'Well sir, after you left us yestiday, me and Mildred put on our thinking caps, so to speak. We did what you asked, Chief.'
'You mean you thought of something that might be helpful in solving Ruth's murder?'
Elmer Conway sucked in his breath as if this were the first time he'd heard of his daughter being murdered. Hallock could have kicked himself for being so insensitive.
'Mister Conway?'
'Yessir?'
'Why don't you tell me about it?' he urged gently.
'Yessir. Well, me and Mildred spent all of yestiday and all of last night-that is, all of last night when we was up-thinking about what you said. And we come up with just one thing. You see, Ruthie was a ordinary person, just like Mildred and me. What I mean by that is she didn't go in for fancy living and business like that. She was a plain person. A good person.'
Hallock heard the old man's voice break on the last word and knew he couldn't rush him. He sat down on the bed and waited.
Finally Conway pulled himself together. 'What I'm trying to say, Chief, is that she didn't go out a whole lot, her and Russ. But once in awhile they give themselves a treat. Maybe go to a movie, or go down-island to the Mall, do a little shopping. Sometimes they went out to dinner, maybe five, six times a year.'
Hallock wondered why the old man was so intent on making his daughter's life seem so drab. He looked at his watch again, realized he wasn't going to make his plane, kicked off his shoes, and leaned back against the pillows.
Conway went on. 'But there was this one time when her and Russ decided to really celebrate. Russ had got a promotion. He worked for Volinski Insurance Company. Still does. Anyways, Russ got this promotion, and he and Ruthie decided to go all-out on a celebration. So first they go to Simpson's for some steamers and a lobster and-you remember Simpson's?'
'I do.'
'You're pretty young to be remembering Simpson's. I'm talking twenty-five years ago.'
'I'm not as young as you think, Mister Conway.'
'Oh. Anyways, they go to Simpson's for a good meal 'cause of Russ's promotion. And then they decide to go to this nightclub over to Seaville. Now you understand they ain't the jet set or anything.'
'I understand.'
'Well sir, the nightclub's real crowded and somehow it caught on fire.'
Hallock sat straight up.
Conway continued. 'Don't think they ever found out what started that fire. Anyways, Ruthie and Russ was in there with about a hundred other people. But they got out okay. Twelve people died though. You remember that fire, Chief?'
'I remember. Look, Mister Conway, you've been real helpful. I have to hang up now and get this information to Seaville.'
Conway went on as if Hallock hadn't spoken. 'See, that was the only thing out of the ordinary me and Mildred could think of. It's not like a person's in a fire every other day, if you see what I mean, Chief.'
'I do, and I agree with you. You've been real helpful,' he said again. 'I have to go now, Mister Conway.'
'Should we keep on thinking, Chief?'
Hallock recognized the man's reluctance to let him go, as though keeping the connection open somehow negated his daughter's death. 'Yes, sure, Mister Conway. And you call me in Seaville if anything occurs to you. That's the second number I gave you.'
'Yessir. I called that one but the lady said you wasn't back yet. So then I called this-here number.'
'Well, I'm leaving today. Good-bye, Mister Conway, and thank you.' Hallock hung up before Conway could say anything else. Then he punched out Maguire's number. Still busy. He thought a moment, then called the Gazette. It rang three times before a man answered. The voice sounded familiar, but Hallock couldn't place it. He asked for Maguire.
'He's not in today,' the man said. 'Who's calling?'
'Who's this?' Hallock asked.
'Special Agent Schufeldt,' he said. 'Who's this?'
Hallock withdrew his ear from the phone as if it had been burned, then slowly replaced the receiver in the cradle. He sat on the edge of the bed wondering why Schufeldt was at the paper, answering the phone. Had something happened to Maguire? Had there been another murder? And what about Griffing? Was Schufeldt at the paper to arrest him? Had someone there remembered that fire twenty-five years ago? By some miracle had Schufeldt put it all together? He had to get back.
Quickly he stuffed his feet into his shoes and made for the door. If he missed the next plane out, he'd catch the one after that, and if he couldn't get on that one, the one after that would have to do. Because police chief or not, nothing was going to stop him from being there at the end of this one. Nothing.
LOOKING BACK-50 YEARS AGO
On Sunday of this week Professor Albert Einstein, who received worldwide notoriety a few years ago for his Theory of Relativity, visited Seaville. According to a well-founded rumor, Professor Einstein may become a summer resident of Seaville. While in town he made several inquiries regarding the hiring of a cottage on the waterfront during the summer.
THIRTY-TWO
Annie sat in the first pew of her church. The late morning light set off the large mural above the altar as if it were specially lit. She liked coming in to the church at this time of day. It was quiet and she was able to meditate. But today she couldn't concentrate. Every time she tried to focus, expand, zero in on her higher power, she thought of Colin, their night together. And it made her uncomfortable, sitting here in church, thinking of him, of their lovemaking. Not that she believed God would mind. Her God was a loving God who wanted her to be happy again. But replaying scenes of the night before made her feel embarrassed here in church. It was an old idea, an old prudishness. Still, she couldn't shake it, couldn't go beyond the ideas her mother had imparted to her: Church and sex don't mix.
Her thoughts shifted to Steve Cornwell. Did he know that Colin had spent the night? If not, it wouldn't be long before he did. But Colin might leave Seaville. He hadn't said so directly, but the possibility was clear. And if he did? Was she supposed to follow him as if she had no life of her own? She smiled to herself thinking, Who asked?
It was crazy sitting here wondering about a life that included Colin. They'd spent one night together, something thousands, maybe millions of people did all the time, never to see one another again. But she wasn't any of those people. Making love with Colin was special, important. For her there was nothing transient about it. And that was dangerous.
She couldn't expect him to feel the same way. Most men didn't. But Colin didn't seem like most men. She felt as if she'd known him for years, perhaps always, then reminded herself that that was only a feeling, not a fact. Still, what she'd experienced the night before had been incredible, the depth of feeling overpowering.
That was what frightened her. She cared. She trusted him. And she was totally vulnerable. Enough, she told herself. Standing, she stretched, trying to remember when last she'd felt so tired. But what a good tired. She left the church and walked toward her office.
Peg was just coming out. 'Oh, there you are. I came as soon as I heard,' she said.
'Heard what?'
Peg looked stricken. 'You mean you don't know?'
'Is this a game?'
