"It can happen in an hour. Anyway, we had aprevious conversation at the college today."

"What about before today? Did you have otherprevious conversations?"

"No. I met her today for the first time."

Bradshaw, who had been hanging around usin various anxious attitudes, spoke up: "I can vouch for the truth ofthat, Sheriff, if it will save you any time."

Sheriff Crane thanked him and turned backto me: "So it was a purely business proposition between her and you?"

"It would have been if I had beeninterested." I wasn't telling the precise truth, but there was no way totell it to Crane without sounding foolish.

"You weren't interested. Why not?"

"I had other business."

"What other business?"

"Mrs. Kincaid had left her husband. He employedme to locate her."

"I heard something about that this morning. Didyou find out why she left him?"

"No. My job was to locate her. I did."

"Where?"

I glanced up at Bradshaw. He gave me a reluctant nod.I said: "She's a student at the college."

"And now you say she's under a doctor's care?What doctor?"

"Dr. Godwin."

"The psychiatrist, eh?" TheSheriff uncrossed his heavy legs and leaned toward me confidentially."What does she need a psychiatrist for? Is she out of her head?"

"She was hysterical. It seemed like a good ideato call one."

"Where is she now?"

I looked at Bradshaw again. He said: "At myhouse. My mother employed her as a driver."

The Sheriff got up with a rowing motion of his arms."Let's get over there and talk to her."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible,"Bradshaw said.

"Who says so?"

"I do, and I'm sure the doctor wouldconcur."

"Naturally Godwin says what his patients pay himto say. I've had trouble with him before."

"I know that." Bradshaw hadturned pale, but his voice was under rigid control. "You're not aprofessional man, Sheriff, and I rather doubt that you understand Dr. Godwin'scode of ethics."

Crane reddened under the insult. Hecouldn't think of anything to say. Bradshaw went on:

"I very seriously doubt that Mrs.Kincaid can or should be questioned at the present time. What's the point ofit? If she had anything to hide, she wouldn't have rushed to the nearestdetective with her dreadful news. I'm sure we don't want to subject the girl tocruel and unusual punishment, simply for doing her duty as a citizen."

"What do you mean, cruel and unusualpunishment? I'm not planning to third-degree her."

"I hope and trust you're not planningto go near the child tonight. That would be cruel and unusual punishment in myopinion, Sheriff, and I believe I speak for informed opinion in thiscounty."

Crane opened his mouth to expostulate,perhaps realized the hopelessness of trying to outtalk Bradshaw, and shut itagain. Bradshaw and I walked out unaccompanied. I said when we were out ofhearing of the house:

"That was quite a job you did offacing down the Sheriff."

"I've always disliked that blusteringbag of wind. Fortunately he's vulnerable. His majority slipped badly in thelast election. A great many people in this county, including Dr. Godwin andmyself, would like to see more enlightened and efficient law enforcement. Andwe may get it yet."

Nothing had changed visibly in thegatehouse. Dolly was still lying on the studio bed with her face turned to thewall. Bradshaw and I hesitated at the door. Walking with his head down, Alexcrossed the room to speak to us.

"Dr. Godwin went up to the house tomake a phone call. He thinks she ought to be in a nursing home,temporarily."

Dolly spoke in a monotone: "I knowwhat you're saying. You might as well say it out loud. You want to put meaway."

"Hush, darling." It was a braveword.

The girl relapsed into silence. She hadn'tmoved at all. Alex drew us outside, keeping the door open so that he couldwatch her. He said in a low voice:

"Dr. Godwin doesn't want to run the risk ofsuicide."

"It's that bad, eh?" I said.

"I don't think so. Neither does Dr.Godwin, really. He says it's simply a matter of taking reasonable securityprecautions. I told him I could sit up with her, but he doesn't think I shouldtry to do it myself."

"You shouldn't," Bradshaw said."You'll need to have something left for tomorrow."

"Yeah. Tomorrow." Alex kicked at

© Alexander Sviyash, 2009