'No.'
'You're a wise man. This guy's my wife's cousin and he's pretty good, but what they do is they carve your gums. They do a section of your mouth at a time. Last time I went I wound up taking codeine every four hours for a week. I walked around in this perpetual fog. I suppose it's worth it in the long run, but don't feel you took me away from something enjoyable.'
'If you say so.'
I told him he could drop me anywhere but he insisted on giving me a lift to the subway stop at Northern Boulevard. On the way we talked a little about Pinell. 'You can see why they picked him up on the street,'
he said. 'That craziness is right there in his eyes. One look and you see it.'
'There are a lot of street crazies.'
'But he's dangerous-crazy and it shows. And yet I'm never nervous in his presence. Well, I'm not a woman and he hasn't got an icepick. That might have something to do with it.'
At the subway entrance I got out of the car and hesitated for a moment, and he leaned toward me, one arm over the back of the seat.
We both seemed reluctant to take leave of each other. I liked him and sensed that he held me in similar regard.
'You're not licensed,' he said. 'Isn't that what you said?'
'That's right.'
'Couldn't you get a license?'
'I don't want one.'
'Well, maybe I could throw some work your way all the same, if the right sort of thing came along.'
'Why would you want to?'
'I don't know. I liked your manner with Lou. And I get the feeling with you that you think the truth is important.' He chuckled. 'Besides, I owe you. You spared me a half-hour in the dentist's chair.'
'Well, if I ever need a lawyer-'
'Right. You know who to call.'
* * *
I just missed a Manhattan-bound train. While I waited for the next one on the elevated platform I managed to find a phone in working order and tried Lynn London's number. I'd checked the hotel desk before I called Hiller, and there'd been a message from her the night before, probably wondering why I hadn't shown up. I wondered if she'd been the one who called during my shower. Whoever it was hadn't elected to leave a message. The desk man said the caller had been a woman, but I'd learned not to count too heavily on his powers of recollection.
Lynn's number didn't answer. No surprise. She was probably still in school, or on her way home. Had she mentioned any afternoon plans?
I couldn't remember.
I retrieved my dime, started to put it and my notebook away. Was there anyone else I should call? I flipped pages in my notebook, struck by how many names and numbers and addresses I'd written down, considering how little I'd managed to accomplish.
Karen Ettinger? I could ask her what she was afraid of. Hiller had just told me he sensed that I thought the truth was important. Evidently she thought it was worth hiding.
It'd be a toll call, though. And I didn't have much change.
Charles London? Frank Fitzroy? An ex-cop on the Upper West Side? His ex-wife on the Lower East Side?
Mitzi Pomerance? Jan Keane?
Probably still had the phone off the hook.
I put the notebook away, and the dime. I could have used a drink.
I'd had nothing since that one eye-opener at McGovern's. I'd eaten a late breakfast since then, had drunk several cups of coffee, but that was it.
I looked over the low wall at the rear of the platform. My eye fastened on red neon in a tavern window.
I'd just missed a train. I could have a quick one and be back in plenty of time for the next one.
I sat down on a bench and waited for my train.
I changed trains twice and wound up at Columbus Circle. The sky was darkening by the time I hit the street, turning that particular cobalt blue that it gets over New York. There were no messages waiting for me at my hotel. I called Lynn London from the lobby.
This time I reached her. 'The elusive Mr. Scudder,' she said. 'You stood me up.'
'I'm sorry.'
'I waited for you yesterday afternoon. Not for long, because I didn't have too much time available. I suppose something came up, but you didn't call, either.'
I remembered how I had considered keeping the appointment and how I'd decided against it. Alcohol had made the decision for me. I'd been in a warm bar and it was cold outside.
'I'd just spoken to your father,' I said. 'He asked me to drop the case. I figured he'd have been in touch with
