller $o!ld have gleaned 6ro' the re$ent arti$les in the

Press-Dispatch!

% thin- *ve "een on the line a"o!t 6ive 'in!tes+/ the -iller said. %t*s ti'e went to another

"ooth. s yo!r hone taed+ Chase0/%Ao+/ Chase said.

%!st the sa'e+ *ll hang ! now and $all yo! "a$- in a 6ew 'in!tes./ #he line went dead+ hissing

in Chase*s ear li-e a sna-e.

;ive 'in!tes later the -iller $alled again.

%hat gave yo! "e6ore was !st so '!$h dry grass+ Chase. !t let 'e add a 6ew 'ore things

and do so'e se$!latingF let*s see i6 $an add a 'at$h to that dry grass./

%hat do yo! 'ean0/ Chase as-ed.

%;or one thing+/ the 'an said+ %yo! inherited a lot o6 'oney+ "!t yo! haven*t sent '!$h o6 it.

#hirty tho!sand a6ter ta>es+ "!t yo! live 6r!gally./

%8ow wo!ld yo! -now that0/

% drove "y yo!r ho!se today and dis$overed yo! live in a 6!rnished aart'ent on the third 6loor.

hen saw yo! $o'ing ho'e+ it was aarent that yo! don*t sin- '!$h into a ni$e wardro"e.


23/103

%&o!*re wrong+/ Chase said.

%,ay"e+ 'ay"e not. *ll have to ta-e 'ore ti'e to $he$- into it+ that*s all. ell+ rest easy tonight+

,r Chase. &o!*re not s$hed!led to die yet./

%aitI/ Chase said.

%&es0/% have to have a na'e 6or yo!. $an*t go on thin-ing o6 yo! in totally a"stra$t ter's li-e Nthe

'an and Nthe stranger and Nthe -iller. Do yo! see how that is0/

%&es+/ the 'an ad'itted.

% na'e0/

8e $onsidered a 'o'ent+ then said+ %&o! $an $all 'e !dge./

%!dge0/

%&es+ as in N!dge+ !ry and e>e$!tioner+ ,r Chase./ 8e la!ghed !ntil he $o!ghed+ then h!ng

!+ li-e a ran-ster.

Chase went to the re6rigerator and got an ale. 8e $arried it to the ta"le and !t it down on a

na-in+ went to get a aring -ni6e 6ro' the !tilities drawer. 8e eeled the ale and $!t it into eight

se$tions+ $hewing ea$h one thoro!ghly. 8e s!osed it was not '!$h o6 a s!er+ "!t then therewere a lot o6 energygiving $alories in a glass o6 whis-ey. 8e o!red hi'sel6 a 6ew o!n$es over i$e+

6or dessert.

8e washed his hands+ whi$h had "e$o'e sti$-y with ale !i$e.

ith another drin-+ he went to the "ed and sat down+ staring thro!gh the 'ovie on the television

s$reen. 8e tried not to thin- a"o!t anything e>$et the ro!tines he was !sed to+ the things he relied

on. rea-6ast at oolworth*s+ aer"a$- reading 'aterial+ liE!or !r$hases. Old 'ovies on

television+ the twentyeight tho!sand dollars in the savings a$$o!nt+ his ension $heE!e+ the

wonder6!l "ottle a day. #hose things were what $o!nted+ what gave li6e its s!"stan$e. nything else

was 'isleading+ dross that had no la$e in his s$he'e o6 things.

gain he re6rained 6ro' $alling the oli$e.


24/103

Three

#he night'ares were so "ad that Chase slet 6it6!lly+ wa-ing reeatedly at the en!lti'ate 'o'ent

o6 horror+ redrea'ing the tight $ir$le o6 dead 'en and the silent harang!e that they dire$ted against

hi' as they $losed in with their hands o!tstret$hed . . .

8e rose early+ a"andoning any hoe o6 rest+ "athed and shaved+ sat down at the ta"le and eeled

an ale 6or "rea-6ast. 8e did not want to 6a$e the reg!lar $!sto'ers at oolworth*s $o!nter now

that he was so'ething 'ore than !st another 6a$e to the'+ yet he $o!ld not thin- o6 another la$e

where he $o!ld go !nre$ognized. #he ale was not '!$h on whi$h to start the day. 8e de$ided thathe wo!ld have to go o!t 6or l!n$h i6 he $o!ld re'e'"er the na'e o6 a resta!rant where one $o!ld

have so'e degree o6 riva$y.

6ter l!n$h+ o6 $o!rse+ he $o!ld s!rvive on a$- Daniel*s E!ite ni$ely.

#he ti'e was 9J5 in the 'orning.

t was '!$h too early to "egin drin-ing+ 6or he wo!ld only 'a-e hi'sel6 ill hitting a "ottle

already. 6ter l!n$h. !t what $o!ld he do with the long ho!rs "etween now and noon0 8e t!rned

on the television "!t $o!ldn*t 6ind any old 'ovies+ t!rned it o66. 8e had read what "oo-s there were

in the roo'.

t last+ with nothing to do+ he "egan to re$all the details o6 the night'are that had wa-ened hi'+

and he -new that was no good. 8e i$-ed ! the honeF 6or the se$ond ti'e he la$ed a $all+

wor-ing the !n6a'iliar dial $l!'sily.

t rang three ti'es "e6ore a ert yo!ng wo'an answered. he said. %Dr Ca!vel*s o66i$e+ ,iss

3ringle sea-ing+ $an hel yo!0/

Chase said+ %*d li-e to see the do$tor./

%re yo! a reg!lar atient0/

%&es. ,y na'e*s en Chase./

%Oh+ yesI/ ,iss 3ringle said+ as i6 it were a s'all oy to "e hearing 6ro' hi'. %?ood 'orning+

,r Chase./ he rattled the ages o6 an aoint'ent "oo- and said. %&o!r reg!larly s$hed!led visit

is this ;riday a6ternoon at three./

% have to see Dr Ca!vel "e6ore that+/ Chase said. hen he 6irst $on$eived o6 this irreg!lar

$onta$t+ he had not "een at all s!re i6 it was wise. Aow it see'ed not only wise+ "!t wildlyi'ortant. % "ust see hi'./

%#o'orrow 'orning we have hal6 an ho!r /

Chase interr!ted her. %#oday./

% "eg yo!r ardon0/ ,iss 3ringle said+ her oy at hearing his voi$e having di'inished

are$ia"ly.

% want an aoint'ent today+/ Chase reeated.

,iss 3ringle atte'ted to in6or' hi' o6 the heavy wor- load the do$tor $arried and o6 the e>tra

wor-ing ho!rs ne$essary in ea$h day 6or the do$tor to st!dy $ase histories o6 new atients. 8e had

to read the latest o!rnals and write his own o$$asional arti$les 6or those sa'e restigio!s

!"li$ations. t was $lear that ,iss 3ringle so'ewhat idolized hi'+ and Chase wondered whether

she slet with hi'. n all the ti'es he had seen her+ s!$h a tho!ght had never o$$!rred to hi'.


25/103

ensively "o!nd vol!'es+

along with $lose to three h!ndred glass dogs+ none larger than the al' o6 a 'an*s hand and 'ost a

good deal s'aller than that. Colle$ting glass dogs was Dr Ca!vel*s ho""y.

!st as the roo' with its "attered des-+ heavily added easy $hairs and 6oots$arred $o66ee

ta"le did not loo- its !rose+ Dr Ca!vel was as !nli-e any stereotyi$al i'age o6 a sy$hiatrist as

was ossi"le+ whether "y intent or nat!re Chase never -new 6or $ertain. 8e was a s'all 'an+ ratherathleti$loo-ing+ with hair that silled over his $ollar in a 'anner that s!ggested $arelessness rather

than style. 8e always loo-ed as i6 he needed a shave+ and he always wore a "l!e s!it $!t a "it too

long in the tro!sers and in need o6 a hot iron. t was ossi"le to see hi' as a s$hooltea$her

(@nglish)+ a store 'anager (the lo$al 6iveandten)+ or the 'inister o6 so'e esoteri$ 6!nda'entalist

Christian se$t. !t not a do$tor. nd not ever+ ever a do$tor o6 the 'ind.

%it down+ en+/ Ca!vel said. %i-e a drin-0/

%Ao+ than- yo!+/ Chase said. #here was no $o!$h !on whi$h to a$t o!t the 6a'iliar s$ene o6

sy$hiatry*s 'yths. Chase sat in his 6avo!rite easy $hair.

Ca!vel too- the $hair to Chase*s right+ san- "a$- and roed his 6eet on the $o66ee ta"le. 8e

!rged Chase to 6ollow s!it. hen they were at least in the ose o6 rela>ation+ he said+ %Ao

reli'inaries+ then0/


26/103

%Aot today+/ Chase said.

%&o!*re tense+ en./

%&es./ Chase tried to deter'ine where he sho!ld "egin+ how the story sho!ld "e "est !n6olded.

#ell 'e a"o!t it0/

Aow+ Chase $learly re'e'"ered the 6irst ti'e !dge had $alled hi'+ "!t he $o!ld not "ringhi'sel6 to e>lain the sit!ation to Ca!vel. @ven 'a-ing this aoint'ent had "een an ad'ission o6

his slowly dissolving hold on thingsJ e>laining it 'ight "e r!ino!s.

%Can*t do it0/

%Ao./

%ant to lay so'e word asso$iation0/

Chase nodded+ dreading the ga'e they o6ten !sed to loosen his tong!e. 8e always see'ed to

e>ose 'ore o6 hi'sel6 than he wished in his answers. nd Ca!vel did not lay it a$$ording to

esta"lished r!les+ "!t with a swi6t and vi$io!s tone that $!t E!i$-ly to the heart o6 the 'atter. till+

he said+ %?o on./

Ca!vel said+ %,other./

%Dead./%;ather./

%Dead./

Ca!vel had his 6ingers steeled "e6ore hi'+ li-e a $hild laying the ee the Ch!r$h ga'e.

%ove./

%o'an./

%ove./

%o'an+/ Chase reeated.

Ca!vel did not loo- at hi' "!t stared st!dio!sly at the "l!e glass terrier on the "oo-shel6 nearest

hi'. 8e said+ %Don*t reeat yo!rsel6+ lease./ hen Chase had aologized (he had "een s!rrised

the 6irst ti'e Ca!vel had e>e$ted an aology+ 6or he had not tho!ght s!$h a g!iltto!$hed

relationshi was desira"le "etween a sy$hiatrist and his atientF with ea$h en!sing aology over

the 'onths+ he was less s!rrised at anything Ca!vel 'ight s!ggest)+ the do$tor said+ %ove./

%?irl./

%#hat*s an evasion./

%@verything is an evasion./

#hat o"servation aeared to s!rrise the do$tor+ "!t not eno!gh to ar hi' o!t o6 the st!""orn+

wearying ro!tine whi$h he had "eg!n. 8e said+ a6ter a slight a!se+ %ove./

lready Chase was ersiring+ and he did not -now why. 8e 6inally said+ %,ysel6./

%Gery good+/ Ca!vel said. nd now the inter$hange o6 words went 6aster+ one "ar-ed $lose a6ter

the other+ as i6 seed $o!nted in the s$oring. Ca!vel said+ %8ate./

%r'y./%8ate./

%Gietna'./

%8ateI/ Ca!vel raised his voi$e+ al'ost sho!ted it.

%?!ns./

%Hate#

%Pa$haria+/ Chase said+ tho!gh he had o6ten sworn never to reeat that na'e again or to

re'e'"er the 'an atta$hed to it or+ indeed+ to re$all the events that 'an had eretrated.

%8ate+/ Ca!vel said+ 'ore E!ietly this ti'e.

%nother word+ lease./

%8ate+/ Ca!vel insisted.

%ie!tenant Pa$haria+ ie!tenant Pa$haria+ ie!tenant Pa$hariaI/


27/103

"r!tly+ the do$tor "ro!ght an end to the ga'e+ tho!gh it had "een '!$h less $o'le> than

!s!al. 8e said+ %Do yo! re'e'"er what ie!tenant Pa$haria ordered yo! to do+ ena'in0/

%&es+ sir./

%hat were those orders0/

%e had sealed o66 the two "a$- entran$es to a Cong t!nnel syste'+ and ie!tenant Pa$hariaordered 'e to $lear the last entran$e./

%8ow did yo! a$$o'lish that0/

%ith a grenade+ sir. #hen+ "e6ore the air ro!nd the t!nnel 6a$e $o!ld $lear+ went 6orward and

!sed a 'a$hine g!n./

#hen+ ena'in0/

%#hen we went down+ sir./

%e0/

%ie!tenant Pa$haria+ ergeant Coo'"s+ 3rivates 8alsey and ade+ a $o!le o6 other 'en./

%nd yo!./

%&es+ and 'e./

#hen0/%n the t!nnels+ we 6o!nd 6o!r dead 'en and arts o6 'en lying in the 6oyer o6 the $o'le>.

ie!tenant Pa$haria ordered a $a!tio!s advan$e. h!ndred and 6i6ty yards along+ we $a'e a$ross a

"a'"oo grate "ehind whi$h a n!'"er o6 villagers+ 'ostly wo'en+ were stationed./

%8ow 'any wo'en+ en0/

%,ay"e twenty./

%Children0/

Chase san- down in the heavy adding+ his sho!lders drawn ! as i6 he wished to hide "etween

the'. % 6ew./

#hen0/

%e tried to oen the grate+ "!t the wo'en were holding it sh!t with a syste' o6 roes. hen

we ordered the' o!t o6 the way+ they wo!ld not 'ove. #he lie!tenant said it 'ight very well "e a

tra+ designed to $ontain !s at that oint !ntil the Cong $o!ld so'ehow get "ehind !s. t was dar-.

#here was a s'ell in that t!nnel $an*t e>lain+ 'ade ! o6 sweat and !rine and rotting vegeta"les+

as heavy as i6 it had s!"stan$e. ie!tenant Pa$haria ordered !s to oen 6ire and $lear the way./

%Did yo! $o'ly0/

%&es. @veryone did./

%ater+ when the t!nnel had "een de'olished+ yo! ran into the a'"!sh whi$h earned yo! yo!r

,edal o6 8onor./

%&es+/ Chase said.

Ca!vel said+ %&o! $rawled a$ross the 6ield o6 6ire 6or a distan$e o6 nearly two h!ndred yards and

"ro!ght "a$- a wo!nded sergeant na'ed Coo'"s. &o! re$eived two 'inor "!t ain6!l wo!nds inthe thigh and $al6 o6 yo!r right leg+ "!t yo! did not sto $rawling !ntil yo! had rea$hed shelter+ at

whi$h oint yo! se$!red Coo'"s "ehind a stand o6 s$r!"+ and having rea$hed a oint on the

ene'y*s 6lan- "y 'eans o6 yo!r heroi$ $rossing o6 the oen 6ield+ a$$o!nted 6or eighteen

$o''!nist soldiers. &o!r a$tions+ there6ore+ not only saved ergeant Coo'"s/ li6e "!t $ontri"!ted

s!"stantially to the well"eing o6 yo!r entire !nit./ 8e had only slightly arahrased the wording on

the s$roll whi$h Chase had re$eived in the 'ail 6ro' the 3resident hi'sel6.

Chase said nothing.

%&o! see where this herois' $a'e 6ro'+ en0/

%e*ve tal-ed a"o!t it "e6ore. t $a'e 6ro' g!ilt+ "e$a!se wanted to die+ s!"$ons$io!sly

wanted to "e -illed./

%Do yo! "elieve that analysis+ or do yo! thin- it*s !st so'ething 'ade ! to degrade yo!r


28/103

'edal0/

Chase said+ % "elieve it. never wanted the 'edal in the 6irst la$e./

%Aow+/ Ca!vel said+ !nsteeling his 6ingers+ %lets e>tend that analysis !st a "it. #ho!gh yo!

hoed to "e shot and -illed in that a'"!sh+ too- a"s!rd ris-s to 'a-e it a $ertainty+ the oosite

transired. &o! "e$a'e a national hero. hen yo! learned ie!tenant Pa$haria had s!"'itted yo!rna'e 6or $onsideration+ yo! s!66ered a nervo!s "rea-down that hositalized yo! and event!ally led

to yo!r hono!ra"le dis$harge. #he "rea-down was an atte't to !nish yo!rsel6+ on$e yo!*d 6ailed

to get yo!rsel6 -illed+ "!t it 6ailed too. ell regarded+ hono!ra"ly dis$harged+ too strong not to

re$over 6ro' the "rea-down+ yo! still $arried yo!r "!rden o6 g!ilt./

#here was a a!se. Chase was silent.

Ca!vel $ontin!edJ %3erhas when yo! $han$ed !on that s$ene in the ar- on Kana$-away+ yo!

re$ognized another oort!nity to !nish yo!rsel6. &o! '!st have realized that there was a strong

ossi"ility that yo! wo!ld "e h!rt or -illed+ and yo! '!st have s!"$ons$io!sly anti$iated that

agreea"ly eno!gh./

%&o!*re wrong+/ Chase said. %t wasn*t li-e that at all. had thirty o!nds on hi'+ and -new

what was doing. 8e was an a'ate!r. 8e had no hoe o6 really h!rting 'e./Ca!vel said nothing. everal 'in!tes assed !ntil Chase re$ognized the s$ene they were a$ting

o!t and had a$ted o!t in a n!'"er o6 other sessions. hen he aologized at last+ Ca!vel s'iled at

hi'. %ell+ yo! aren*t a sy$hiatrist+ so we $an*t e>e$t yo! to see into it E!ite so $learly. &o! aren*t

deta$hed 6ro' it li-e a'./ 8e $leared his throat+ loo-ed "a$- at the "l!e terrier. 8e said+ %Aow that

we have $o'e this 6ar+ why did yo! soli$it this e>tra session+ en0/

On$e he "egan+ Chase 6o!nd the telling easy. n ten 'in!tes he had related the events o6 the

revio!s day and reeated+ al'ost word 6or word+ the $onversations he had with !dge.

hen he had 6inished+ Ca!vel as-ed+ %hat do yo! want o6 'e+ then0/

% want to -now how to handle it+ so'e advi$e. hen he $alls+ it*s 'ore than !st the threats that

!set 'e. t*s a 6eeling o6 deta$h'ent 6ro' everything+ li-e was in the hosital./

%nother "rea-down0/

%*' a6raid there 'ight "e./

Ca!vel said+ %,y advi$e is to ignore hi'./

% $an*t./

%&o! '!st+/ Ca!vel said.

%hat i6 he*s serio!s0 hat i6 he*s really going to -ill 'e0/

%8e won*t./

%8ow $an yo! "e s!re0/ Chase was ersiring heavily. ?reat dar- $ir$les stained the !nderar's

o6 his shirt and lastered it to his "a$-.

Ca!vel s'iled at the "l!e terrier+ shi6ted his gaze to a greyho!nd "lown in a'"er+ that s'!g+

sel6ass!red loo- dri6ting over his 6a$e li-e a 'as-. % $an "e so s!re o6 that+ "e$a!se !dge does note>ist./

;or a 'o'ent Chase did not !nderstand the rely. hen he grased the i'ort o6 it+ he did not

li-e it. 8e said+ %8ow $o!ld have hall!$inated it0 #he art a"o!t the '!rder and the girl are in the

aers./

%Oh+ that was real eno!gh+/ Ca!vel said. %!t these hone $alls are all so '!$h ill!sion./

%t $an*t "e./

Ca!vel ignored that and said+ %*ve noti$ed 6or so'e ti'e that yo! have "eg!n to sha-e o66 this

!nnat!ral desire 6or riva$y and that yo!*re 6a$ing the world a little "it 'ore sE!arely on+ wee- "y

wee-. &o!*ve 6elt yo!rsel6 growing $!rio!s a"o!t the rest o6 the world+ and yo!*ve "e$o'e restless

to do so'ething. s that $orre$t0/

% don*t -now+/ Chase said. !t he did -now+ it was $orre$t+ and it "othered hi' that it was so.


29/103

%3erhas yo! even 6elt a renewal o6 yo!r se>!al !rge+ "!t erhas not that '!$h yet. $o!nter

rea$tion o6 g!ilt set in+ "e$a!se yo! had not yet "een !nished 6or the things that haened in that

t!nnel+ and yo! didn*t want to lead a nor'al li6e !ntil yo! 6elt yo!*d s!66ered eno!gh./

Chase said nothing. 8e disli-ed the tone o6 s'!g $o'la$en$y+ o6 !nE!estioned sel6ass!ran$e

that Ca!vel adoted 6or 'o'ents li-e this. Right now all he wanted was o!t o6 there+ to get ho'eand $lose the door and oen the "ottle. new "ottle.

Ca!vel said+ %&o! $o!ldn*t a$$et the 6a$t that yo! wanted to taste the good things o6 li6e again+

and yo! invented !dge "e$a!se he reresented the re'aining ossi"ility o6 !nish'ent. &o! had to

'a-e so'e e>$!ses 6or "eing 6or$ed into li6e again+ and !dge wor-ed well in this rese$t too. &o!

wo!ld+ sooner or later+ have to ta-e the initiative to sto hi'. &o! $o!ld retend that yo! still

wanted se$l!sion in whi$h to 'o!rn "!t were no longer "eing er'itted that ind!lgen$e./

%ll wrong+/ Chase said+ %!dge is real./

% thin- not./ Ca!vel s'iled at the a'"er greyho!nd and said+ %6 yo! tho!ght he was real+ why

not go to the oli$e rather than yo!r sy$hiatrist0/

Chase had no answer. 8e said+ %&o!*re twisting things./

%Ao. !st showing yo! the straight tr!th./ 8e stood !+ stret$hed+ his toolong tro!sers rising onhis !nolished shoes+ 6alling when he 6inished his yawn. % re$o''end yo! go ho'e and 6orget

!dge. &o! don*t need an e>$!se to live li-e a nor'al h!'an "eing. &o! have s!66ered eno!gh+

en+ 'ore than eno!gh. ;or the lives yo! too-+ yo! saved others. Re'e'"er that./

Chase stood+ "ewildered+ no longer er6e$tly s!re that he did -now what was real and what was

not. Ca!vel !t his ar' aro!nd his sho!lder and wal-ed hi' to the door.

%;riday at three+/ the do$tor said. %et*s see how 6ar o!t o6 yo!r hole yo!*ve $o'e "y then.

thin- yo!*re going to 'a-e it+ en. Don*t desair./

,iss 3ringle es$orted hi' to the o!ter door o6 the waiting roo' and $losed it a6ter hi'+ leaving

hi' alone in the hallway.

%!dge is real+/ Chase said to no one at all. %sn*t he0/


30/103

Four

Chase was sitting on the edge o6 his "ed "y the nightstand where the telehone stood+ siing at his

se$ond glass o6 a$- Daniel*s+ when si> o*$lo$- rolled aro!nd. 8e !t the drin- down and wied his

sweaty hands on his sla$-s+ $leared his throat so that his voi$e wo!ld not $at$h when he tried to

sea-.

t MJB5 he "egan to 6eel !neasy. 8e tho!ght o6 going downstairs to as- ,rs ;iedling what ti'e

her $lo$-s read+ in the event that his own was not 6!n$tioning roerly. 8e re6rained 6ro' that only

"e$a!se he was a6raid o6 'issing the $all i6 it sho!ld $o'e while he was down there.t MJ15 he i$-ed ! his drin- again and sied at it steadily+ wat$hing the hone as i6 it 'ight

try to 'ove. 8is hands were da' againF "eads o6 ersiration had aeared on his 6orehead.

t MJB he went to the $!"oard+ too- down his whis-y "ottle o6 the day whi$h had "arely

"een to!$hed and o!red his third glass. 8e did not !t it away again+ "!t le6t it o!t on the waist

high $!"oard $o!nter where he $o!ld easily rea$h it. 8e read the la"el+ whi$h he had st!died a

h!ndred ti'es "e6ore+ then $arried his drin- "a$- to the "ed.

y seven o*$lo$- he was 6eeling all the liE!or in hi'. @verything had "e$o'e so6tened+ his

'ove'ents lethargi$. 8e settled "a$- against the head"oard and 6inally 6a$ed the tr!thJ Ca!vel had

"een $orre$t. #here was no !dge. !dge had "een an ill!sion+ a sy$hologi$al 'e$hanis' 6or

rationalization o6 his slowly lessening g!ilt $o'le>. 8e tried to thin- a"o!t that+ to st!dy the

'eaning o6 it+ "!t he $o!ld not "e s!re i6 this was a good or a "ad develo'ent.

n the "athroo'+ he drew a t!" o6 war' water and tested it with his hand !ntil it was !st right.

8e 6olded a da' wash$loth over the wide or$elain ri' o6 the t!" and la$ed his drin- on that+

stried+ steed into the t!" and settled down !ntil+ seated+ the water $a'e artway ! his $hest. t

was very ni$e+ $o'6orting. #he whis-y and the water and the stea' rising aro!nd hi' had all

$onsired to 'a-e hi' 6eel as i6 he were 6loating+ 6alling up into a strea' o6 so6t $lo!ds. 8e leaned

"a$- !ntil his head to!$hed the wall+ $losed his eyes and tried not to thin- a"o!t anything

ese$ially a"o!t !dge and the ,edal o6 8onor and the nine 'onths he had sent on a$tive d!ty in

Aa'.


31/103

Aa-ed+ he sat down and i$-ed ! the hone.

%orry *' late+/ !dge said.

Dr Ca!vel had "een wrong.

% tho!ght yo! weren*t going to $all+/ Chase said.

%o!ld let yo! down0/ !dge as-ed+ 'o$- h!rt in his tone. %t was !st that reE!ired a little'ore ti'e to lo$ate so'e in6or'ation on yo!./

%hat in6or'ation0/

!dge ignored the E!estion+ intent on ro$eeding in his own 6ashion. %o yo! see a sy$hiatrist

on$e a wee-+ do yo!0 #hat alone is 6airly good roo6 that the a$$!sation 'ade yesterday is tr!e

that yo!r disa"ility ension is 6or 'ental in!ries+ not hysi$al ones./

Chase wished that he had a drin- with hi'+ "!t he $o!ld not as- !dge to hold on while he

o!red hi'sel6 one. ;or so'e reason he $o!ld not e>lain+ he did not want !dge to -now that he

dran- heavily.

Chase said+ %8ow did yo! 6ind o!t0/

%;ollowed yo! this a6ternoon+/ !dge said.

%&o! don*t have the right to /!dge la!ghed. 8e said+ % saw yo! going into the Kaine !ilding+ and got into the lo""y 6ast

eno!gh to see what elevator yo! too- and whi$h 6loor yo! got o66 at. On the eighth 6loor+ "esides Dr

Ca!vel*s o66i$es+ there are two dentists+ three ins!ran$e $o'anies and a ta> $olle$tion o66i$e. t was

si'le eno!gh to loo- in the waiting roo's o6 those other la$es or to inE!ire a6ter yo!+ li-e a

6riend+ with the se$retaries and re$etionists. le6t the head do$tor*s la$e 6or last+ "e$a!se !st

$new that*s where yo! were. hen no one -new o6 yo! in the other o66i$es+ didn*t even have to

ris- loo-ing in Ca!vel*s waiting roo'. -new./

Chase said+ %o what0/

8e hoed that he so!nded 'ore non$halant than he 6elt+ 6or it was so'ehow i'ortant to 'a-e

the right i'ression on !dge. 8e was sweating again. 8e wo!ld need to ta-e another "ath "y the

ti'e this $onversation was $on$l!ded. nd he wo!ld need a drin-+ a $old drin-.

%et 'e tell yo! why was late $alling+/ !dge said.

%?o on./

%s soon as -new 6or s!re yo! were in the sy$hiatrist*s o66i$e+ was aware o6 the ne$essity to

o"tain $oies o6 his ersonal 6iles on yo!. de$ided to re'ain in the "!ilding+ o!t o6 sight+ !ntil all

the o66i$es were $losed and the e'loyees had gone ho'e./

% don*t "elieve yo!+/ Chase said+ aware o6 what was $o'ing+ dreading to hear it.

%&o! don*t want to "elieve 'e+ "!t yo! do. Aow let 'e e>lain how it was./ !dge too- a long+

slow "reath "e6ore he $ontin!edJ %#he eighth 6loor was $lear "y si> o*$lo$-. y si>thirty 'anaged

to get the door oen into Dr Ca!vel*s s!ite. -now a little a"o!t s!$h things+ and was $are6!lF did

not da'age the lo$-+ and didn*t tri any alar's "e$a!se there were none. reE!ired an additionalhal6 an ho!r to lo$ate his 6iles and to se$!re yo!r re$ords+ whi$h $oied on his own hoto$oier./

%rea-ing and entering then the6t+/ Chase said.

%!t it hardly 'atters on to o6 what the a!thorities wo!ld $onsider '!rder+ does it0/

Chase had no rely.

%&o!*ll re$eive in the 'ail+ ro"a"ly the day a6ter to'orrow+ $o'lete $oies o6 Dr Ca!vel*s

notes on yo!+ along with $oies o6 several arti$les he had written 6or vario!s 'edi$al o!rnals.

&o!*re 'entioned in all these and are+ in so'e o6 the'+ the sole s!"e$t o6 dis$!ssion./

Chase said+ % didn*t -now he*d done that./

#hey*re interesting arti$les+ Chase. #hey*ll give yo! so'e idea o6 what he thin-s o6 yo!./ !dge*s

tone $hanged then+ "e$a'e 6ar 'ore ha!ghty and was to!$hed with $onte't. %Reading those

re$ords+ Chase+ 6o!nd 'ore than eno!gh to er'it 'e to ass !dg'ent on yo!./


32/103

%Oh0/

% read all a"o!t how yo! got yo!r ,edal o6 8onor./

Chase waited.

%nd read a"o!t the t!nnels and what yo! did in those and how yo! heled ie!tenant

Pa$haria to $over the eviden$e and 6alsi6y the event!al reort. Do yo! thin- the Congress wo!ldhave voted yo! the ,edal o6 8onor i6 they had -nown yo! -illed $ivilians+ Chase0/

%to it./

%&o! -illed wo'en+ didn*t yo!0/

% said sto it./

%&o! -illed wo'en and $hildren+ Chase+ non$o'"atants./

%&o! son o6 a "it$h./

%Children+ Chase. &o! -illed $hildren. hat -ind o6 ani'al are yo!+ Chase0/

%Shut up# Chase had $o'e to his 6eet as i6 so'ething had e>loded $lose "ehind hi'. %hat

wo!ld yo! -now a"o!t it0 ere yo! ever over there+ did yo! ever have to serve in that stin-ing

$o!ntry0/

%o'e atrioti$ aean to d!ty won*t $hange 'y 'ind+ Chase. e all love this $o!ntry+ "!t 'osto6 !s realize there are li'its to /

%!llshit+/ Chase said.

8e $o!ld not re'e'"er having "een this angry in all the ti'e sin$e his "rea-down. Aow and

then he had "een irritated "y so'ething or so'eone+ "!t never driven to the e>tre'es o6 e'otion.

%Chase /

% "et yo! were all 6or the war. *ll "et yo!*re one o6 the haw-s that 'ade it ossi"le 6or 'e to "e

there in the 6irst la$e. t*s easy to set standards o6 er6or'an$e+ sele$t li'its o6 right and wrong+

when yo! never get $loser than ten tho!sand 'iles to the la$e where it*s all $o'ing downI/

!dge atte'ted to $o''ent "!t $o!ld not "rea- in.

Chase said+ % didn*t even want to "e there. didn*t "elieve in it+ and was s$ared shitless the

whole ti'e. ,ostly+ all tho!ght a"o!t was staying alive. n that t!nnel+ $o!ldn*t thin- o6 anything

else. wasn*t "e! % was a te>t"oo- $ase o6 aranoia. nd now+ da''it+ won*t let yo! or anyone

else "la'e "e 6or what a te>t"oo- e>a'le didI/

%&o! do 6eel g!ilty+ tho!gh+/ !dge o"served.

#hat doesn*t 'atter./

% thin- it does./

%t doesnt 'atter+ "e$a!se no 'atter how g!ilty 6eel yo! haven*t the right to ass !dg'ent on

'e. &o!*re sitting there with yo!r little list o6 $o''and'ents+ "!t yo!*ve never "een anywhere that

'ade a list see' ointless+ anywhere that the environ'ent 6or$ed yo! into rea$ting in a 'anner yo!

loathed./ Chase 6o!nd+ a'azingly+ that he was $rying. 8e had not $ried in a long ti'e.

%&o!*re rationalizing+/ !dge "egan+ trying to regain $ontrol o6 the $onversation.Chase wo!ld not er'it that. 8e said+ %nd re'e'"er that yo!*ve not 6ollowed that $o''and

'ent yo!rsel6. &o! -illed that "oy+ that ,i$hael Karnes./

%#here was a di66eren$e+/ !dge said. o'e o6 the hoarseness had ret!rned to his voi$e.

%Oh0/

%&es+/ !dge said+ on the de6ensive now. % st!died his sit!ation $are6!lly+ $olle$ted eviden$e

against hi'+ and only then assed !dg'ent. &o! didn*t do any o6 that+ Chase. &o! -illed er6e$t

strangers+ and yo! very li-ely '!rdered inno$ents who had no "la$- 'ar-s on their so!ls./

Chase sla''ed the hone down.

hen it rang at 6o!r di66erent ti'es d!ring the 6ollowing ho!r+ he was a"le to ignore it

$o'letely. 8is anger re'ained shar+ the strongest e'otion he had e>erien$ed in long 'onths o6

near$atatonia.


33/103

8e dran- three 'ore glasses o6 whis-y "e6ore he "egan to 6eel a "it 'ellow again. 8is anger had

"!rned ! all tra$es o6 the dr!n-enness whi$h his 6irst 6ew drin-s had "ro!ght. #he tre'ors slowly

stilled in his hands.

t ten o*$lo$- he dialled the n!'"er o6 the oli$e headE!arters and as-ed 6or Dete$tive alla$e+

who at that 'o'ent was o!t. 8e dressed+ dran- another glass o6 a$- Daniel*s and tried again at1BJB. #his ti'e alla$e was in and willing to sea- to hi'.

%Aothing*s going as well as we hoed+/ alla$e said. %8e doesn*t see' to have "een rinted. t

least+ the rints on that -ni6e don*t 'at$h ! with anything in 6ederal or state 6iles./

%#hey $o!ld have $he$-ed the 6iles this E!i$-ly0/

%&eah+/ alla$e said. %#hey have $o'!ters that s$an and $o'are '!$h 6aster than a tea' o6

investigators $o!ld so'ething li-e the $o'!ters that read handwriting and sort 'ail at ost

o66i$es./

%hat a"o!t the ring0/

%#!rns o!t to "e a $hea a$$essory that sells at !nder 6i6teen "!$-s retail in a"o!t every store in

the state. 'ossi"le to -ee tra$- o6 where and when and to who' a $ertain ring 'ight "e sold./

Chase $o''itted hi'sel6 rel!$tantly. %#hen have so'ething 6or yo!+/ he said. n a 6ew shortsenten$es he told the dete$tive a"o!t !dge*s $alls.

alla$e was lainly angry+ tho!gh he 'ade an e66ort not to sho!t. %hy in the hell didn*t yo! let

!s -now a"o!t his "e6ore0/

% tho!ght+ with the rints+ yo!*d "e s!re to get hi'./

%3rints hardly ever 'a-e a di66eren$e in a sit!ation li-e this+/ alla$e said. #here was still a "ite

in his voi$e+ tho!gh it was '!ted now. 8e had evidently ta-en a 'o'ent to $onsider the stat!re o6

his in6or'ant.

%esides+/ Chase said+ %the -iller realized the $han$e o6 the line "eing taed. 8e*s "een $alling

6ro' ay hones and -eeing the $alls !nder 6ive 'in!tes./

alla$e said+ %!st the sa'e+ *d li-e to hear hi'. *ll "e over with a 'an in 6i6teen 'in!tes./

%!st one 'an0/

alla$e said+ %e*ll try not to !set yo!r ro!tine too '!$h./

Chase al'ost la!ghed at that. 8e said+ %*ll "e waiting./

#he 'an who $a'e with alla$e was introd!$ed as a'es #!inger+ and he was not said to

have any ran- with the oli$e deart'ent+ tho!gh Chase 6ig!red hi' as alla$e*s eE!al. 8e was si>

in$hes taller than the dete$tive and not so grey and ordinaryloo-ing. 8e wore his "lond hair in s!$h

a short $rew $!t that he aeared al'ost "ald 6ro' a distan$e. 8is eyes were "l!e and 'oved 6ro'

o"e$t to o"e$t with the swi6t+ enetrating glan$e o6 an a$$o!ntant ite'izing an inventory. 8e

$arried a large s!it$ase in his right hand and didn*t !t it down when he o66ered Chase his le6t.

,rs ;iedling wat$hed 6ro' the living roo'+ where she retended to "e engrossed in a televisionrogra''e+ "!t she did not $o'e o!t to see what was going on. Chase got the two o6 the' !stairs

"e6ore she $o!ld learn who they were.

%Cozy little la$e yo! have+/ alla$e said.

%t*s eno!gh 6or 'e+/ Chase said.

#!inger*s eyes 6li$-ed a"o!t+ $at$hing the !n'ade "ed+ the $o!le o6 dirty whis-y glasses on

the $!"oard+ the "ottle o6 liE!or whi$h was nearly hal6 e'ty. 8e did not say anything. 8e too- his

s!it$ase 6!ll o6 tools to the hone+ !t it down+ and "egan e>a'ining the leadin wires that $a'e

thro!gh the wall near the "ase o6 the single window.

hile #!inger wor-ed+ alla$e E!estioned Chase. %hat did he so!nd li-e on the hone0/

%8ard to say./

%Old0 &o!ng0/


34/103

%n "etween./

%$$ent0/

%Ao./

%ee$h i'edi'ent0/

%Ao+/ Chase said. %t 6irst+ tho!gh+ he was hoarse aarently 6ro' the strangling gave hi'./alla$e said+ %Can yo! re'e'"er what he said+ ea$h ti'e he $alled0/

%ro>i'ately./

%#ell 'e+ then./ 8e sl!'ed down in the only easy $hair in the roo' and $rossed his legs "e6ore

hi'. 8e loo-ed as i6 he had 6allen aslee+ tho!gh he was only $onserving his energy while he

waited.

Chase told hi' everything that he $o!ld re'e'"er a"o!t the strange $onversations with !dge+

then revealed so'e things he had 6orgotten as alla$e as-ed a 6ew 'ore ro"ing E!estions.

%8e so!nds li-e a religio!s sy$hoti$+/ alla$e said. %ll this st!66 a"o!t 6orni$ation and sin and

assing !dg'ents./

%,ay"e+/ Chase said. %!t wo!ldn*t loo- 6or hi' at tent 'eetings. thin- it*s 'ore o6 a 'oral

e>$!se to -ill than a gen!ine "elie6./%,ay"e+/ alla$e said. %#hen again+ we get his sort every on$e in a while+ 'ore reg!larly than

any other "rand o6 'ad'an./

;ive 'in!tes later+ as alla$e and Chase sat in silen$e+ #!inger 6inished his wor-. 8e

e>lained his listening and re$ording eE!i'ent to Chase and 6!rther e>lained the tra$ery networ-

the telehone $o'any had in !se to see- !dge when he $alled.

%ell+/ alla$e said+ %tonight intend to go ho'e when *' s!osed to./ !st the tho!ght o6

eight ho!rs/ slee "ro!ght his lids down 6!rther and in$reased the red tint in his eyes.

%One thing+/ Chase said.

%hat*s that0/

%6 this leads to so'ething do yo! have to tell the ress a"o!t 'y art in it0/

%hy0/ alla$e as-ed.

%t*s !st that *' tired o6 "eing a $ele"rity+ o6 having eole "other 'e all ho!rs o6 the day and

night./

%t has to $o'e o!t at the trial+ i6 we na" hi'+/ alla$e said.

%!t not "e6ore0/

% g!ess not./

%d are$iate it+/ Chase said. %n any $ase+ *ll have to aear at the trial+ won*t 0/

%3ro"a"ly./

%o+ i6 the ress didn*t have to -now !ntil then+ it wo!ld $!t down on the news $overage "y hal6./

%&o!*re really 'odest+ aren*t yo!0/ alla$e as-ed. e6ore Chase $o!ld resond to that+ the

dete$tive s'iled+ $laed hi' on the sho!lder and le6t.%o!ld yo! li-e a drin-0/ Chase as-ed #!inger.

%Aot on d!ty./

%,ind i6 0/

%Ao. ?o ahead./

Chase noti$ed that #!inger wat$hed hi' with interest as he got new i$e $!"es and o!red

hi'sel6 a large dose o6 whis-y. t wasn*t as large as !s!al. 8e s!osed he*d have to restrain his

thirst a "it with the oli$e'an aro!nd.

hen Chase sat on the "ed+ #!inger said+ % read all a"o!t yo!r e>loits over there./

%Oh0/

%Really so'ething+/ #!inger said.

%Aot really./


35/103

%Oh+ yes+ really+/ #!inger insisted. 8e was sitting in the easy $hair+ whi$h he had 'oved $lose

to his eE!i'ent. %t had to "e hard over there+ worse than any"ody at ho'e $o!ld ever -now./

Chase nodded.

%*d i'agine the 'edals don*t 'ean that '!$h. 'ean+ $onsidering how '!$h yo! had to go

thro!gh to earn the'+ they '!st see' -ind o6 insigni6i$ant./Chase loo-ed ! 6ro' his drin-+ s!rrised at the insight. %&o!*re right+/ he said. #hey don*t 'ean

anything./

#!inger said+ %nd it '!st "e hard to $o'e "a$- 6ro' a la$e li-e that and settle into a

nor'al li6e. ,e'ories $o!ldn*t 6ade that E!i$-ly./

Chase started to resond+ then saw that #!inger was loo-ing 'eaning6!lly at the glass o6

whis-y in his hand. 8e $losed his 'o!th+ "it o66 his resonse. #hen+ hating #!inger as "adly as he

hated !dge+ he li6ted the drin- and too- a very large swallow o6 it.

8e said+ %*ll have another+ thin-. &o! s!re yo! don*t want one0/

%3ositive+/ #!inger said.

hen Chase ret!rned to the "ed with another glass6!l+ #!inger $a!tioned hi' against

answering the hone witho!t 6irst waiting 6or the tae to "e started. #hen he went into the"athroo'+ where he re'ained al'ost ten 'in!tes.

hen he $a'e "a$-+ Chase as-ed+ %8ow late do we have to stay !0/

%8as he ever $alled this late e>$et that 6irst night0/

%Ao+/ Chase said.

%#hen *ll t!rn in now+/ #!inger said+ 6loing in the easy $hair. %ee yo! in the 'orning./

n the 'orning the whisers o6 the dead 'en wo-e Chase+ "!t they t!rned o!t to "e nothing

'ore than the so!nd o6 water r!nning in the "athroo' sin-. #!inger had risen 6irst and was

shaving. hen he oened the door and $a'e o!t a 6ew 'in!tes later+ loo-ing re6reshed+ he nodded

at Chase. %ll yo!rsI/ 8e see'ed re'ar-a"ly energeti$ 6or having sent the night in the easy $hair.

Chase too- his ti'e "athing and shaving+ 6or the longer he re'ained in the "athroo'+ the less he

wo!ld have to tal- to the $o. hen he was 6inally 6inished+ the $lo$- "y his "ed read 9J5. !dge

had not yet $alled.

%hat have yo! got 6or "rea-6ast0/ #!inger as-ed.

Chase said+ #here isn*t anything here./

%Oh+ yo!*ve got to have so'ething. Doesn*t have to "e "rea-6ast 6oodF *' not arti$!lar in the

'orning./

Chase oened the re6rigerator and too- o!t the "ag o6 inesa ales. 8e said+ %Only these./

#!inger stared at the ales+ at the e'ty re6rigerator. 8is eyes 6li$-ed to the whis-y "ottle on

the $!"oard. 8e did not say anything+ 6or he did not need to say anything. ndeed+ i6 he had

re'ar-ed a$$ording to his tho!ghts+ Chase 'ight have str!$- hi'.%#hey*ll do 6ine+/ #!inger said enth!siasti$ally

K R Dwyer (Dean Koontz) - Chase (Original 1972 Ed.) (v2.0)

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Transcript of K R Dwyer (Dean Koontz) - Chase (Original 1972 Ed.) (v2.0)