The Web

"That plane… they like plane crashes, don't they?… Must have somehow heard Defense was sending someone here and figured it was Ly. All he wanted to do was see the trees, bring some photos back for his pals. But they assumed he was the agent, me the tagalong- top of everything else, they're sexist pigs."

Cold laugh.

"Six of them," she said. "Crazy… are they- is there any danger going down there?"

"They're harmless," said Robin. "But sick."

She described some of their physical anomalies.

Jo said, "And what did he call this toxic injection?"

"The "paradise needle."'

She repeated it. "Talk about a Christmas gift. For years, we've been watching the financial angles, but this is gorgeous-Moreland actually kept records of the injections?"

"So he says."

Her eyes sparkled. "These… people. They're all retarded?"

"Yes," I said.

"But not vegetables."

"No. More like small children."

"Any way they could testify in court?"

"I don't see how. Apart from mental incompetence, they can't speak. Damaged vocal cords."

She winced. "Still… just the visual impact- we can video them, get Moreland to list all their problems. A whole other line of evidence. Thank you, Dr. M."

"Are you after Hoffman?" I said. "Or the entire Stasher-Layman organization?"

She smiled. "Let's just say we've been working on this for a long time."

"Major financial angle."

"The kind of thing that raises everyone's taxes by a couple of bucks but the taxpayers never find out about… I've got to go down there and see them with my own eyes. Start documenting. I'm going upstairs to get my camera, then I'd appreciate it if one of you would take me back."

"I wouldn't approach them without Moreland," I said. "Apart from what they just went through, they've got all sorts of physical problems- sensitivities."

"Such as?"

"He mentioned sunlight, there may be others."

"What does sunlight do to them?"

"Destroys their skin."

"My flash isn't UV."

"At the least, they'll panic when they see you. They've been down there so long, let's hold off till we're sure we can't hurt them."

She thought. "All right… but I've got to see this. If he's right about the arm only being a flesh wound, he should be able to take me himself."

She tapped her leg very fast, checked her watch, and stood. "Let's go see how he's doing."

"His whole purpose in life all these years has been sheltering them," said Robin. "He's not going to use them."

"I understand the man's got principles. But things change, you have to adapt."

A strand of hair looped over one eye and she shoved it away. The gun was in her waistband. She ran a finger over the butt. "Things change quickly."

38

Moreland's arm was bandaged and it rested on his chest. A thermometer protruded from his mouth.

Pam read it. "A hundred. Are you comfortable there, Daddy, or should we try to get you up to your bed?"

"This is fine, kitten." He saw us. "I used to call her that when she was little."

Pam's look said it was another lost memory. She snapped her doctor's bag shut.

"How're we doing?" said Jo. I thought of how she'd waited upstairs, knowing we were down there with Creedman and Haygood.

Using us. But I'd just shot a man in the back, and there was no anger left in me.

"I'll survive," said Moreland. He stole a glance at me.

Jo said, "I know about what you've got down there, Dr. Moreland. Whenever you're ready to show it to me."

"He's not going anywhere," said Pam.

"It's something of an emergency. A lot's at stake. Right, doctor?"

Moreland didn't answer.

"What are you talking about?" said Pam.

"It's complicated," said Jo. "I think I can help your father in a big way if he can help me."

"What's going on, Daddy?"

Moreland held out a hand to her and grasped her fingers. "She's right, it is complicated, kitten. I should get down there-"

"Down where?"

Moreland blinked.

Pam said, "Who's she to tell you what to do, Daddy?"

No answer.

"Who are you, Jo?"

Jo flashed her badge.

Pam stared at it.

"Long story," said Jo. "Come with me for a sec."

She put her arm around Pam just as she'd done a few hours ago. Pam shook her off angrily.

"I'm not leaving him alone."

"It's fine," said Moreland. "Thank you for taking care of me. Go with her. Please. For my sake."

"I don't understand, Daddy."

"Robin," said Moreland, "could you go along and help explain things?"

Robin said, "Sure."

"Why can't you tell me, Daddy?"

"I will, kitten, all in due time. But right now I need some rest. Go with them. Please, darling."

The three women left and Moreland beckoned me closer. The rain was hitting the picture windows sharply, like buckshot on metal.

He stared up at me. Chewed his lip. Blinked. "Your questions down there, about what Hoffman had over me… the things Creedman said about me down there. There's some truth to them."

Moving with difficulty, he faced the back of the sofa.

"I was a different man back then, Alex. Women- having them- meant so much to me."

Forcing himself to face me, he said, "I've made mistakes. Big ones."

"I know. De

He tried to speak, couldn't.

"I'm not judging you, Bill."

Though the room was dim, I could see dark spots on the white couch. Spots of his blood. His eyes were sunken and dry.

"When did you figure it out?"

"You paid for De

"Oh," he said, more exhalation than word. "As a father, I'm a disgrace. They've both turned out better than I deserve. I sent Pamela away because I didn't- couldn't cope after Barbara died."

Propping himself up.

"No, that's not all of it. I sent her away because of the guilt."

"About Jacqui?"

"And the others. Many others. I did serve as my own abortionist. Barbara had never been a happy woman. I made her miserable."

He sank back down again.

"The bastard was right, I was a repugnant lecher. Lecher with surgical training… but Jacqui refused to terminate… Barbara's death made me realize… how could I hope to raise a daughter?"

"And you already had kids."

He closed his eyes. "I put the needle in their arms… my life since then's been a quest for redemption, but I doubt I'm redeemable… Jacqui was such a beautiful thing. Barely eighteen, but mature. I was always… hungry- not that it's an excuse, but Barbara was… a lady. She had… different drives."

A woman alone on the sand, the day before she died.

"It was the baby that drove her to it," he said. "The fact that I'd actually let it get that far."

"How did she find out?"

"Someone told her."

"Hoffman?"

"Had to be. He and Barbara were chums- bridge partners. A younger man paying her attention."

"So Barbara went along with his cheating."

He smiled. "I suppose she can be forgiven that tiny revenge."

"Did their playing go beyond bridge?"

"I truly don't know- anything's possible. But as I said, Barbara wasn't inclined to the physical… toward the end, she hated me fiercely. And she always liked him-found his interest in cuisine and tailoring charming."

"Then why did he tell her about Jacqui? "

"To wound me. After our di