Skip said, “I was right down there, real close, looking in the windows. Chrissakes it’s big, but it’s old—old furniture and high ceilings and regular granny shelves full of knickknacks. I didn’t see the old lady. There’s a man inside, though. He’s in a room, must be a library, looking at something on a desk. I thought maybe account books, but I couldn’t be sure.” Skip cuffed the dog playfully, and the dog growled and pretended to chew his hand. “The guy from Vegas. He’s brought more dough.”

“That’s a crazy place to keep money!” Eddie blurted.

“You trying to knock this thing?” Skip cried in sudden anger.

“No, of course not.”

“I got a good look at the guy,” Skip boasted, “real good. I’d know him anywhere. You know what I’m going to do? Before we pull this, that is? I’m going to hitchhike to Vegas and look him up.”

Eddie felt his heart lurch against his ribs. “That’d be crazy!”

“Oh, I’m not going to charge in and let on I’m itching for his green stuff. What this’ll be—making sure. Karen thinks he’s big in Nevada, has a chunk of one of the clubs on the Strip, but she could be wrong. He could be tinhorn, full of wind, maybe even making a play for the chick. One thing more, is he really old lady Havermann’s ex-son-in-law? I’ll need to check on it.”

“He’ll have you thrown out,” Eddie said.

“You think I’m dumb enough to speak to him, let him get a look at me?” Skip was outraged, on the verge of violence. “The thing is, if he’s who Karen thinks he is, and he’s coming here every few weeks, staying overnight, why not, if not to stash some winnings?”

“And why should Karen tell you about it?” Eddie cried from his own uncertainty.

“Because.” Skip leaned toward him in the dark beneath the trees. “She’s mine any time I want her. Just any time, anywhere, anyhow. Want me to prove it?”

“What do you mean?”

“We’ll come back here when classes are out, I’ll show you. Right here on the ground under these trees.”

“Ah, can it.”

“No, I’m serious.”

They started to walk west, then downhill out of the trees. They had forgotten the dog, and he rushed by them suddenly, scattering leaves and dirt, and Eddie stumbled with fright. Skip whirled to look back, as if someone might have sent the dog after them: but there was only the bank of towering evergreens and the glimmer from the house.

The dog jumped around, wanting to play, but Skip ignored him.