A few seconds later, Win said, "Hello."

"I'd like my disgust noted for the record," Myron said.

"So noted."

Win moved fluidly from the lotus position to a full stand. He popped out the tape and put it in a box. The box was labeled Anon 11. Anon, Myron knew, stood for Anonymous. It meant Win had either forgotten her name or never learned it.

"I can't believe you still do this," Myron said.

"Are we moralizing again?" Win asked with a smile. "How nice for us."

"Let me ask you something."

"Oh, please do."

"Something I always wanted to know."

"My ears are all atwitter."

"Putting aside my repugnancy for a moment--"

"Not on my account," Win said. "I so enjoy when you're superior."

"You claim this"--Myron motioned vaguely at the videotape and then the TV screen--"relaxes you."

"Yes."

"But doesn't it also... I mean, sick as it is... doesn't it also arouse you?"

"Not at all," Win replied.

"That's the part I don't understand."

"Viewing the act does not arouse me," Win explained. "Thinking about the act does not arouse me. Videos, dirty magazines, Penthouse Forum, cyber-porn--none of them arouse me. For me, there is no substitute for the real thing. A partner must be present. The rest has the same effect as tickling myself. It's why I never masturbate."

Myron said nothing.

"Problem?" Win asked.

"I'm just wondering what possessed me to ask," Myron said.

Win opened a Ming dynasty cabinet that had been converted into a small fridge and tossed Myron a Yoo-Hoo. He poured himself a snifter of cognac. The room was lush antiques and rich tapestries and Oriental carpets and busts of men with long, curly hair. If not for the state-of-the-art home entertainment system, the room could have been something you'd stumble across on a tour of a Medici palace.

They grabbed their usual seats.

Win said, "You look troubled."

"I have a case for us."

"Ah."

"I know I said we weren't going to do this anymore. But this is sort of a special circumstance."

"I see," Win said.

"Do you remember Emily?"

Win did that swirl thing with his snifter. "College girlfriend. Used to make monkey noises during sex. Dumped you in the beginning of our senior year. Married your archenemy Greg Downing. Dumped him too. Probably still makes monkey noises."

"She has a son," Myron said. "He's sick." He quickly explained the situation, leaving out the part about possibly being the kid's father. If he couldn't talk about it with Esperanza, there was no way he could raise the subject with Win.

When he finished, Win said, "It shouldn't be too difficult. You're going to talk to the doctor tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Find out what you can about who handles the records."

Win picked up the remote and flicked on the television. He flipped the channels because there were a lot of commercials on and because he was male. He stopped at CNN. Terese Collins was anchoring the news.

"Is the lovely Ms. Collins visiting us tomorrow?" Win asked.