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Now then. Look at it.

Do

He took another little shot of the scotch. Looked again and thought, Ask Skip what he did with it.

Thought, You crazy? He sneaky, scheming something or he would've told you. Him and Robin.

Thought, He could've put it back in her car…

And ran from the library back to the garage, reached inside and pressed the button on the wall that would raise the garage door. Nothing happened. Pressed it some more.

Nothing happened. He moved through the dark to the Mercedes-use the remote control box in the car.

The car was locked. He had come back from the Chinaman's and had not locked it, but now it was. He wanted to see in the car. But he'd left the flashlight in the library.

Do

"You make it sound like you're defending him."

"He knew what he was doing," Robin said. She put her hand on Woody's shoulder.

"Didn't you?" Woody didn't move.

"You weren't drunk when you signed the contracts."

"The man's alcoholic, he's always drunk," Chris said.

"His lawyer knows that. You're conspiring to extort money.

The only difference, you're using paper now instead of a bomb."

Robin said, "All right, what's the problem? If you think it'll be contested, let's wait and see."

Chris looked at Woody.

"Are you listening to any of this?"

"He's asleep," Robin said. " "I almost feel asleep myself," Skip said,

"the way you're beating it to death. It's done, let's get the party going."

Chris watched Do

"Go put a tape on. We got to pick this up before it dies." Chris watched Do

"Hold this for me."

Chris looked up at him.

"Just hold it a second, it won't hurt you."

"Put it on the table."

"Take it, or I'll pour the goddamn thing on you!"

Chris held out his hand and Skip put the drink in it.

"You got a good grip on it?"

Skip reached behind his back, beneath his jacket and came out with his .38 Special.

"Now show me that goddamn gun you have, whatever it is, with just two fingers of your one hand. Take the magazine out and hand it to me and chuck the gun in the swimming pool. Can you remember all that, or you want me to go through it again?"

Robin came over. She said, "Break his nose."

Skip said, "Just take it from him-Jesus."

Chris brought the automatic out with his left hand and Skip stepped back, arms rigid aiming the.38.

"Let me have it," Robin said.

Chris said, "Don't tempt me."

She reached down and snatched the pistol out of his hand and said,

"Weird," looking at it.

Skip said to Chris, "You're spending the night here so we won't have to worry about you. Tomorrow morning, fine, you can leave. But not before we say."

Robin extended the Clock in both hands, aiming at Chris's face and closing one stoned eye.

"Is this how you do it?"

They brought Chris and Greta to the library. Chris watched Robin, still holding the Clock, waving it idly as she looked around. She said, "You're sure?" Skip pulled aside a panel of the heavy damask draperies to show grillwork covering the inside of the window.



"Been on there forever, but he'd need a wrecking bar, at least." Chris watched Robin move to the desk. She was opening a drawer when Do

She didn't seem to mind. She looked so small in the sweatshirt. He put her in the chair next to Woody. Do

Do

She said, "Never mind." She walked away from the desk with the Clock auto and the scissors. Do

"This's surprise night." Chris waited. Do

"You have to go to the bathroom you tell me and I tell him."

Chris said, "The Skipper?"

Do

Chris turned to the TV screen. He didn't recognize the movie or any of the actors; they were all teenagers. He looked at his watch. It was

12:10.

A t 2:20 the library door opened. Do

He took time to close the door quietly. Chris, seated at the desk, watched him come through the lamplight showing in dull green shades, a dark figure now. Do

Chris said, "When they do that, not look where they're going, you know some disfigured asshole is waiting for them."

"They come here," Do

I go out there, it's gone and the car's locked and there's no way to open the garage up. The 'lectric thing you push don't work. And the light's out."

"You ask Skip about it?"

"What? Ask him how he's go

"Stay out of the garage, you'll probably be all right."

"How would he work it?"

"You look around the house?"

"Enough. Box of dynamite ain't that easy to hide."

"Where's Robin and Skip?"

"In the kitchen mostly."

"Let's say he put the dynamite in the car," Chris said.

"A gray Mercedes, right? I remember it from when the limo blew up, with his brother."

"How would he do it?"

"When you drive in and out you use a garage door opener?"

"Little thing with a button on it you push, yeah."

"It sounds like he put the charge in the Mercedes and wired it to the door opener, the motor. They put us in the garage and go out the other way. Drive off in the VW, Robin presses the button-bang. No witnesses. By the time the investigation gets to a canceled check with her name on it… I don't know, I guess she's got that worked out. But why're they staying all night? Now's the time to do it."

"The man has to transfer the money, call up the bank at nine A.M. They want to see him, make sure the check don't bounce."

Chris said, "Yeah, that's right, from his trust account.

Has he paid them yet? Given 'em the check?"

"After he phones. Then I fill out the name and the amount. Shit, and get put in the garage, huh?" Do

"I'm the one has to make the move. I ain't go

"I'm glad to hear you say that."