Nancy did a fine camouflage job with my bruises and reassured me that I’d probably be two hundred percent better tomorrow. We walked out of the room together. Russ Hewett was chatting with Culpepper and a uniformed officer by the water cooler. Their conversation stopped dead as I appeared.

Russ tossed away his drinking cup. “Sherwood. Well, not too bad. Your wife is a miracle worker.”

I agreed with him. “You’re right. Nancy has always made me look good.”

Chapter 25

25

Railroad Tracks

I said good-bye to Nancy, thanked Culpepper, and headed with Russ to his Studebaker, which had its own reserved space in the crescent of the Administration Building. In three minutes, we had scooted onto the Bay Bridge back toward Oakland.

“Traffic’s getting lighter every day leaving the fair,” noted Russ. “It’s a darn good thing we’re making an airport out of the island. Otherwise this whole exposition would have been a financial disaster. Can you imagine those idiots in New York? When their fair closes, they won’t have a thing to show for it, not one tick.”

“They’re keeping the Trylon and Perisphere, aren’t they?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Nope, it’s all coming down. You understand that, as a contractor, the idea of building something that’s only supposed to last two years is—well, I guess it would be like you forming a band that could only be heard once.”

“If only that had been true of Guy Lombardo,” I muttered.

We reached a tollgate, and he indicated a sticker on his car that allowed him to drive through without paying. He told me he needed to swing by his home to get some schematics for a meeting he had with the planning commission not very far from the Claremont and asked if I minded stopping there before he dropped me off. I told him I was grateful for the lift and to take as long as he needed.

“I was wondering,” I began. This was awkward, and I tried to sound casual. “I don’t suppose Gail might be at your house just now?”

“No, generally she only comes by on the weekends, to please her mother. She likes having her own place on campus. I can’t say as I blame her.”

I indicated the swellings on my face. “Well, obviously, Gail is going to see these bruises when we get together tomorrow. I was wondering if it would be all right with you if I gave her a different explanation as to how I got them.”

His eyes creased whenever he smiled. “You mean, lie.”

“Not really lie as much as omit. I’d rather not have her aware of my daughter’s death. It can color working relationships. I don’t want people making allowances for me just because something horrible happened to a little girl. It’s Linney who lost her life, not me.”