"Do I have your go-ahead, too?"

"Naturally. I was hoping you'd takethat for granted. I want you to do everything you can to settle this thing.I'll give you a written contract—"

"That won't be necessary. But it's going to costyou money."

"How much money?"

"A couple of thousand, maybe a good dealmore."

I told him about the Reno end of the case,which Arnie and Phyllis Walters were handling, and about the Bridgetonsituation which I wanted to explore. I also advised him to talk to Jerry Marksfirst thing in the morning.

"Will Mr. Marks be available on aSunday?"

"Yes. I've already set him up foryou. Of course you're going to have to give him a retainer."

"I have some savings bonds," hesaid thoughtfully, "and I can borrow on my insurance policy. Meantime Ican sell the car. It's paid for, and I've been offered two five for it. I wasgetting pretty tired of sports car rallies and all that jazz. It's kidstuff."

chapter18

The front doorbell rang. Someone trottedpast the office door to answer it. It was getting late for visitors, and I wentout and followed the aide along the hallway. The four patients were stillwatching the television screen as if it was a window on the outside world.

Whoever had rung the bell was knockingnow, rather violently.

"Just a minute," the aide saidthrough the door. She got her key into the lock and opened it partly. "Whois it? Who do you want to see?"

It was Alice Jenks. She tried to push her way in, butthe aide had her white shoe against the door.

"I wish to see my niece, Dolly McGee."

"We have no such patient."

"She calls herself Dolly Kincaid now."

"I can't let you in to see anyone withoutdoctor's permission.

"Is Godwin here?"

"I think so."

"Get him," Miss Jenks said peremptorily.

The girl's Latin temper flared. "Idon't take orders from you," she said in a hissing whisper. "And keepyour voice down. We have people frying to rest."

"Get Dr. Godwin."

"Don't worry, I intend to. But you'll have towait outside."

"It will be a pleasure."

I stepped between them before the nurse closed thedoor and said to Miss Jenks: "May I speak to you for a minute?"

She peered at me through fogged glasses. "Soyou're here, too."

"I'm here, too."

I stepped out under the outside light andheard the door shut behind me. The air was chilly after the hot-houseatmosphere of the nursing home. Miss Jenks had on a thick furcollared coatwhich made her figure massive in the gloom. Droplets of water glistened in thefur, and in her graying hair.

"What do you want with Dolly?"

"It's none of your business. She's my flesh andblood, not yours."

"Dolly has a husband. I represent him."

"You can go and represent him in some otherconstituency. I'm not interested in you or her husband."

"But suddenly you're interested in Dolly. Does ithave anything to do with the story in the paper?"

"Maybe it has and maybe ithasn't." In her language, that meant yes. She added defensively:"I've been interested in Dolly since she was born. I know better than alot of strangers what's good for her."

"Dr. Godwin isn't a stranger."

"No. I wish he was."

"I hope you're not thinking of taking her out ofhere."

"Maybe I am and maybe I'm not."She dug some Kleenex out of her purse and used it to clean her glasses. I couldsee a newspaper folded small in the purse.

"Miss Jenks, did you read thedescription of the revolver that was found in Dolly's bed?"

She replaced her glasses quickly, asthough to cover the startled look in her eyes. "Naturally I read it."

"Did it ring any bell with you?"

"Yes. It sounded like the revolver Iused to have, so I came into town to the courthouse to have a look at it. Itlooks like mine all right."

"You admit that?"

"Why shouldn't I? I haven't seen it for over ten

© Alexander Sviyash, 2009