Mr. X

discover if they have been unwise. Star would never have divulged the name 'Edward Rinehart': she was good at secrets. Clearly, she never told the weakling that he had a brother. Blast him. Blast his brother, too.Ithought there was only one of them—

    Years back, I nearlyhad the boy—the atmosphere electric—my excitement profound—I sensed thepresence— yet the quivering shadow slipped from me—the singularity of the occasion troubled & intrigued—now I understand.

    I believe the twoconnected—joined together. The Dangerous Son was close to hand—Resolutionnigh. My failures had a single cause— Ignorance.I thought there was but One—not Two—I believed theShadow the image of my Prey—not the helplessShadow of his brother.

    I object! You People got things wrong!

    But no more complaint. During her lifetime, the cow apparently exerted a protective influence. Understanding strengthens me, as does blessed Recognition—success in maturity—in what some may call old age —is sweeter than in youth.

 82 • Mr. X

 •Six hours later. I require sleep. Unpleasant dreams beset my brief doze, and I tossed and turned for yet another hour. However.

    The morning's edition of theEdgerton Echo informs all and sundry that the Chester Street fire resulted from an act of arson. Below the fold, two elegiac columns accompany a photographic representation of Crossing Guard Bremen's bloated visage. PLUS!—the mind reels— in devotion to the memory of Mr. My Mustache Is Bigger Than Yours, Carl Sandburg Elementary School has announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist.

    I am on the verge of palpitations. If I were found incinerated, would anyone fork out $10,000 for the name of the incinerator? Besides that, Cassie Little would slit her mother's throat for a handful of nickels, much less $10,000.

    Before the sun travels another five feet of sky, Frenchy receives his marching orders.

 •83

 •Before Ashleigh's flight the next morning, I walked over to Merchants Hotel to pick up the satchel and tell her about the fire and Captain Mullan while we had breakfast.

    'Laurie called earlier. I told her I managed to get some useful information. I didn't say how, and she didn't ask.'

    'Good.'

    Ashleigh jabbed her spoon into her granola. 'Mullan checked you for a wire? It sounds like he's being investigated. Or is afraid he will be. I bet he's worried about what's going to come out if Hatch is indicted. About two days from now, these guys will be sweating bullets.'

    'Not Mullan,' I said.

    'You've been here no longer than I have, and you know that. You're an interesting man, Ned.'

    'You don't know the half of it.'

    'Ned?' She put down her spoon. 'Why are you laughing?'

 •Toby Kraft came from behind his counter and wrapped his arms around me. 'Heard the news this morning, couldn't believe my ears! You okay? What happened?'

    I said that I had moved to the Brazen Head after his friend had evicted me. “I guess you knew her when her name was Hazel Jansky.'

    'We did some business together about a million years ago. The lady got in trouble, and I helped her out. I do favors for my friends.' Toby was not even faintly uneasy. 'What did she do, tell you her life story?'

    'Part of it. I hope you had that building insured.'

    'Bet your ass. Do your aunts know you're all right?'

    “I didn't tell them where I was, but I should call them anyhow,' I said.

    Toby looked at the satchel, and I asked him if he would keep it in his safe for a while. He caressed the soft leather. 'Touch an item like that, you feel like J. P. Morgan.'

    He shoved the bag on top of the jumble of files and loose papers in his safe and grunted back onto his feet. 'Helen chewed me out for telling you her old name. But you didn't get that here.'

    “I saw some old articles from theEcho,' Isaid. 'Toby, was that why you went to Greenhaven?'

    'Sit clown.'

    The same piles of papers flowed across the top of his desk; the same women in the same sad, blunt poses covered the walls. Toby folded his hands on his belly. 'Want to know the truth of that deal? Certain people have problems with the adoption process. Other people, they don't want the babies God gave them. I can't defend the legality of what I did, but I do defend its morality.'

    'The morality of selling babies,' I said.

    'Adoption agencies don't take fees?'

    'They don't abduct babies and tell their mothers they died.'

    'A child deserves a good home.' Toby spread his arms. 'Me, I am a guy who takes care of people. I took care of your grandmother, I took care of your mother, and I'm going to take care of you. The day I am dragged kicking and screaming from the face of the earth, and I hope at the time I am in the sack with a good-looking dame, you are going to hear from the greatest lawyer ever lived, Mr. C. Clayton Creech, and it will be your duty to get your ass back to Edgerton. No fooling around.' His magnified eyes made sure I got the message. 'Understood?'

    'Understood,' I said.

    “I should give you his particulars.' Toby snapped a business card out of his wallet.

    C. Clayton Creech, LLP Attorney at Law 7 Paddlewheel Road Edgerton, Illinois

    A telephone number was printed on the lower left corner, and on the lower right,Available at All Times.

    'Get into any kind of trouble around here, you call this guy first. Promise me?'

    'Greatest lawyer that ever lived.'

    'You have no idea.'

    'On the day you die, he's going to read your will? What's the rush?'

    'You let things slide, funny shit can happen. Know the basic principle?'

    I shook my head.

    'Take 'em by surprise,' he said. I laughed out loud. 'Listen, why not start working for me now? You got nothing else to do, and I can explain the whole job in fifteen minutes. The hours are eighta.m. to live-thirtyp.m. A little time off for lunch. Ready?'

    'Take 'em by surprise,' I said. “I guess so, sure, but it can only be for a couple of days. Let me call Nettie first.'

    'Be my guest,' Toby said.

    Nettie wasted no time on an exchange of greetings. “I thought we were going to be seeing you, but all you do is call on the telephone.'

    'How did you know it was me?'

    “I heard your ring. Come over for dinner around six. And if you still don't have a piece, the best thing is, get one from old Toby Kraft. You want a piece with no registration on it. The time comes when you have to use it, wipe it off, drop it, and walk away. You'll be cleaner than the Board of Health. May will be here, too, so show up on time.'

    Toby tilted back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. 'The old warhorse had some words of advice?'