She'd have preferred to keep the conversation personal, I saw, but she said, "It's a narrow barrier island, just a sandspit, running parallel to the coast a mile or so out. To the west, the right as you come off the bridge, it extends only a few miles. There's an old brick Civil War fort at that end, and some deserted concrete structures that used to house big coast-defense guns-relatively modern, I believe, but the guns have been removed. That end of the island is a state park. The other way, eastwards, to the left as you come off the bridge, there's a little beach community and then nothing much but road and sand dunes for thirty-some miles. Another bridge over there brings you back to the mainland. The island goes on to the east still farther, I think, but I've never been there."
"You draw a good picture, Doc," I said. "Very sharp and clear."
"I ought to," she said. "It's part of my job to make things sharp and clear." After a little, she said, "If we're through here, I'd like to go home."
"Sure."
I started the car and drove slowly back through town. The housing development in which she lived had the clean, phony look of a movie set before the crew has got it convincingly weathered and dusty. I parked in front of her house.
"Paul," she said as I started to get out.
"Yes?"
"The divorce," she said. "I hate to be practical, but just how will it be arranged?"
"The legal department will take care of it." I guess I hadn't expected her to bring up the subject, although there was no reason why she shouldn't. "They're very efficient," I said. "They'll discover that we're absolutely incompatible, or something. Okay?"
"Don't be angry," she said. "I just wanted to know."
"Who's angry?"
"You sounded annoyed." She hesitated. "If it will make you feel better, I can tell you that I don't feel very in-compatible." She glanced at me quickly and looked away. "In fact if… It's a brazen thing to say, I suppose, but I'm rather tired of pretending to be discreet and modest. If you would care to try to work something out without the legal department, afterward, the lady might be willing."
I looked at her, and closed the car door I'd just opened. I started to speak. She shook her head quickly.
"No, don't say anything and don't stare at me, please. This isn't a declaration of undying love, Paul. All I'm saying is that you seem to be a reasonably civilized person in spite of your weird occupation. Maybe you'd like to have a secret home base, a place to rest between assignments, under a name that isn't yours, a name like Corcoran, say. As for me, well, my one amorous adventure didn't turn out very well and I have a full time occupation that really interests me very much. Still, I.
well, let's just say I wouldn't mind having you around the house occasionally. It might be a very practical arrangement for both of us." She shook her head again as I tried to interrupt. "No, I don't want you to say anything now. I just wanted to place my attitude on record. Anyway, I think the telephone is ringing."
I started to speak again, but now I could hear the bell, too, through an open window. I drew a long breath, then got out and followed her up the walk to the door and waited while she found the key to let us in. She went quickly to the phone. I saw her face go pale as she listened. She looked at me, muffling the mouthpiece with her hand.
"It's a man. I… I think I recognize the voice. But he wants a Mr. Helm, a Mr. Matthew Helm. Is that you?"
I sighed. It had been lots of fun playing house, but you've got to grow up some time and face the realities of the big cruel world.
"That's me," I said and took the phone from her. "Corcoran here," I said. "Helm, if you prefer."
"Good evening, Eric," Kroch's voice said in my ear.
I knew it was his voice although I'd never heard it. That seemed strange. I felt as if I'd known him for years.
"So you know the code name, too," I said. "Hurray for you."
"I'm Kroch," he said. "Karl Kroch. But you know. The little girl told you."
"She told me," I said.
"I have her here," he said. "Miss Antoinette Vail."
The house seemed suddenly chilly, perhaps because of the open window. I said "Jesus Christ, has that stupid little chick gone and got herself loused up again? I tell you what you do, Kroch, just tie a good big rock around her neck and throw her off the nearest pier as a favor to me. Okay?" I saw Olivia's eyes widen, shocked.
"Very good, Eric." Kroch laughed softly in my ear. "Very good. That is the proper reaction. I am to think Miss Vail means nothing to you, hem?"
I said, "Hell, I never saw her before the other night. What's she supposed to mean?"
"If you're willing to sacrifice her, of course, there is no more to be said. But if you are not… Do you know Santa Rosa Island? Of course you do. You were just looking at it across the water."
So the itch between my shoulder blades had let me down. I said, "A man stops to look at the water and talk to his wife. Big deal. And what's with this sacrifice bit? I told you, the kid's nothing to me. I needed a dame, or thought I did, so I picked her up at the bar. That's all. And I've been at this work too long to stick my neck out for innocent bystanders, Kroch. She's all yours. If you're hungry, stick an apple in her mouth and roast her."
He laughed again. "Ah, but it is nice to deal with someone who knows how the game should be played! You make me very happy, Eric. Now, what do you say? It is the logical place to finish this, out there, is it not? Very quiet, very lonely. Turn right as you leave the bridge. You will come to a gate house. There is a chain across the road there; the state park is closed at night. Leave your car by the little house and walk down the road. Or crawl through the sand or sneak through the bushes. I will be waiting. I will not be foolish enough to tell you to come unarmed. Bring all the weapons you wish. You will, anyway."
I said, "I told you, I've lost no little girls. She's all yours. What do you think I am, some kind of a Galahad or something? Cut her into little pieces and use her for bait."
Kroch laughed approvingly. I was still playing the game right. "The man, too?" he asked.
"What man?"
"There was a man in the car with Miss Vail. I was watching your house when the two of them drove up. I had no use for the man, but what could I do but bring him along? His name is Mooney. He has a big mouth. It has already got him shot once today; it could get him killed. Your little girl has a big mouth, too, but I will try to let you see her once more. I have a tender heart. Would you like to hear her voice?"
I didn't say anything. I heard a scuffle at the other end of the line; then Antoinette Vail was speaking breathlessly in my ear: "Mr. Corcoran, don't come, he'll kill you! Don't listen-"
Her voice was cut off. Kroch came back on. "That's right, Mr. Corcoran. If you come, I will kill you. Unless of course you kill me. Why don't you try?"
XVIII
THE APARTMENT building in which Dorothy Darden lived was only a few blocks from the center of town. The red Austin-Healey sports job was parked at a meter up the street. I shoved Olivia out on the sidewalk, joined her and took her arm when she threatened to balk again. One day I'll do a job with a woman who has more sense than temperament. I'd thought that Dr. Olivia Mariassy, with her scientific background, might turn out to be the one. I'd been wrong.
"Just follow instructions like a good girl or I swear I'll bust you one," I said. "We haven't time for personalities."
She said, "I'm not going up there! I won't stay in the same place with that blonde tramp! I'd much rather be killed!"
"Nobody's interested in your 'druthers,'" I said. "Sorry, Doc, but that's the way it is. You go in there with your teeth or without them. Take your choice."
"You… you dictatorial beast!"
"Monster was the word we settled on," I said. "You'll go in and you'll ring the way I told you. Braithwaite has his orders concerning you. You may have a little wait while they get some clothes on and some lipstick off, depending on what stage in the proceedings you interrupt."