Thehighnumbersrantwomilesoutofthetown,expensivelookinghomesalongametalledroadwiththedesertcrowdinginattheirrear.Thedives"housewasflankedbyothersonbothsides:notnearenoughtotouch,b.u.t.toonearfortheinvisiblestablingofstallions.TheplaceonPittswasn"tsuitable,asYolahadsaid.
Itwaslowandwhite,withaflatroofandaframeofpalmsandorangetrees.Blindsandinsectscreensblankedoutthewindows,andthegra.s.soneachsideofthedrivewasapaledrybiscuitcolour,notgreenwateredlikeitsneighbours.Istoppedthecarintheroadwayoppositeandlookeditover.Notaleafmovedunderthebleachingsun.Tenminutestickedaway.Nothinghappenedinthestreet.Insidethecar,withtheenginestopped,thetemperatureroselikeChristmasprices.Istartedupagain,suckedinthefirstcoldblastfromtheair-conditioner,andslidonalongthewayIwasheading.
Amilepastthedives"housethemetalsurfaceended,andtheroadranoutacrossthedesertasadustystreakofgravel.Iturnedthecarandwentback,thinking.Thecomparativedead-endednessofPittsvilleBoulevardexplainedthealmosttotallackoftrafficpastthedives",andalsomeantthatIcouldn"tdrivepastthereveryoftenwithoutbecomingconspicuoustotheneighbours.Keepingacheckonanapparentlyemptyhouse,however,wasn"tgoingtogetmemuchfurther.
Aboutfivehousesalongonthetownsideofthedives"therewasanotherwithwater-starvedbrownishgra.s.s.TakingachancethattheseinhabitantstoowereawayfromhomeIrolledthePontiacpurposefullyintothepalm-edgeddrivewayandstoppedoutsidethefrontdoor.ReadywithsomeofWalt"sinsurancepatter,Ileantonthebellandgaveitafulltwentyseconds.Noonecame.Everythingwashot,quiet,andstill.
Strolling,Iwalkeddownthedriveandontotheroad.Lookingbackonecouldn"tseethecarforbushes.Satisfied,Imadethetripalongtothedives",tryingtolookasifwalkingwereanormaloccupationinaNevadaheatwave:andbythetimeIgotthereitwasquiteclearwhyitwasn"t.Thesweatburntdryonmyskinbeforeithadachancetoformintobeads.
Reconnoitringthedives"placetookanhour.Thehousewa.s.shutuptight,obviouslyempty.Thewindowscreenswereallsecurelyfastened,andallthegla.s.swascoveredontheinsidewithblinds,sothatonecouldn"tseein.Thedoorswerefastenedwithsafe-depositlocks.TheCliveshadmadecasualbreaking-inbyvagrantsnearlyimpossible.
WithcautionIeasedroundtheacreoflandbehindthehouse.Palmsandbushesscreenedatrefoil-shapedpoolfrombeingoverlookedtooopenlybytheneighbours,butfromseveralplacesitwaspossibletoseethepoolsoftheflankinghousessomesixtyyardsaway.Besideoneofthem,remindingmeofEunice,awomanintwosc.r.a.psofyellowclothlaymotionlessonalongchair,invitingheatstrokeandaddingtoadepthofsuntanwhichwouldhavegotherrecla.s.sifiedinSouthAfrica.ImovedevenmorequietlyafterI"dseenher,butshedidn"tstir.
TherearboundaryoftheClives"landwasmarkedbylargestonespaintedwhite,withdesertscrubonthefarsideandlowgrowingcitrusbushesonthenear.Fromtheirwindows,brotherandsisterhadawideviewofhillsandwilderness;twomilesdowntheroadneonlightswenttwentyroundswiththemiddaysunandthecrashoffruitmachinesout-decibelledthetraffic.IwonderedidlyhowmuchofUncleBark"sillicitproceedsfoundtheirwayintoMattandYola"spocket,andhowmuchfromtherevanishedintothegreedyslotmouthsinVegas.Thestudfeeswentaroundandaroundandonlyb.u.t.tressLifewerethelosers.
OnthewaybacktothemotelIstoppedateverysupermarketIcameto,andboughttwothree-poundbagsofflourfromeach.
FromahardwarestoreIacquiredashortladder,whiteoveralls,whitepeakedcottoncap,brushes,andahalfgalloncanofbrightyellowinstantdryingpaint.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN.
WaltlistenedtowhatIhadtosayinasilencewhichhummeddownthetelephonewiresmoreeloquentlythanhysterics.
"You"recrazy,"hesaidatlast,soundingasifheseriouslymeant.i.t.
"Canyouthinkofanythingelse?"
Afteralongpausehesaidgrudgingly,"Nothingquicker."
"Right,then.I"llfixeverythingthisendandgiveyouacallinthemorning.Andlet"shopeitworks."
"Whatifitdoesn"t?"
"Havetotrysomethingelse."
Waltgruntedgloomilyandhungup.
Ispentanhourattheairport,andthenwentbacktothemotel.Theeveningoozedaway.Iplayedsomeroulettewithoutenthusiasmandlostbackingblackagainstasequenceoffourteenreds;andIateagoodsteaklisteningtoagirlsingerwhosevoicewa.s.secondarytoherfrontage.AfterthatIlayonmybedforawhileandsmoked,andkeptthebluesfromcrowdingintooclosebythinkingexclusivelyofthejobinhand.
AttwoIdressedinadarkgreencottonshirtandblackjeans,wentdownstairs,steppedintothecar,anddrovealongPittsvilleBoulevardto40159.Thetownitselfwaswideawakeandrocking:thehousesalongPittsweredarkandsilent.WithdimmedlightsIrolledquietlyintothedives"drivewayandstackedthebagsofflourclosetothefrontdoor.Then,holdingthecardoorbutnotshuttingit,IeasedthePontiacbackalongtheroadandparkeditinthedrivewayofthesameemptyhousethatIhadusedintheafternoon.Again,notwantinganyneighbourstorememberhearingacardoorslam,Ileft.i.tajar,andwalkedbacktothedives".
Thenightwaswarmandgentlewithadeepnavyblueskyandstarslikefluorescentpolka-dots.TwomilesawaytheblazinglightsofVegasraisedabell-shapedorangeglow,butamongthepalmsandorangetreestheshadowswerethickandblackandcomfortablyconcealing.
Thedives"wasonlythelatestof.a.greatmanyhousesIhadbrokeninto.Myshortcutstotruthwerescandalousbyallpublicandprivatestandards,andKeeblerarelyaskedhowIgotmyinformation:andasIwouldhavehadthePress,thepoliceandpublicopinionallbalefullyagainstmeifI"deverbeencaught,Agagoneggswouldhavebeenclumsyincomparison.Law-abidingcitizensneverknewI"dbeentheirguest.Forthedives",however,Ihadalternativeplans.
Wearingsurgeons"rubbergloves,andwithmyshoesstuckthroughmybelttotheleftoftheLuger,Iworkedonthelockonthebackdoor,andafternottoobadatime,consideringitscomplexity,thetwosetsoftumblersfellsweetlyover,andthehousewasmine.
Inside,theairwa.s.staleandstill,anddustsheetsdrapedthefurniture,lookinglikepalebouldersinthedimlightofmytorch.Thereardooropenedintoas.p.a.cioushallwhichledstraightthroughtothefront.Iwalkedacross,unboltedandunfastenedthefrontdoor,broughtinthebagsofflour,andleftthedoorajar,liketheoneI"dcomeinby:thevalueofalwaysbeingpreparedforinstantflighthadbeendrummedintomebyanex-burglarwhohadonceneglectedit.
Iwentintothebedrooms.LargeseparatesinglebeddedroomsagainforYolaandMatt,andaguestbedroom,withabathroomtoeach.Ipulledallthecoversoffthefurnitureandflungontotheflooreverythingtheyhadleftinthechestsandclosets.OvertheresultingmessineachroomIshooksixpoundsofself-raisingflour.
InthekitchenIemptiedontothefloorapacketofsoapflakes,apacketofrice,somecerealandfourpoundsofbrownsugar,whichwerealllyinghandyinthepantry.Iunlockedthepantrywindowandunfasteneditsouterscreen,leavingbothopen:andasanafterthoughttumbledsomecannedfruitoffth.e.s.h.elfbeneathit,toshowthattheintruderhadcomeinthatway.
Inthes.p.a.ciousliving-roomIagainremovedallthecovers,puteveryornamentandsmalllooseobjectinaheaponthefloor,andflungflouroverthemandaroundthewholeplace.Asmallercosierroom,facingtheroad,containedadeskfullofpapers,twolargebookshelves,andawell-filledsewingbox.Togetherthejumbledcontentsmadeasplendidankle-deepmessonthefloor.Poundsofflourfellovereverythinglikesnow.ItwaswhileIwastearingopenthelastbag,readyforafinalscatterroundthehall,thatIheardthedistantpolicesiren.Frozen,Idoubtedforasecondthat.i.twasforme:thenconsideredthateitheratoowatchfulneighbourhadseenmytorchinc.h.i.n.ksthroughtheblinds,orelsethatthedives"complicatedlocksweren"ttheironlyprotection,andthattheyhadadirectburglaralarmlinetothepolice.
WithoutwastingmuchtimeIshutthefrontdoorandheardthelockengage.Emptiedthelastbagofflouroveraplasticflowerarrangementonatableinthehall.Flittedthroughthereardoorandclickeditshutbehindme.Thrustthetorchintomypocket.
Thesirenwailedandstoppedatthefrontofthehouse.Doorsslammed,menshouted,bootsran.Someonewithamegaphoneurgedmetocomeoutwithmyhandsonmyhead.Theedgesofthehousewereoutlinedbyaspotlightshiningonitsfront.WithbaresecondstosparebeforethefirstuniformappearedinsilhouettearoundthecornerIreachedthenearestofthebushesflankingthetrefoilpoolanddivedbehindit.Beingquietenoughwasnoproblem,asthelawweremakinganintimidatingclatterallaroundthehouse,butstayinginvisiblewasmoredifficult.Theybroughtanotherspotlightroundtotherearandshoneitfullonthehouse.Theshutteredwindowsstaredblindlyandunhelpfullyback,reflectingtheglarealmostasfarasmycover.Lightsappearedinneighbouringhouses,andheadsstucklikeblackk.n.o.bsoutofthewindows.IeasedgentlyawaypastafewmorebushesandthoughtIwa.s.stillagreatdealtooclosetoaspellinthezoo.
Ashoutfromthesideofthehouseindicatedthattheyhadfoundtheopenpantrywindow.Fourtroopersaltogether,Ijudged.Allarmedtotheteeth.Igrimacedinthedarknessandmovedanotherfewyardswithlesscaution.Iwasn"tgoingtogivethemanyforefingerexerciseifIcouldhelpit,b.u.t.thetimewasrunningout.
Theywerebraveenough.Oneormoreclimbedinthroughthewindowandswitchedonthelights.Imorerapidlycrossedthelaststretchofgarden,steppedoverthewhitepaintedstones,andheadedstraightoutintothedesert.
FivestepsconvincedmeIneededtoputmyshoeson.Tenstepshadmecertainthattheonlyvegetationwasp.r.i.c.klypear,andclose-ranked,atthat.IshouldimagineIimpaledmyselfoneveryoneintheneighbourhood.
Backatthedives"theyhadtemporarilystoppedoohingandahingoverthemess,andweresearchingthegrounds.Lightsmovedroundthenextdoorhousesaswell.Iftheywentfivealongandfoundthecar,thingswouldgetveryawkwardindeed.
IhadmeanttobesafelybackinmymotellongbeforeIcalledthepoliceearlyinthemorningtosaythatIwasacivicmindedneighbourwhohadjustseenaprowlercomingoutofthedives"...
WhentheyshowedsignsofshiningthelightouttowardswhereIwa.s.stumblingalongIlaydownflatonthegroundandlistenedtothethudofmyheart.Thespotlightbeamflickeredpalelyoverthelowscrubbybushesandoutlinedtheflatspikyplatesofthep.r.i.c.klypears,butintheshiftingunevenshadowsthattheythrew,IreckonedImustbejustanotherclump.Therewasagooddealofshouteddiscussionaboutwhetheritwasnecessarytotakealook-seeinthedesert,b.u.t.tomyreliefnoonecamefurtheroutthantheboundarystones.Gradually,frustrated,thedazzle,andcommotionretreatedanddiedaway.
Thelightsinsidethedives"housewentout.Thepolicecardroveoff.Theneighbourswentbacktobed.Igottomyfeetandbrushedoffthesurplusofdrysandyearth.Whatwiththatandflourdusteventheblindestcopwouldhavelittledifficultyinb.u.t.toningmeontothecrime.
WithmorecarethanontheoutwardtripIheadedbacktowardsthehouses,butatanangleIhopedwouldbringmenearthecar.ThesoonerIbeat.i.tfromthatlittleneckofthewoods,thebetter...Istoppeddead.
Howmightonecatchaprowler?Justpretendtogoaway,andwaitsomewheredowntheroad,andwhenhethoughteverythingwa.s.safe,he"dcomecarelesslyalongandfallintoyourwaitinghandslikearipeplum.
IdecidednottodrivebacktowardsLasVegasfromthatquietcul-de-sac.Justincase.
Atthefifthhousealong,everythingwasquiet.Icat-footedthroughthegrounds,aroundthehouse,andtookadistantlookatthecar.Stillthere.Notrooperbesideit.Istoodintheshadowsforlongerthanwasprobablynecessary,thentookadeepbreathandriskedit.Icompletedthestepstothecarandpeeredinthroughthewindow.Empty.Madeaquickcautioustouroftherowofspikylowgrowingpalmshidingitfromtheroad.
Nothing.Noirateshouts.Allquiet.Carundiscovered.Sighingwithrelief,thevisionofthemaliciousdivesdancingatmytrialfadingalittle,Ipulledwidethealreadyopendoorandfoldedlikeanunderstuffedragdollintothedrivingseat.ForfiveminutesIdidnothingmoreenergeticthantobreathefreely,andenjoyit.
ThereremainedhowevertheproblemoftelephoningtoWalt:andIcheweditoverthoughtfullywhileabsentmindedlypullingp.r.i.c.klypearneedlesoutofmylegs.
Iwasafairhandatwiretapping,whenIhadthekit:but.i.twasinPutney.Nodoubttherewouldbeatelephoneintheemptyhousealongside.ButIwasn"tsurethatIwantedtoriskthishousetoobeingdirectlyconnectedtothepolice,ifthatwaswhathadhappenedatthedives".Ontheotherhand,Ihadbeeninthedives"housetwentyminutesbeforethepoliceshowedup.Yettheymightbequicker,onasecondcall.
AfterhalfanhourIpulledontherubbergloves,climbedoutofthecarandpickedthefrontdoorlock.Itturnedallright,butunfortunatelytheprudenthouseholdershadalsousedbolts.Alwaysatossupwhichdoorofthehousepeoplebolted.Iwalkedroundtotherear,andletmyselfin.Therewasatelephoneonatableinthehall.Iwalkedovertoit,thenturned,retracedmysteps,leftthedoorajar,wentroundtothecar,startedup,anddrovequietlyawayinthedeadenddirection,notstoppinguntilIwasoffthemetalledroadontothegravel,androundacoupleofbends.Iswitchedoffthelightsandsmokedacigarette.
Anotherhalfhourpa.s.sed.Nolightswentonalongbythehouses;nopolicesirens,nodisturbancesatall.Idrovegentlyback,parkedinthesamespotasbefore,wentroundintothehouse,andcalledupWalt.Hewasn"tamusedatbeingwokenatfivea.m."Aslightchangeoftiming,"Isaidapologetically.Thepolicehavealreadyseenthemess."
Hedrewinasharpbreath."Theydidn"tcatchyou!"
"No."Nopointintellinghimhowcloseithadbeen:hehadn"tapprovedofmygoinginatall.
"Isupposeyouwantmetocomenow,then?"hesaid,withresignation.
"Yes,please.a.s.soonasyoucan.LeavethecarkeysattheenquirydeskatLosAngelesairport,andI"llpickthemup.ThehelicopterpilotI"veengagedatLasVegasisMichaelKing.He"s.e.xpectingyou.Justaskforhim.ThehelicopterradiowillpickupthefrequencyofthebugI"vegotwithme,soyouwon"tneedtobringmyrecorder.Wasthereanythingonthetapetoday?"
"Yesterday,"Waltcorrected."Notmuch.Iwentoverafterdinnerlastnightandranitthrough.Offenhadafriendover.Therewastwohoursofjustordinaryyapping.Ididn"tgetbackheretobeduntilone."
"Whenthisisoveryoucansleepforafortnight."
"Yeah?"hesaidsarcastically."Tellittothemarines."Heputdownhisreceiverwithlessofacrashtha.n.u.sual.Smiling,Itookoutafivedollarbillandleft.i.tstuckhalfunderthetelephone.ThenIletmyselfout,relockedthedoorbehindme,andwentbacktothecar.
Threehoursuneventfullywentby.Nightchangedtoday.Theairtemperaturebeganitsmorningclimb.Afewenergeticbirdssang;andIsmokedanothercigarette.
Soonaftereightapatrolcarwentuptheroad,sirenfortissimo.PittsvilleBoulevardwokeup.Ieasedoutofthecar,walkedcarefullydowntowardstheroad,andtuckedmyselfinvisiblybetweenapalmandabush,fromwhereIhadaclearviewofeveryonedrivinguptowardsthedives".
FromalongtheroadIcouldhea.r.s.everalexcitedvoices,mostofthemchildren"s:andasmallboyandagirlcamepastclosetomedoinganIndianapolisontheirtricycles.
Severalcarsdrovedownfromthehouses,allwithmenalone,goingintoLasVegas.Onewomanfollowed.Threewomencametheotherway,alllookingeager.AtninethirtytwomendroveinfromVegas,oneofthemadjustingalargefoldingcamera:thelocalpress.
Anhourlateraquiet-enginedhelicopterdriftedoverandlandedoutofsightbehindafoldofhill.Attenfiftythehawkcametothelure.
AskyblueconvertibleFord,withthehooddown.Matt,drivingfast,hunchedwithanger.Youth,strength,andfury,knottedintoonecallousrecklesspersonality.Eveninaspeedingcartheimpressioncameacrosswiththesolidityofashock-wave.Standingonhisbrakesflamboyantlylate,hescreecheddownfromsixtytoniloutsidehisownhouse,scatteringchildrenlikepigeons.
Satisfied,Igotstifflytomyfeetandwentbackupthedrivetothecar.ThereIremovedfromthebootthewhiteoveralls,whitecottonglovesandcap,andputthemon,alongwithapairofsungla.s.ses.WithascrewdriverfromthetoolkitIopenedthetinofpaintandgavetheoilyyellowcontentsanencouragingstir;cleanedandreplacedthescrewdriver,andrestedthepaintlidgentlybackonthetin.Then,pickingitupbyitshandlewithmyrighthand,andcarryingbrushesandladderwithmyleft,Istrolledoutontotheroad,andalongtothedives".
Matt"sFordstoodatthedooratacrookedangletothepatrolcar.Agoodmanypeoplewerestillstandingaround,staringandgossipinginthesun.Imeanderedslowlythroughthemandtookacloserlookattheblueconvertible,andthenwithdrewdiscreetlytotheedgeoftheproceedings.
Takingthebugoutofmypocket,ItalkedtoWalt,hopinghecouldhear.Hecouldn"tanswer:itwa.s.strictlyonewaytrafficonthemidgettransmitter.
"Doyoureadme,Walt?ThisisGene.Ouryoungfriendcameinhisowncar,notahiredoneorataxi.Hisnameisontheregistration.PalebluenewFordconvertible,atpresentwiththetopdown.Greyupholstery.Nevadaplates,number3711-42.I"lldothepaintifIpossiblycan,thoughhemaydealwithit,ofcourse;andI"llputthisbuginthecar.Whenhestartsupyou"llhearhim.Goodluck.AndforG.o.d"ssakedon"tlosehim."
Indirectly,vaguely,Iagainapproachedthecar.Noonetookanynotice.Iwasmerelyoneofthetime-pa.s.singonlookers,aworkmanwhowasn"tworking.Severalofthechildrenandsomeoftheirmothershadseenthestateofthewell-flouredrooms,andthought.i.tadreadfulshame.Ileanedmyladderagainsttherearwingoftheblueconvertible,putthebrushesandpaintpotdowncasuallyontheflatsurfaceoftheboot,andmoppednottooimaginarysweatoffmyfaceandneck.
Someoftheblindsinthedives"househadbeenraised,sothatinplacesonecouldseeintothehouse.Noonewaslookingout.Istretchedahandoverthesideofthecarwiththebuginmypalm,andfelt.i.tssuckerclingsnuglyunderthegloveshelf.
Stillnofacesatthewindows.
Isaidtothenearestlittleboy,"Someonetoldmetheintrudergotinthroughthepantrywindow,roundthatcorner."
"Nokidding?"hesaid,hiseyeswide.
"Surething."
Hetoldhismother.Theywenttolook.Nearlyeveryonefollowedthem,especiallya.s.someonenudgedthepressphotographer,whosaidhewouldtakeapicture.
Itookalastcomprehensivelookatthewindows,turnedtowalkaway,andwithaquickbackwardflipof.a.glovedhand,tippedoverthecanofpaint.Thelidcameoff.Thecanrolledslowlyacrosstheflattopofthebootandclankedheavilytotheground.Theresultwasabrightbroadspreadingpoolofyellowonblue,andaproperlakeonthegravel.
Iwasoutontheroadwhenthefirstchildsawitandranafterme.
"Yourpaint"stippedover,mister."
"Yeah,Iknow.Don"ttouchit.Don"tletanyonetouchit,huh?I"mjustgoingtofetchthestufftoget.i.toff."
Henoddedimportantlyandranback,andImadeitsafelyalongtothehiredcar,anddroveawayinpeacetowardsLasVegas,takingofftheusefulcapandglovesasIwent.BackatthemotelIshowered,changed,packed,andpaidmyaccount;drovetotheairportandreturnedthecartotheHertzagent:keptaverywaryeyeopenincaseMattClivehaddecidedtotravelbyair;ateamuchneededsandwich,andcaughtthefirstplaneouttoLosAngeles.
WhenIcollectedthecarkeysattheenquirydesk,therewasanotefromWaltaswell.
"You"reonegreatcrazyguy.Anddon"tthinkIdon"trealisewhatyourisked.Ifyou"rereadingthis,Iguessyou"vemadeit,andaren"tbehindbars.MypalintheC.I.A.toldmeyoucouldbereliedontodomadthings,andboy,washeright.Whatdoyouusefornerves?Countmestrictlyout,nexttime.
Walt."
Surprised,andnotungratefulthatheshouldhavebothered,Islippedhisletterintomypocketanddroveintothecitytolookforagoodplacefortaperecorders.Imanagedintheendtohireforoneweekanelaboraterecorderwhichwouldplayattheultraslowfifteensixteenthsofaninchpersecond,thespeedofmyown,andwithitsittingonthepa.s.sengerseatbesideme,pointedmynosetowardsOrpheusFarm,LosCaillos.ThenIremovedthefullreelfromtheradiorecorderandfixeditupwithanother:nooneappearedtohavedisturbeditinitsbushandboulderhidingplace,andasfarasIcouldtell,noonesawmecomeandgo.
LynnieandEunicewerejustwalkingupfromthebeachwhenIgotbacktoTheVacationer:b.u.t.theybothgreetedmewithtendegreesoffrostandwentstraightonpast,murmuringthattheyguessedtheywouldseemeatdinner.
Slightlypuzzled,shrugging,Icarriedmybagandtherecorderuptomyroom,rewoundthetapeIhadcollected,andstartedittorunthroughwhileItookoffmycitysuitandturnedtheair-conditioningtohigh.
Yolarangup,ingreatagitation.Thehouseboyanswered,andwenttotellOffen,whowa.s.stillinbed.BygreatgoodfortunethehouseboyneglectedtogobacktoreplacethedownstairsreceiverwhenOffenliftedthebedroomextensionandthebuginconsequencehadpickedupthewholeconversation."I"vehadacallfromthecopsinVegas..."
"Don"tshout,Yola.I"mnotdeaf."
Shedidn"tlisten."SomevandalshavewreckedthehouseatPitts."Shereallyminded:therewasgriefaswellasangerinhervoice.
"Howdoyoumean,wrecked?"
"Theysayeverythinginthehousehasbeenthrownonthefloor,andflourandsugarandstuffhavebeentippedovereverything.Theywanttoknowwhat"sbeenstolen,theywantmeorbetterMatttoG.o.downthereanddealwithit...andIcan"t,UncleBark,Isimplycan"t.We"vegotthirty-twopeoplein,andIcan"tpossiblygetaway.Mattwillhavetogo."
"ButMatt..."
"Sure,"shewailed."DoyouthinkIdon"tknow?Buthe"llhaveto.Thosehorseswon"tdieifheleavesthemforafewhours.It"smuchfurtherforme,I"dbeawayatleasttwodays.It"shopeless.Everything"sgonewrongsincewetookthatd.a.m.nChrysalis."
"Andifyouremember,"CulhamJamessaidtartly,"thatwasyourandMatt"sidea.Ialwayssaiditwastoosoonafterthelastone.YouandMatthavebeentoogreedyeversinceyoufoundout."
"Relativesoughttosharetheirgoodluck,nottokeepittothemselves."
"Soyou"realwayssaying."
Nothinglikealittleblackmailtocementafamilytogether,Ithoughtinamus.e.m.e.nt.Offenhadbeenhappywithhishalfmillionayear,itseemed:butMattandYola,stumblingonthehoneypot,hadbeeninahurryformore.Impulsive,ingenious,greedyClives;iftheyhadonlybeencontentwithasharefromShowmanandAllyx,Offenwouldneverhavebeenfoundout.
Yolaglossedoverthelong-standingsquabbleandreturnedtothecurrentdisaster."Ididn"tgetMatt"snumber.Whatisit?"
"Ihaven"tgot.i.there,it"sinmybookdownstairs..."
"Welllook,w.i.l.l.youcallhim?Tellhimtogetrightonover,thecopswillbetherewaiting.Tellhimtocallmefromthereandtellmewhatgives...Ican"tbearitifthoseb.a.s.t.a.r.dshavestolenmyminkwrap...andthere"sallthatmoneyinthesafe..."
"Betterfaceuptoitthat.i.t"sgone,"Offensaid,withthetiniesttraceofmalice.
"Theymightnothavehadtime,"Yolasaid."Thealarmsgooffwhenanyonegoesintheden,andthereisn"tsupposedtobetimeforanyonetofindthesafeandopenitbeforethecopsgetthere.Wepaidenoughforit..."