“Did you see this guy bring a case full of samples in here?”

“A regular Fuller Brush man, isn’t he?”

“Red Skelton with a bag over his head. Still trying to make a sale.”

“Not buying, huh?” I said. “Too bad. Maybe I ought to speak to the man of the house.”

“I don’t think a bag over his head was enough.”

“It’s not too late for a noose. Maybe we should just hand him over to the Ivans and have done with it.”

“Aw, look, he’s stopped talking now.”

“Did we get your attention, Red?”

“You don’t want brushes,” I said. “Okay. So why don’t you tell me what you do want?”

“When we’re ready, Gunther, and not before.”

“My friend here could tear a phone book in half, but he prefers this as a demonstration of our power over you. It’s a lot less effort, and more than just seeing the power of the spirit, you can feel it, too. We wouldn’t want you walking out of here and telling all your Nazi friends how soft we are.”

“We worked it out. People were more afraid of the Ivans than they were of us.”

“So you decided to be more like them,” I said. “To play just as rough as they do. Sure, I get it.”

“That’s right, Gunther. Which brings us back to brushes. Or rather, one particular brush.”

“A name you mentioned to Silverman and Earl. Erich Mielke.”

“I remember. What about him?”

“They formed the distinct impression that you knew him.”

“We’ve met. So what?”

“You must have known him quite well.”

“How did you figure that out?”

“You were looking out of a window at Erhard Milch when he was being released from the front gate. How far is that?”

“Sixty, seventy feet. You must have good eyesight, Gunther.”

“For reading I wear glasses,” I said.

“You can have them. When you sign your confession.”

“What confession?”

“The one you’re going to sign, Gunther.”

“I thought you said that Silverman and Earp had cleared me.”

“They did. This is our Ohio Casualty policy. It adds fidelity and surety to whatever you tell us about Erich Mielke.”

“That means we own your ass, Gunther.”

“What’s in this confession?”

“Does it matter?”

He had a point. They could say anything they wanted and I’d have to like it. “All right. I’ll sign it.”

“You took that in your stride.”

“I used to be a tall man in a circus. Besides, I’ve been walking around for a while now and I’m tired. I just want to go home and give my long legs a rest.”

“How about you give us a different act? Like Mr. Memory.”

“You haven’t yet told me why you’re so interested in him,” I said. “Which means I don’t know what to leave in or to leave out.”