I’m glad your sister wasn’t here, he said. To see me like this. It’s— Listen, I really have to pull myself together before— He stopped abruptly and didn’t say anything for half a minute. We bumped along the dark road in silence. The quiet was a pleasant change. I wondered where Doakes was and what he was doing. Or perhaps, what was being done to him. For that matter, I wondered where Reiker was and how soon I could take him somewhere else. Someplace quiet, where I could contemplate and work in peace. I wondered what the rent might be on the Blalock Gator Farm.

Might be a good idea if I don’t bother her anymore, Chutsky said suddenly, and it took me a moment to realize he was still talking about Deborah. She’s not going to want anything to do with me the way I am now, and I don’t need anybody’s pity.

Nothing to worry about, I said. Deborah is completely without pity.

You tell her I’m fine, and I went back to Washington, he said. It’s better that way.

It might be better for you, I said. But she’ll kill me.

You don’t understand, he said.

No, you don’t understand. She told me to get you back. She’s made up her mind and I don’t dare disobey. She hits very hard.

He was silent for a while. Then I heard him sigh heavily. I just don’t know if I can do this, he said.

I could take you back to the gator farm, I said cheerfully.

He didn’t say anything after that, and I pulled onto Alligator Alley, made the first U-turn, and headed back toward the orange glow of light on the horizon that was Miami.

Dexter 2 – Dearly Devoted Dexter

CHAPTER 26

W E RODE IN SILENCE ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE first real clump of civilization, a housing development and a row of strip malls on the right, a few miles past the toll booth. Then Chutsky sat up and stared out at the lights and the buildings. I have to use a phone, he said.

You can use my phone, if you’ll pay the roaming charges, I said.

I need a land line, he said. A pay phone.

You’re out of touch with the times, I said. A pay phone might be a little hard to find. Nobody uses them anymore.