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Three
"Ifyoufaxcontractdetailstomyoffice—"saidthegruffman,thenthedoorslammedbehindthemandRichardstoodinthehallwayofwhatusedtobehisapartment.Heshivered,inthesilence,fromthecold."This,"announcedRichardtotheworld,indirectdefianceoftheevidenceofhissenses,"isnothappening."TheBatphoneshrilled,anditsheadlightsflashed.Richardpickeditup,warily."Hello?"
Thelinehissedandcrackledasifthecallwerecomingfromalongwayaway.Thevoiceattheotherendofthephonewasunfamiliar."MisterMayhew?"itsaid."MisterRichardMayhew?"
"Yes,"hesaid.Andthen,delighted,"Youcanhearme.OhthankGod.Whoisthis?"
"MyassociateandImetyouonSaturday,MisterMayhew.Iwasenquiringastothewhereaboutsofacertainyounglady.Doyouremember?"Thetoneswereoily,nasty,foxy.
"Oh.Yes.It’syou."
"MisterMayhew.YousaidDoorwasn’twithyou.Wehavereasontobelievethatyouwereembroideringthetruthmorethanperhapsalittle."
"Well,yousaidyouwereherbrother."
"Allmenarebrothers,MisterMayhew."
"She’snothereanymore.AndIdon’tknowwheresheis."
"Weknowthat,MisterMayhew.Weareperfectlycognizantofbothofthosefacts.
