The Frumious Bandersnatch

and then opened her arms to him, and he went to her and kissed her, and held her a moment longer before he began undressing. Looking at his face, she knew there was something. Everything this man felt showed on his face. She waited until he was in bed beside her, and then she signedWhat is it?

“He thought I was the weakest link,” Carella said. She was watching his lips. He saw on her face that she hadn’t caught it all. Everything this woman felt showed on her face. This time, he signed it.

He thought I was the weakest link.

Who did?she signed.

“Barney Loomis,” he said, signing and speaking simultaneously.

I don’t know what you mean.

“He asked for me on the case because he thought I’d never in a million years tip to what was going on. He couldn’t trust The Squad to be fools…”

The Squad?

“The Joint Task Force. So he picked the weakest link. Me. Detective Steve Carella. His insurance policy. To make sure they got away clean.”

Does this mean you cracked it?

“It means we cracked it.”

Then Mr. Loomis made a mistake, didn’t he?

“I guess he made a big mistake,” Carella said, and took her in his arms. “Right from minute one.”

What time do you have to be in tomorrow?she signed.