“Appreciate it.”
He took my seat and smiled again, like an affable crocodile. He was probably a very principled man, too. So were they all, all principled men. And women. There were few things more annoying than a visibly principled person. Or more troublesome. Most of the ones I’d met could have used a little uncertainty to dilute their principled-ness. But it didn’t seem a fruitful topic to discuss with Bass and Lillian, so I said good-bye and went off to get my dog.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
The call came from KC Roth just after I had settled in to watch the Sox and the Angels from the West Coast.
“Come quickly,” she said. “Please. I need you.”
She sounded teary.
“What’s your problem?”
“Louis.”
“What about Louis?”
“He came back.”
“Really?”
“Oh, please, come quickly. Please.”
“Why?”
“He, he… please come.”
“What did he do?”
“He… violated me.”
“Do you mean he raped you?”
She was silent.
“Did he rape you?” I said.
“Yes.”
“Have you called the police?”
“Oh, God no, I can’t talk about this with the police. I, please, I have to see you, you’re the only one.”
“When did this happen,” I said.
“Just now. He just left.”
“He’s gone.”
“Yes. He beat me and he violated me.”
“Have you been to the doctor?”
“No. I told you. I can’t…”
“Don’t take a shower,” I said. “Don’t bathe or wash yourself. Stay still. I’ll be there in half an hour. Will you be all right until then?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. When I get there I’m going to take you to the doctor.”
“No.”
“Unless you agree to that I won’t come.”
“I… I can’t…” She was crying.
“You’ll have to promise. Otherwise I’ll hang up and call the Reading cops and it’ll be you and them.”
“No… oh why are you so awful?”
“Promise?”
She was silent, sobbing. I waited.
“Oh yes, goddamn you,” she said and hung up.
I got dressed and drove up to Reading. She was hugging herself looking out the door waiting for me. Until I saw her I thought she might be making it up. Now I was pretty sure she wasn’t. Someone had slapped her around pretty good. Her upper lip was swollen and one eye was puffed. It would be shut by morning. She had on a white tee shirt and gray sweatpants and moccasins. Her hair was a mess.
“Oh God,” she said, and backed away as I came in.
“Come on,” I said. “Hospital.”
“You’re really going to make me?”
“You bet,” I said.
I took her arm. She flinched away for a moment. But I kept hold and she relaxed enough to go with me.
