“I’m late. I don’t have time to play games with you. But if the State’s Attorney demands it when I talk to him in the morning, I expect you to produce it. And for Christ’s sake don’t get on your charger and gallop around town confronting the cops. You’ve turned this over to me and I’m promising to take care of it. So don’t do anything rash tonight, okay, Vic?”

“It all depends on your definition, Freeman, but I think the most I’m up to is trying to find something to drive around town in.”

He laughed. “You’re doing okay if you can keep your sense of humor. We’ll talk first thing.”

After he hung up I tried to think what further steps to take. I called Lotty Herschel, whom I’ve known since my undergraduate days. She’s in her sixties now, but still works a full schedule both as a perinatalogist at Beth Israel and running a clinic for low–income families on the west fringe of Uptown.

When I told her what was going on she was horrified. “I don’t believe this, Vic. I’ll ask Max what happened to the young woman when she got to us, but I don’t think that will shed any light on why you’re being harassed in such a way.”

Her warmth and concern flowed through the line, making me feel better at once. “Lotty, I need to ask a favor. Can I come over for a minute?”

“If you can hurry. In fact, Max and I are going out in half an hour. If you don’t have a car can you take a cab to me?”

It was close to seven when a cab decanted me on north Lake Shore Drive. For years Lotty lived only a short walk from her clinic, on the top floor of a two–flat she owned. When she turned sixty–five last year, she decided that being a landlord was an energy drain she didn’t need and bought herself a condo in one of the art nouveau buildings overlooking the lake. I still wasn’t used to dealing with a doorman to see her, but I was glad she’d moved into a place more secure than the fringes of Uptown—I used to worry about her, small woman alone in the early–morning darkness, every user on Broadway knowing she was a doctor.

The doorman was beginning to remember me, but he still made me wait for Lotty’s permission before letting me pass. Lotty was waiting for me when the elevator reached the eighteenth floor, her dark, vivid face filled with concern.

“I’m on my way out now, Victoria, why don’t we ride down together and I’ll give you a lift home while you talk.”