Colin leaned against the wall trying to hide his anxiety from Hallock. 'Let me think. Moffat. She has a friend named Moffat.'
'Which one? There are a lot of Moffats on the Fork. Hey, you okay? You look white as a sheet?'
'I'm okay. It's Peg Moffat, I think.'
'Tim Moffat's wife?'
'Yes. I think Annie said that was his name.'
Hallock reached for the phone book under the night table. Finding the number, he dialed.
Colin watched and waited, his mouth dry, breathing shallow. He could not fall apart now, would not.
'Is this Peg Moffat?' Hallock asked. 'Well, this is Waldo Hallock. I'm fine, thanks. Listen, Peg, I'm trying to get in touch with Annie Winters. She there, by any chance? Uh-huh. I tried her at home just a few minutes ago. You have any idea where she might be? Uh-huh. I see. Well, thanks. You, too.' He hung up. 'Peg said she went to a meeting, then went home. She talked to her for a minute after the meeting, and Annie told her the same story she told you about being followed. Anyplace else she might be?'
'I warned her about Mark, told her to get away from him. Maybe she did.'
'Listen, maybe she's down at the station. Maybe something happened with her and Griffing and that asshole Schufeldt did something right for a change. She could have been in his car when I passed.'
'How can we find out?'
'We can go there. Ask.'
'I can't. Schufeldt's looking for me. That's what happened to this place. He shot it up thinking I was in here.'
'You kidding me?'
'No. He stood in the doorway and blasted this room like he was at target practice.'
'Jesus, what a stupid fuck. Okay, listen. I'll go down there, see what's what. Then I'll come back for you and we'll go over to the paper. I want to see if anybody in Griffing's family bought it in that fire. And then I'm going to go after the bastard.' Hallock slipped into his jacket, put his gun in his belt. 'You lie low here, Maguire. Don't use the phone.'
'I won't. But what if it rings? What if Annie's trying to get in touch with me?'
Hallock ran his thumb down the side of his long nose. 'Don't answer it. You can't trust Liz. I'll get back fast as I can.'
As he went out, Hallock flipped off the lights, leaving Colin in darkness. The storm seemed stronger than ever, wind and rain rushing the room like a berserk presence. Hallock grunted as he fought to close the door.
After he'd gone, Colin carefully made his way toward the bed, felt around for his gun, shoved it in his belt, then lay down. He told himself he didn't have to go with Hallock to the paper. Dr. Safier had said over and over that he didn't have to do anything he didn't want to do. But he wanted to help Hallock find Annie. He closed his eyes, trying to imagine himself in the car with Hallock. Almost immediately his breathing changed to quick short takes. His eyes snapped open as he dispelled the image.
How the hell could he do it? But he had to. This time he wasn't drunk; this time he had all his faculties; this time he wasn't going to let down a woman he cared for.
What if his fear immobilized him? But the whole thing was fear of his feelings, and Safier said they couldn't kill him. He wasn't going to die from shaking or sweating or shallow breathing. What if he passed out? Would that be the worst thing that could happen? He'd tell Hallock there was that possibility and-oh, Maguire, you tricky guy.
No, he couldn't tell Hallock, couldn't create that loophole for himself. He'd go and he'd survive-if it was the last goddamn thing he ever did.
LOOKING BACK-75 YEARS AGO
The movie program to be presented Saturday night at the Seaville Opera House is said to be remarkably good. Owing to many requests that have been made to see the 'Lost in the Alps' picture which was shown several months ago, the manager has secured it for Saturday night. The manager, Joe Eldredge, has been in the city this week, and his pictures are carefully selected and all who have witnessed the past exhibitions know that they are of the very best, and they tell their own story better than words can do.
THIRTY-SIX
He couldn't believe it. This was special. He couldn't imagine why he'd waited so long. Well, maybe it was like eating. Saving the best for last. No, not last. She wouldn't be the last. No way.
The best part was her being a minister. He could just imagine how crazy they'd go. Things look bad in black and white. And he could hear them: 'How could he kill a minister?' 'Nobody's safe if he could murder a minister.' 'He must be a monster!' M-O-N-S-T-E-R! Like hell. Turnabout is fair play and that's all there is to it.
Would she catch on? Or would he have to lay it out for her? Girls were dumb. Didn't matter if she was a minister or not. Where was it written that ministers weren't dumb? What the hell, he was getting off the point. Time's a wastin'. Get on up there.
He got out of Annie's car. Outside the garage he pulled the heavy wooden doors closed, walked slowly up the steps. Later he'd put her back in the car and junk it somewhere. There was still plenty of time left. Hours and hours of beautiful, dark night.
He pulled open the big door, stepped inside, then slid it back in place, locking it behind him. On his desk he flipped on the radio to his favorite rock station, turned the volume up loud. Bruce Springsteen. Yeah. Then he walked toward the room where she was waiting. The clacking of his boot heels on the wooden floor sounding like tiny drums announcing his entrance.
He stood in front of the glass door, looked in. Her back was to him, arms tied behind the chair, gag in her mouth and blindfold around her eyes. She'd never get away. Not from him. Not again. Once is enough, thank you. Ashes to ashes, windy dust.
He opened the door and went in, his long, sharp knife in his hand.
LOOKING BACK -25 YEARS AGO
On June 10th the nightclub Razzamatazz burned to the ground in the worst fire in Seaville's history. Firemen battled the blaze from 10:30 until 3:00 in the morning. Before the club was built there was a strong debate as to whether there would be ample parking places. The club has been in operation only six weeks. Fire Chief Roger Grathwohl says the reason for the fire remains a mystery, but he would suspect faulty wiring. Twelve people lost their lives in the fire.
THIRTY-SEVEN
'What the fuck you doing here, Waldo?' Schufeldt asked.
'Since when isn't a citizen allowed into his local police station?'
Schufeldt's cold blue eyes became slits. 'So, what d'you want?'
'Information.'
Laughing, Schufeldt said, 'You kidding me or what?'
'Something funny about wanting information?' Hallock knew he wasn't likely to get anything out of this creep but he had to try.
