`You did it once.'
`I was forced to by circumstances.'
`What were the circumstances, Mr. Hillman?'
`There's no need to go into them. As you would say, the question is academic.'
`Did he attempt suicide?'
`No.'
`Homicide?'
His eyes flickered. `Certainly not.'
He changed the subject hurriedly: `We shouldn't be standing here talking. If Thomas is alive, he's got to be found. Harley is the one man who must know where he is, and you tell me Harley is probably on his way to Nevada.'
`He's probably there by now.'
`Why aren't you? I'd fly you myself if I could leave my wife. But you can charter a plane.'
I explained that this took money, of which I'd already spent a fair amount in his behalf.
`I'm sorry, I didn't realize.'
He produced the two-thousand-dollar check that Dr Sponti and Mr. Squerry had given him on Monday, and endorsed it to me. I was back in business.
15
STELLA, IN HER hooded bluejacket, was waiting for me part way down the driveway. The girl had a heavy pair of binoculars hung around her neck on a strap. Her face was bloodless and thin, as if it had provided sustenance for her eyes.
When I stopped the car, she climbed uninvited into the seat beside me. `I've been watching for you.'
`Is that what the field glasses are for?'
She nodded gravely. `I watch everybody who comes in or goes out of Tommy's house. Mother thinks I'm bird-watching, which she lets me do because it's a status-symbol activity. Actually I am doing a bird study for next year's biology class, on the nesting habits of the acorn woodpeckers. Only they all look so much alike they're hard to keep track of.'
`So are people.'
`I'm finding that out.'
She leaned toward me. Her small breast brushed my shoulder like a gift of trust. `But you know what, Mr. Archer? Tommy tried to call me this morning, I'm almost certain.'
`Tell me about it.'
`There isn't much to tell, really. It was one of those calls with nobody on the other end of the line. My mother answered the phone, and that's why Tommy didn't speak. He wanted me to answer it.'
Her eyes were luminous with hope.
`What makes you think it was Tommy?'
`I just know it was. Besides, he called at five to eight, which is the exact same time he always used to call me in the morning. He used to pick me up and drive me to school.'
`That isn't too much to go on, Stella. More likely it was a wrong number.'
`No. I believe it was Tommy. And he'll be trying again.'
`Why would he call you instead of his parents?'
`He's probably afraid to call them. He must be in serious trouble.'
`You can be sure of that, one way or another.'
I was only trying to moderate her hopefulness, but I frightened her. She said in a hushed voice: `You've found out something.'
`Nothing definite. We're on the track of the kidnapper. And incidentally, I have to be on my way.'
She held me with her eyes. `He really was kidnapped then? He didn't go to them of his own accord or anything like that?'
`He may have in the first place. After that, I don't know. Did Tommy ever mention a woman named Carol?'
`The woman who was killed?'
`Yes.'
`He never did. Why? Did he know her?'
`He knew her very well.'
She caught my implication and shook her head. `I don't believe it.'
`That doesn't prevent it from being true, Stella. Didn't you ever see them together?'
