Coming out of the post office, he almost bumped into Pete Fenton with Alice. If Todd thought it was unusual for a lawyer to take afternoon walks with his secretary, he said nothing: he knew there was a Mrs. Fenton but what was that to do with him? Todd considered himself a liberal and broadminded sort and besides, Alice turned out to be less frowsty-looking in the flesh.

Pete must have read something in Todd’s expression, because he said, “Mr. Milstead, I’ve been thinking about your situation.”

“How kind of you,” said Todd.

“I know Mrs. Milstead’s lawyer. Kevin Coughlan,” said Pete. “And he’s a ‘grab ’em by the throat’ kind of guy. I’ve known women go to him wanting nothing from the divorce but to get away from their husbands. Some of them are even prepared to let the man keep the kids. And they come out of his office swearing they’ll take their husband for everything he’s got.”

Alice tutted sympathetically. So did Todd, whose own view on kids was that they should be raised on distant farms until they were old enough to work.

“What’s your point, may I ask?” he said, politely enough.

“This,” said Fenton. “Given Coughlan’s reputation, and your own situation as regards Janis—your adultery, your drinking, and so on…”

Todd didn’t like the “and so on” but he said nothing.

“… it seems likely that Coughlan is going to advise Janis to, er, take you down.”

“Take me down?” echoed Todd.

“Take you down like a lion takes down a warthog,” said Alice. Todd looked at her and she smiled back sweetly.

“He’ll take you for all you’ve got and then some,” added Pete. “Unless—”

“Unless?” said Todd, who was wearying of his apparent role as Greek chorus to the all-wise Fenton.

“Unless,” and here Fenton shot a guilty look at Alice, “unless there really is something in this story of yours about her and another man.”

“What about all that no fault stuff you were coming out with before?” said Todd.

“I’ll see you later, Pete,” said Alice, and at that moment Todd suspected he was coming between them. He didn’t give a fuck.

“It’s reputation,” said Fenton. “This is a small town. If you had some dirt on Janis, it wouldn’t matter if a divorce court gave her the house and the money. Might even make it look worse. If you can prove that she’s seeing someone else, it makes her look like a slut.”

“But what about me seeing someone else?” said Todd.

“You’ve got nothing to lose, Janis does,” said Fenton. “Like I say. Reputation.”

Fenton was looking worriedly in Alice’s direction now.

“I have to go,” he said. “Here. Call this guy.”

He thrust a card into Todd’s hand and strode off. Todd looked at the card.

JACK BEHM, it read. PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS.

Three

THREE