Jeems stood up abruptly. “Got to get back to the shop.” He made for the front door. “Delighted to be of service. Always delighted to be called in by peepers. I can’t understand the recent hostility toward you people…” He was gone.

“Ummm. That was a significant parting note.”

“What’d he mean, Linc?”

“Our great & good friend, Ben Reich. Reich’s been backing an Anti-Esper campaign. You know… peepers are clannish, can’t be trusted, never become patriots. Interplanetary conspirators, eat little Normal babies, &c.”

“Ugh! And he’s supporting the League of Patriots too. He’s a disgusting, dangerous man.”

“Dangerous but not disgusting, Mary. He’s got charm. That’s what makes him doubly dangerous. People always expect villains to look villainous. Well, maybe we can take care of Reich before it’s too late. Bring Barbara down, Mary.”

Mary brought the girl downstairs and seated her on the low dais. Barbara sat like a calm statue. Mary had dressed her in blue leotards and combed her blonde hair back, tying it into a fox-tail with blue ribbon. Barbara was polished and shining; a lovely waxwork doll.

“Lovely outside; mangled inside. Damn Reich!”

“What about him?”

“I told you, Mary. I was so mad at Chooka Frood’s coop, I handed it to that red slug Quizzard and his wife… And when I peeped Reich upstairs, I threw it in his teeth. I—”

“What did you do to Quizzard?”

“Basic Neuro-Shock. Come up to the Lab sometime and we’ll show you. It’s new. If you make 1^st we’ll teach you. It’s like the scrambler but psychogenic.”

“Fatal?”

“Forgotten the Pledge? Of course not.”

“And you peeped Reich through the floor? How?”

“TP reflection. The Voyeur Chamber wasn’t wired for sound. It had open acoustical ducts. Reich’s mistake. He was transmitting down the channel and I swear I was hoping he had the guts to shoot. I was going to blast him with a Basic that would have made Case History.”

“Why didn’t he shoot?”

“I don’t know, Mary. I don’t know. He thought he had every reason to kill us. He thought he was safe… Didn’t know about the Basic, even though Quizzard’s Decline & Fall jolted him… But he couldn’t.”

“Afraid?”

“Reich’s no coward. He wasn’t afraid. He just couldn’t. I don’t know why. Maybe next time it’ll be different. That’s why I’m keeping Barbara D’Courtney in my house. She’ll be safe here.”

“She’ll be safe in Kingston Hospital.”

“But not quiet enough for the work I’ve go to do.”

“?”

“She’s got the detailed picture of the murder locked up in her hysteria. I’ve got to get at it… piece by piece. When I’ve got it, I’ve got Reich.”

Mary arose. “Exit Mary Noyes.”

“Sit down, peeper! Why d’you think I called you? You’re staying here with the girl. She can’t be left alone. You two can have my bedroom. I’ll convert the study for myself.”

“Choke it, Linc. Don’t jet off like that. You’re embarrassed. Let’s see if I can’t maybe thread-needle through that mind block.”