going to happen, and the two points had been placed remarkably close together in time.
Hard to say exactly why it happened.
I don't all that frequently meet women I want. It is a less and less frequent occurrence, either because of some facet of the aging process or as a result of my personal metamorphoses. I had met one such woman a day ago, and for a variety of reasons, some known and some unknown, I had done nothing about it. And now she and I would never have a chance to happen to each other.
Perhaps some idiot cells in my brain had managed to convince themselves that, if I did not take DianaBroadfield on her living-room couch, some maniac would come along and slaughter her.
The car was warm but I shivered as if I were still standing on the elevated platform exposed to the sharp edge of the wind. It was the best time of the year but it was also the saddest.Because winter was coming.
Chapter 7
There were more messages waiting for me at my hotel. Anita had called again and Eddie Koehler had called twice. I walked over to the elevator, then turned and used the pay phone to call Elaine.
'I said I'd call either way,' I told her. 'I don't think I'm going to drop over tonight.Maybe tomorrow.'
'Sure, Matt. Was it anything important?'
'You remember what we were talking about before. If you could find out some more on that subject I'd make it worth your while.'
'I don't know,' she said. 'I don't want to stick my neck out. I like to keep what they call a low profile. I do my work and I save my pennies for my old age.'
'Real estate, isn't it?'
'Uh-huh. Apartment houses inQueens .'
'Hard to see you as a landlady.'
'The tenants never set eyes on me. This management firm takes care of everything. The guy who handles it for me, I know him professionally.'
'Uh-huh. Getting rich?'
'Doing okay.I'm not going to be one of those old Broadway ladies with a dollar a day to feed themselves on.No way.'
'Well, you could ask a few questions and make a few dollars.If you're interested.'
'I suppose I could try. You'll keep my name out of everything, right? You just want me to come up with something that'll give you an opening.'
'That's right.'
'Well, I could see what happens.'
'Do that, Elaine. I'll drop by tomorrow.'
'Call first.'
I went upstairs, kicked off my shoes, stretched out on the bed. I closed my eyes for a minute or two. I was just on the verge of sleep when I forced myself to sit up. The bourbon bottle on the bedside table was empty. I dropped it into the wastebasket and checked the closet shelf. There was an unopened pint of Jim Beam just waiting for me. I cracked it and took a short pull from it. It wasn't Wild Turkey but it did get the job done.
Eddie Koehler wanted me to call him but I couldn't see any reason why that conversation couldn't wait a day or two. I could guess what he was going to tell me and it wasn't anything I wanted to hear.
It must have been around a quarter after eight when I picked up the phone and called Anita.
We didn't have too much to say to each other. She told me the bills had been heavy lately, she'd had some root-canal work done and the boys seemed to be outgrowing everything at once, and if I could spare a couple of bucks it would be welcome. I said I'd just landed some work and would get a money order off to her in the morning.
'That would be a big help, Matt. But the reason I kept leaving messages for you, the boys wanted to talk to you.'
'Sure.'
I talked to Mickey first. He didn't really say much. School wasfine, everything was okay- the usual patter, automatic and mindless. Then he put his older brother on the line.
'Dad?They got this thing in Scouts, like for the Nets' home opener against the Squires? And it's supposed to be a father-son deal, you know? They're getting the tickets through the troop, so everybody'll be sitting together.'
'And you and Mickey would like to go?'
'Well, could we?Me and Mick are both Nets fans, and they ought to be good this year.'
'Jennifer and I.'
'Huh?'
'Nothing.'
'The only thing, it's kind of expensive.'
'How much is it?'
