Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           HelookedathismotherandDelandDathy."Billy’sintrouble,"hesaid,andpickedupthephoneagain.

           "Whoareyoucallingnow?"Kathyasked.

           "I’mgoingtotellBillyI’dliketocomeovertomorrowandseehisnewplace."

           Kathysaid,"I’mgoingwithyou."

           Thefollowingevening,ChristmasEve,TommygreetedKathyandJimatthedoorinhisbarefeet.Behindhim,inthecomer,stoodthebrightlylitChristmastreesurroundedbypresents.Onthewallhungaplaquewithdecorativecrossedswords.

           WhileJimandTommytalked,Kathyexcusedherselfandwentupstairs.Shewasgoingtoseeifshecouldfindfurtherevidenceofwhathe’dbeendoing.

           "Hey,justonequestion,"Jimsaidwhentheywerealone."Whereareyougettingallthebreadforthisstuff—thisduplexapartment,allthosepresents,clothes,thatwatch?"

           "Mygirl’sworking,"Tommysaid.

           "Marlenespayingforallthisstuff?"

           "Well,alotofit’soncredit,too."

           "Thosecreditcards’llgetyouifyoudon’twatchout.Ihopeyou’renotgettingintoodeep."

           Jim,whohadjustcompletedanAirForcecourseininterrogationtechniques,decidedtoputhisskilltousenowtohelphisbrother.Ifhecouldgethimtotalkaboutit,admithewaswrong,maybetherewouldstillbeawaytokeephimfromgoingtoprison.