Across the street, the woman said something I didn’t catch and the man hit her low with his closed fist. She cried out in what sounded like real pain. I put my notebook away and went into my hotel.

I called Kim from the lobby. Her machine answered and I had started to leave a message when she picked up the receiver and interrupted me. “I leave the machine on sometimes when I’m home,” she explained, “so I can see who it is before I answer. I haven’t heard from Chance since I spoke to you earlier.”

“I just left him a few minutes ago.”

“You saw him?”

“We rode around in his car.”

“What did you think?”

“I think he’s a good driver.”

“I meant—”

“I know what you meant. He didn’t seem terribly upset to hear that you want to leave him. He assured me that you’ve got nothing to fear from him. According to him, you didn’t need me as your champion. All you had to do was tell him.”

“Yes, well, he’d say that.”

“You don’t think it’s true?”

“Maybe it is.”

“He said he wants to hear it from you, and I gather he also wants to make some arrangements about your leaving the apartment. I don’t know if you’re afraid to be alone with him or not.”

“I don’t know either.”

“You can keep the door locked and talk to him through it.”

“He has keys.”

“Don’t you have a chain lock?”

“Yes.”

“You can use that.”

“I suppose.”

“Shall I come over?”

“No, you don’t have to do that. Oh, I suppose you want the rest of the money, don’t you?”

“Not until you’ve talked to him and everything’s settled. But I’ll come over there if you want somebody on your side when he turns up.”

“Is he coming tonight?”

“I don’t know when he’s coming. Maybe he’ll handle the whole thing over the phone.”

“He might not come until tomorrow.”

“Well, I could hole up on the couch if you wanted.”

“Do you think it’s necessary?”

“Well, it is if you think it is, Kim. If you’re uncomfortable—”

“Do you think I have anything to be afraid of?”

I thought for a moment, replayed the scene with Chance, assessed my own reactions after the fact. “No,” I said. “I don’t think so. But I don’t really know the man.”

“Neither do I.”

“If you’re nervous—”

“No, it’s silly. Anyway it’s late. I’m watching a movie on cable, but when it ends I’m going to sleep. I’ll put the chain lock on. That’s a good idea.”

“You’ve got my number.”

“Yes.”

“Call me if anything happens, or if you just want to call me. All right?”

“Sure.”