“I’ve tried to ascertain your Mrs. Reddy’s first name in order to confirm my theory,” Dr. Tully went on, “but so far no luck. She has apparently never voted here, nor has she any bank accounts in Cainesville or Ashland. Is that your son?”

The bus had stopped and Duff and Franny were getting off.

“Why don’t you just call and ask her,” I said. “Pose as a census taker or an Internal Revenue agent.”

Duff and Franny had crossed the road and were coming toward us. Why was I afraid to have him question Duff? It might’ve been better if I had permitted it. Maybe he could’ve found out something that would’ve saved us. Instead I opened the door of his Volkswagen.

“Would you mind, ” I said. “I don’t feel well.”

“I’d like to say hello—”

“Please, some other time.” I was pushing him into the car. Then I closed the door.

“May I come again?” he shouted.

“Call us first.”

Duff and Franny had reached the house and were watching with great curiosity. I took their arms. “This is Duff, this is Franny,” I called. “Duff, Franny—Dr. Tully.” Then I took them inside.

“Who was that?” Franny wanted to know.

“A salesman,” I said.

Duff grinned and went upstairs. Jack didn’t even lift his gaze from his yellow pad. I watched through the window for several minutes until Dr. Tully finally gave up and drove away.

Then I went upstairs. Duff’s door was closed. I went to my room and lifted the mattress. The uniform coat was gone. I ran into the storeroom and pulled the cupboard aside. The door to the third floor wasn’t locked.

Without the flashlight, it was almost impossible to see anything as I groped my way up the stairs, biting my tongue to stop from screaming every time a cobweb brushed my face.

At the top I called, “Duff? Duff?”

There was no answer. I made my way through the darkness to the other side of the room and found the settee. The rest of the uniform was gone too. I got down on my knees and felt around on the floor, but I couldn’t find the boots either.

Then before I could get to my feet, I heard the door in the storeroom slam. I did scream then and stumbled in what I thought to be the direction of the stairs. There had been a faint light from below before, but now there was nothing.

I missed the stairs and ran into the opposite wall, then coming back, I missed the stairs again and ran into some furniture. I thought I heard the guttural laugh. Was he here?