"Theydidn"t,"Ipointedoutobviously,smiling.
"Butwon"tyoupleaseexplainwhy?"Lynniesaid.Whydidyouwantmetogiveyouawaylikethat?"
"Severalreasons.OnewastomakeDavesafer."
"Idon"tseehow,"Euniceobjected.
"BylettingOffenknowandthroughhimtheClives,thatwecouldprovetheCliveswereinEnglandandbesidetheThamesonthedayofDave"saccident.Murderbyaccidentisonlyagoodideaaslongasthere"snoapparentmotiveandthemurderershavenoapparentconnectionwiththevictim.We"veshownthemthatweknowtheirmotiveandtheirconnection,andtheymustnowbeawarethatifDavewerekilledtheywouldbethefirstsuspects.Thismakesitlesslikelytheywilltryagain."
"Crikey,"Lynniesaid."Goon."
"WhenWaltandIwenttoOrpheusFarmthismorningsayingweweremakingasurveyfornewfireprecautions,Offenwasn"tworried.Hedidn"tknowmefromAdamthen,ofcourse.Itwasbeforeyoushowedhimmyphotograph.Butheshowednoanxietyatallabouttwostrangersturninguponapretextthathedidn"tevenbothertocheck.Noneoftheedginessonemighthaveexpectedifhe"djusthadonestolenhorsepinchedbackfromhim,andwasinpossessionoftwoothersstandinginhisbarn.Ididn"tlikeit.Itdidn"tfeelright."
"Hehasn"tgotthem,"Eunicesaidwithrelief."Iwa.s.sureitcouldn"tpossiblyberightthatCulhamOffenwouldstealhorses.Imean,he"srespected."
WaltandIexchangedaglanceofbarelyperceptibleamus.e.m.e.nt.Toberespectedwasthebestcoverintheworldforfraud.Fraud,infact,couldrarelyexistwithout.i.t.
"So,"Isaid,"Ithought.i.twouldbehelpfulifheknewforcertainthatIwasespeciallyinterestedinMoviemakerandCentigrade,andthatIwasn"tinfireinsurance,butwasthemanhehadtothankforlosingChrysalis.WhenIwentback,afteryoutwohadleft,hestillwasn"tworried.Onthecontrary,hewasenjoyingthesituation.ItamusedhimenormouslytothinkthatIbelievedIwasfoolinghim.IaskedhimalotofquestionsaboutthesecurityprecautionssurroundingMoviemakerandCentigrade,andhewa.s.stillcompletelyuntroubled.So,"Ipaused,"it"snowquiteclearthatthetwohorsesstandinginhisbarncalledMoviemakerandCentigradeareinactualfactexactlywhathesays;MoviemakerandCentigrade.Heisn"tworriedaboutsnoopers,heisn"tworriedaboutmemakingclumsypreparationstostealthem.Hemustthereforebeconfidentthatanylegalproceedingswillprovethehorsestobetheoneshesaystheyare.He"dambushmeifItriedtostealthem,andhavemeinrealdeeptrouble,whichwouldbetohimsomesmallcompensationforlosingChrysalis."
Waltnoddedbriefly.
Eunicesaidobstinately,"Ithinkitonlyprovesthatyou"rebarkingupthewrongd.a.m.ntree.Heisn"tworriedsimplybecauseheisn"tguiltyofanything."
"Youlikedhim?"
"Yes,"shesaid."Hewasb.l.o.o.d.ysweet."
Lynnienodded."Ithoughtsotoo."
"Whatdidhesaywhenyoushowedhimthephotographs?"
"Hejustglancedatthematfirst,"Lynniesaid."Andthenhetookthemovertothewindow.Andthenheaskedmewhohadtakenthem,andwhere,andwhen.SoItoldhimaboutthedayontheriverandaboutyouandDavegoingundertheweir..."
AtthesideofmyvisionEunicegavemeanI-told-you-sosmile.
"...andhesaidoneortwonicethingsaboutyou,"Lynniefinished."SoItoldhimyoucameoverheretolookforChrysalis,andsomehoworotheryoufoundhim."
"Heaskedwhereyoufoundhim,"Eunicenodded."Butwedidn"tknow.IsaidyouwerenowtryingtofindAllyx,anditcertainlydidn"tworryhim.I"msureyoumustbewrong."
Ismiledather.Shedidn"twantthehorsefound,andasa.n.a.llyshewasasreliableasthiniceonasunnyday.Ididn"tintendtotellheranythinginfuturewhichIwasn"tpreparedtohavepa.s.sedontoOffen.Likemostlawabidingcitizensshehadnotgraspedthatacriminalminddidn"tshow,thatanendearingsocialmannercouldco-existwithfraudandmurder."Suchaniceman,"theneighbourssayinbewilderment,whenMrSmith"sgardenisfoundtobecloggedwiththrottledladies."Alwayssopleasant."
Eunice,propelledbyastrongsemi-consciouswishforhimnottohaveAllyx,mighttellOffenanything,simplybecauseshecouldn"tvisualizea"sweet"manbeingdeadly.Shemightalsotellhimanythingpropelledbythesameimpulsewhichhadmadeherpointagunatme.
"Let"shavedinner,"Isuggested;andEuniceandLynniewentawaytofreshenup.
Waltlookedatmethoughtfully,thenraisedhiseyebrows.
Inodded."Iputabugontheundersideofhisdesk,twofeetfromthetelephone.IwaslatebackbecauseIwaslistening.HecalledYolaandtoldheraboutmyvisitb.u.t.therewasn"tmuchelse.Ileftthesethidden,andcamebackhere."
"Doyoumeanit,thatthosetwohorsesreallyareMoviemakerandCentigrade?"
"Sure.Heboughtthem,remember.Openly.Atbloodstocksales.Andobviouslyhe"skeptthem.Isupposehenevercouldbecertainthatsomeex-ownerwouldturnupforavisit.Thosehorseswillhavebeentattooedinsidetheirmouthswithanident.i.tynumberwhentheyfirstbegantorace.Theyhavetobe,overhere,don"tthey?It"llbequiteeasytoestablishthatthey"retherighttwo."
"Youdon"tthinkMrsTeller"sright...thatheneverhadShowmanandAllyxafterall?"
"I"llplayyouhiscalltoYolasometime.HehadtheforesighttowhiskthosehorsesawayfromOrpheuswhenwegotChrysalis.Hewasmoreorlesswaitingforsomethinglikeourvisitthismorning.NofliesonCulhamJames,I"mafraid.ErWalt,didyougiveEuniceandLynnieanydetailsaboutourjauntintheTetons?"
Helookeduncomfortable."Iwasannoyedwithyou."
"Whatexactlydidyoutellthem?"
"Notmuch.1washorrifiedatLynniehavingshownOffenthatpictureoftheClives,andwhenMrsTellersaidyou"dplanneditIsaidyoumustbemad,they"dtriedtokillyouoncealready."
"Andyoutoldthemhow?"
Henodded,notmeetingmyeyes.
"Didyoutellthemaboutthebugsandthewirelessset?"
"No."
"It"simportant,Walt."
Helookedup."Ididn"tmentionthem."
Irelaxed."Howaboutourmountainwalk?"
"Nodetails."
"Place?"
"I"mprettysureImentionedtheTetons."
Nothingtherethatwouldhurt.
"HowmuchdidyousayaboutShowmanandAllyx?"
"Itoldthemthatyou"dworkedoutthroughthestudbooksthatOffenmusthavethem."
"Didyousaythewords"UncleBark"?"
Heshookhishead."I"dforgottenaboutthat."
Isighed."Walt.MrsTellerdoesn"twantAllyxfoundanymorethanshewantedChrysalis.Let"snotentrustthestateofthenationtotheIndians."
Heflushedalittleandcompressedhismouth.EuniceandLynniecamebackshortlyafter,and,thoughweallfourhaddinnertogetheritprovedataciturnandnotover-friendlyaffair.
Waltrodeuptomyroomforaconferenceafterthecoffee.
"Howdowefindthem?"hesaid,comingbluntlytothepointandeasinghimselfsimultaneouslyintotheonlyarmchair.
"They"vemadeusagiftofthem,inoneway,"Isaidthoughtfully."WecansendabunchoflawyersintoqueryMoviemakerandCentigrade"sident.i.ty,andget.i.testablishedbeyonddoubtthatthetwoOffenshowedusareinfactthosetwohorses.He"llbekeenforthemtodoit:andoncehe"sdoneit,he"llbestuckwiththem.Wewillmeanwhiledoanotherlittlevanishingtrickwiththeothertwoandstartourownidentificationparadeonourground.OncetheyareestablishedasAllyxandShowman,Offencannotpossiblyclaimthemback."
"Twoobjections,"Waltsaid."Wedon"tknowwhereAllyxandShowmanare.Andifwefindthem,whynotgetlawyersintotheactrightaway?Whygotoallthedangerandtroubleoftakingthem?"
"SameasChrysalis."Ipointedout."Thefirstsignofanyrealtrouble,andthey"dbeshot.It"snotillegaltokillahorseandwhiskitsmartlyofftothedogfoodpeople.Andvastlymoredifficulttoidentifyadeadone.Impossible,I"dalmostsay,forthedegreeofcertaintyweneedhere."
"Evenifwetakethem,andestablishtheirident.i.ty,andeverythinggoessmoothly,Offenwillstillberakinginthosecolossalstudfeesofhalfamilliondollarsayear,becausewe"dneverbeabletoprovethatforthepasttenyearsShowmanhasbeensiringeveryfoalthat"sdowninthebookasMoviemaker"s..."
Ismiled."We"lldosomethingaboutthat,oncewe"vesortedouttherest."
"Whichbringsusbacktosquareone,"Waltsaidflatly."Wheretheh.e.l.ldowestart?"
Iperchedonthewindowsillandlookeddownsidewaysintothebrightlylitcarpark.Colouredbulbsonthefaceofthemotelraisedrainbowshimmersonglossyhardtopsandstruckmeasadeeplymelancholycommentaryonhumanachievement.YetIwouldn"thavewantedtolivewithoutcarsorelectricity...ifI"dwantedtolive.Myroomwasonlytwofloorsup,withnoneabove.Tooneartheground.I"dknownofawomanwho"djumpedfromfiveandbungledit.Agunwasbetter..."Well?"Waltsaidinsistently.
"I"msorry...?"Isaidvaguely,turningmyheadbacktohim."Wheredowelook?"
"Oh...yes."
"Ontheranch?"
"Verydoubtful,don"tyouthink?Theymustknowthat"sthefirstplacewe"dthinkof."
"There"salotoflandthere,"hesaid."Andalotofhorsestolosethemin."
Ishookmyhead."They"dhavetokeeptheminapaddockclosetothehouse.AlltherestoftheranchiswellnamedRockyMountains,andtheycouldn"tturnthemlooseforfearofthembreakingaleg.We"dbettercheck,though."Istaredun-seeinglyatthecarpet."ButIguessthehorsesarewithMatt.OffenisatOrpheusFarm,andYolaistiedtotheranchseeingtoaboutthirtyguests,sowhere"sMatt?"
"Whereindeed,"Waltsaidgloomily.
"HeandYoladon"tspendtheirwintersontheranchbecausethevalleyisblockedbysnow.Shetoldmethattheygosouth...OnoneofthosetelephonecallsshetoldOffentheycouldn"tkeepChrysalisataplacecalledPitts,becauseitwasn"tsuitable.b.u.t.thatwaswhentheydidn"tknowwewereafterthem...whenitwasn"tanemergency."
"SosomewheresouthoftheTetonswefindthisPitts,andMattandthehorseswillbewaitingforus?"
"Yeah."Ismiledbriefly."Soundstooeasy."
"Easy!"Waltsaid.
"Theymustleaveaforwardingaddressformail,"Ipointedout."Theyliveaconventionallaw-abidinglifewithalongstandingbusinesstogivethemobviouslegalmeansofsupport.TheremustbedozensofpeopleinJacksonwhoknowtheirwinteraddress."
"Ourb.u.t.tressagentcouldgetthat,then.Firstthinginthemorning."
"Fine."
Waltleveredhimselfoutofthearmchairandhesitated.
"Comealongtomyroom,"hesaid."I"vegotabottle."
Iwasn"tsurethatIwantedto,buthesmiledsuddenly,wipingoutallresentments,andonedidn"tkickthatsortofolivebranchintheteeth.
"Begladto,"Isaid.
Thesmilewentdeeperandlastedalongthepa.s.sagetohisroom,whichwasalmostidenticaltomine.Thewindowlookedoutonthesamecarsfromaslightlydifferentangle,andhehadtwoarmchairsinsteadofone.TherewasabottleofOldGrandadonaroundtraywithgla.s.sesandawaterjug,andonhisbedsidetablestoodaleatherframedphotograph.Ipickeditupidlywhilehewenttofetchicefromthemachinealongthepa.s.sage.Waltwithhisfamily.Agoodlookingwoman,aplaingirlinherearlyteens,athinboyofaboutten:allfourofthemsmilingcheerfullyintothelens.HecamebackasIwasputtingthemdown.
"I"msorryaboutthepicnic,"Isaid.
"Nextweekwilldojustaswell,"hesaid."We"vegotthewholeofthesummer,Iguess."
Wesatinthearmchairs,drinkingslowly.Ididn"tlikebourbonmuch;b.u.t.thatwasn"tthepoint.Hetalkedcasuallyaboutthesplit-levelranch-typehousethey"dmovedintotheyearbefore,andhowhisdaughtergotalongjustfinewiththefolksnextdoor,andhowthey"dhadtroublewiththeboy"shealth,he"dhadrheumaticfever...
"Howaboutyourownfuture,withb.u.t.tressLife?"Iasked.
"I"vegottenaboutashighasI"llget,"hesaidwithsurprisinghonesty."There"sonlyonemorestepupthatIreallywant,andthat"stochiefinvestigator,claimsdivision,andthat"llcomealongnextyearwhenthepresentguyretires."
Hepouredmoredrinks,rubbedhisthumbslowlyovertheroundfingertips,andsaidAmyandthekidswereaskinghimforapoolintheirbackyard,andthatAmy"smotherwasaproblemsinceAmy"sfatherdiedlastfall,andthathehadn"tcaughtasingleballgamelastseason,he"dbeenthatbusy...
Wesatformorethananhourwithoutmentioningthehorsesonce.HeyawnedfinallyandIuncurledmyselffromthesoftchair,puttingdownthethirdtimeemptygla.s.s.Hesaidgoodnightsleepilywitheasyfriendlinessand,forthefirsttimesinceI"dknownhim,withouttension.Backinmyownroom,undressing,Iwonderedhowlongitwouldlast.UntilImadethenextunpopularsuggestion,Isupposed.Ididn"tknowwhethertoenvyhimhisenclosingdomesticityortofeelstifledbyit.
IdidknowthatIlikedhimbothasamanandasaworkingcompanion,moodsandall.
Theb.u.t.tressLifeagentinJacksoncamethroughwiththedives"winteraddresswithintwentyminutesofWaltcallinghim:40159PittsvilleBoulevard,LasVegas,Nevada.
IrememberedYola"ssmileatthethoughtofwinter.LasVegas.e.xplainedit.Yolalikedtogamble.
"Whatnow?"Waltsaid.
"I"llgoonoutthereandtakealook."
"Alone?"Therewasacertainamountofanxietyinhisvoice,whichIinterpretedasadesirenottobeleftinSantaBarbarawithEunice.
"Weneedyouhere,"Isaidplacatingly."Anddon"ttellherwhereI"vegone."
Hegavemeasharpglance."Iwon"t."
WedroveinthehiredcarouttoOrpheusFarm,whereIshowedhimwhereI"dhiddentheradiotaperecorderbetweenthreerocks,withitsaerialstickingupthroughthebranchesofascrubbybush.Thenearestneatlyrailedpaddockwasonlyfeetaway;thehouse,aboutfourhundredyards.Wepickeduptheradioandparkedashortdistancedowntheroad.
"Supposingheseesus?"Waltsaid,watchingmewindbackthereel.
"He"llonlythinkwe"rewatchingthefarmroutine,toknowwhentopinchMoviemaker.Theradiowillpickupthebuginhisofficefromatleastaquartermile,but.i.tgetsfainterafterthat.Ithastoworkontheair-vibrationsystem.Notsuchgoodamplificationaselectricity.Doyoueverusethem?"
"Bugs?"Heshookhishead."Notoften.Cameraswithtelescopiclensesarebetter.Catchtheclaimantswalkingaroundontheirparalysedlegs."Satisfactionechoedinhisvoice.Likeme,aroguehuntertothebone.
Smilingtomyself,Iswitchedon.Cuttinginandout,CulhamJames"variousconversationsfilledthreequartersofanhouroftapetime,butnothinghesaidwasofanyusetous.Irewoundthereelsagainandweputtheradioinamongtherocks,Waltagreeingthathewouldcomebackaftersunsetandlistentotheday"stake.
HedrovemethentotheLosAngelesairport,whereIhoppedaplanetoLasVegas,arrivingmidafternoon.Thedesertheathitlikeagustfromanovenwhentheyopenedtheplanedoors,andfromanearbybuildingtheusuallightednumbersproclaimedtothepopulacethatintheshade,iftheycouldfindany,itwouldbe108.
Theair-conditioningattheedgeoftownmotelIbookedintowasturningitselfinsideoutunderthestrain,andtheHertzmanwhopresentlytookmymoneyadmittedthatthiswasalittleoldheatwave,surething.Hadtoexpectthem,inJuly.TheinconspicuousPontiachehiredmewasthistime,however,acooledone.Idrovearoundforawhiletogetmybearings,andthentookalookatPittsvilleBoulevard.