'Yes, sir, he's so angry.'
'Why don't you quit this job and go back and live with Kevin?'
Valerie said, 'Spenser, dammit…'
I put a hand up for her to be quiet. Surprisingly, she was.
'I need the money,' Kate said. 'And Miranda. I don't want to leave Miranda.'
'You care about the kid,' I said.
'I love her.'
I nodded.
'I don't see where you are going with these questions,' Valerie said.
'I never do either, until I ask them.'
'Kevin Shea is an uneducated, unemployed drunk,' Valerie said. 'I don't want him around my daughter, or my daughter's nanny. And quite frankly, I don't want my daughter's nanny living with such a person.'
'I think I can follow that,' I said.
'I should hope so,' Valerie said.
'Can you put me in touch with Kevin?' I said to Kate.
'I don't know where he's living now. He's not at the place we were.'
'Is he likely to show up someplace where you are going?'
'The little park,' she said. 'I take Miranda there every day. He comes there a lot. And when I wheel her carriage along the river.'
'You never led me to believe it was this regular,' Valerie said.
'Why don't you and I go down to the park tomorrow?' I said to Kate. 'And maybe walk along the river.'
'I will not allow you to expose my daughter to this man,' Valerie said.
'Perhaps she could stay with you,' I said.
'I have a day filled with meetings tomorrow,' Valerie said.
'Your mother?'
'Tomorrow is my mother's golf day.'
'And I suppose Buttons isn't up to the job,' I said.
'This is not a frivolous matter,' Valerie said.
'See if your mother can forgo golf tomorrow,' I said.
Valerie looked annoyed, but appeared ready to humor me.
'I'll meet you in front of the Commonwealth Ave. place at what, nineA.M.?' I said to Kate. 'Is there a stroller or something that you normally use?'
'Yes.'
'Bring it.'
'Without the baby?'
'Yes.'
'What if he tries to hurt me?' Kate said.
'I won't let him,' I said.
'He's awfully big and strong,' Kate said.
'Me too,' I said.
'I don't want him to be hurt,' Kate said.
'For God's sake, Kate. Listen to yourself.'
Kate didn't say anything. She just stared at the rug in front of her.
'Okay,' I said. 'Tomorrow, you come out wheeling the stroller, and go where you usually go. Don't look for me. I'll be there, but I don't want to scare Kevin away.'
'What will you do if he comes?'
'I'll reason with him,' I said.
TWENTY-FOUR
THE DAY WAS somewhat overcast, and not very hot. I strolled along on the other side of the street, watching Kate Malloy as she wheeled the stroller along Commonwealth, crossed at Dartmouth, and headed for the little park. She put the stroller beside her and sat for a while on a small bench, inside the black iron fence, and watched the children and their nannies, and occasionally, maybe, their mothers. No one stalked her. No one looked like they were going to stalk her. After a while Kate got up and took the stroller and walked down Commonwealth, the rest
