I picked up the scanner and walked around to the rear of the van. Doakes was standing beside the open back door as the older paramedic finally got his partner onto his feet. I handed Doakes the scanner. It was in the front seat, I said. He’s been listening.

Doakes just glanced at it and put it down inside the back door of the van. Since he didn’t seem terribly chatty I asked, Do you have any ideas about what we should do next?

He looked at me and didn’t say anything and I looked back expectantly, and I suppose we could have stood like that until the pigeons began to nest on our heads, if it hadn’t been for the paramedics. Okay, guys, the senior one said, and we moved aside to let them get to Frank. The stocky paramedic seemed to be perfectly all right now, as if he was here to put a splint on a boy with a twisted ankle. His partner still looked quite unhappy, however, and even from six feet away I could hear his breathing.

I stood beside Doakes and watched them slide Frank onto the gurney and then wheel him away. When I looked back at Doakes he was staring at me again. Once more he gave me his very unpleasant smile. Down to you and me, he said. And I don’t know about you. He leaned against the battered white van and crossed his arms. I heard the paramedics slam the ambulance door, and a moment later the siren started up. Just you and me, Doakes said again, and no more referee.

Is this more of your simple country wisdom? I said, because here I was, having sacrificed an entire left shoe and a very nice bowling shirt, to say nothing of my hobby, Deborah’s collarbone, and a perfectly good motor-pool car—and there he stood without so much as a wrinkle in his shirt, making cryptically hostile remarks. Really, the man was too much.

Don’t trust you, he said.

I thought it was a very good sign that Sergeant Doakes was opening up to me by sharing his doubts and feelings. Still, I felt like I should try to keep him focused. That doesn’t matter. We’re running out of time, I said. With Frank finished and delivered, Danco will start on Kyle now.

He cocked his head to one side and then shook it slowly. Don’t matter about Kyle, he said. Kyle knew what he was getting into. What matters is catching the Doctor.

Kyle matters to my sister, I said. That’s the only reason I’m here.

Doakes nodded again. Pretty good, he said. Could almost believe that.