Зима тревоги нашей

           ThankChristwecaughtitintime—afterallthequiztroublesandVanDorenandall."

           "Itdoesn’tsoundliketheprosestyleofaboy."

           "Idon’tknowhowithappened.Anditmighthavegonethroughifwehadn’tgotthepostcard."

           "Postcard?"

           "Picturepostcard,pictureoftheEmpireStateBuilding."

           "Whosentit?"

           "Anonymous."

           "Wherewasitmailedfrom?"

           "NewYork."

           "Letmeseeit."

           "It’sunderlockandkeyincasethere’sanytrouble.Youdon’twanttomaketrouble,doyou?"

           "Whatisityouwant?"

           "Iwantyoutoforgetthewholething.We’lljustdropthewholethingandforgetit—ifyouwill."

           "It’snotathingeasytoforget."

           "Hell,Imeanjustkeepyourlipbuttoned—don’tgiveusanytrouble.It’sbeenabadyear.Electionyearanybodywilldigupanything."

           Iclosedtherichbluecoversandhandeditbacktohim."Iwon’tgiveyouanytrouble."

           Histeethshowedlikematchedpearls."Iknewit.Itoldthem.Ilookedyouup.Youhaveagoodrecord—goodfamily."

           "Willyougoawaynow?"

           "You’vegottoknowIunderstandhowyoufeel."

           "Thankyou.AndIknowhowyoufeel.Whatyoucancoverupdoesn’texist."

           "Idon’twanttogoawayleavingyouangry.Publicrelationsismyline.Wecouldworksomethingout.Scholarshiporlikethat—somethingdignified."

           "Hassingoneonstrikeforawageraise?No,justgoawaynow—please!"

           "We’llworksomethingout."

           "I’msureyouwill."