"I'd appreciate that." I gave her Milo's name. Just as I put the phone down, it rang. Milo was nowhere in sight so I took the call. "Detective Sturgis's desk."

A familiar voice said, "I'd like to leave a message for Detective Sturgis."

"Heidi? It's Dr. Delaware."

"Oh ... hi-listen, I'm sorry I couldn't get anything out of Peake today."

"Don't worry about it."

"It didn't help my credibility with Swig, either. After you were gone he called me into his office and made me go over the whole thing again: what Peake said, when he said it, was I sure I heard right."

"Sorry for the hassle."

"It would've sure been nice to be able to prove it.... Anyway, I just wanted to call to let Detective Sturgis know I've decided to leave Starkweather in a couple of weeks, but if there's anything else he needs, he can call me."

"Thanks, Heidi. I'll tell him."

"So," she said, "you actually work there? Right at the police station?"

"No. I just happen to be here today."

"Sounds interesting. Meanwhile, I'll keep trying with Peake, maybe something will come up."

"Don't put yourself in any jeopardy."

"What, from Ardis? You saw his condition. Not exactly dangerous. Not that I let my guard down-do you think Claire did?"

"Don't know," I said.

"I keep thinking about her. What happened to her. It seems so strange that anything could touch her."

"What do you mean?"

"She seemed like one of those people-caught up in their own worlds. Like she was happy being alone. Didn't need anyone else."

Chapter 15

I called home before leaving the station. Robin was out, and all that awaited me was paperwork-final reports on custody cases that had already been decided. I told my own voice on the message machine that I'd be back by five.

Talking to myself.

Put a cell phone in a psychotic's hand and he could fake normalcy.

The encounter with Ardis Peake had stayed with me.

Monster.

Hard to connect that mute, emaciated husk with someone capable of destroying an entire family.

What better endorsement for Mr. Swig's highly structured system?

What turns a human being into that?

I'd given Milo the short-version lecture and he'd been gracious enough not to complain. But I had no real answers; no one did.

I wondered what questions had led Claire to Starkweather. And Peake. She'd gravitated to him shortly after taking the job. Why, of all the madmen, had he been the one whose pathology had drawn her in?

The other thing that troubled me was Peake's assault on the eyes of the little Ardullo girl. Had I been too hasty minimizing his gibbering at Heidi?

Or perhaps it was simple: Claire had learned about the eyes and discussed it with him. Had it elicited something in him- guilt, excitement, a horrible nostalgia?