“Darling, it sounds horrible. There’s no danger, is there?”

“No, none at all,” he said. “I’m all right.”

“Do you want us out when you come home? We’ll let you sleep, if you want.”

“No, it isn’t necessary,” he said. “Relax, Karen. This is just a little overtime.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m trying to help—”

“You’re doing fine,” he said softly. “Round about seven o’clock—well, let’s just say I knew I wasn’t where I wanted to be.”

“I love you. If you can’t get a ride home, take a taxi—” The telephone rang again, one of the other lines. “What was that?”

“Another extension, that’s all.” He saw Richardson take this one, too. “I can’t discuss the case with you, honey.” It was something he had to say; the way he said it, she knew she would hear about it when he got home. Richardson went into his office, stepping briskly. “The heat’s on us, Karen. The laughter you heard was the result of Dave letting loose another of his wild ideas.”

“You sound distracted,” she said.

“The call that just came in was important. I may have to hang up in a hurry. I’ll be home as fast as I can, but don’t you plan to go out unless there’s something you want to do.”

“Joe,” Richardson called from his door, “get on sixteen. It’s the Commissioner.”

“That’s it,” he said to Karen. “I’ll call you later if I get the chance.”

“We have to do the shopping—okay. Take care and hurry home. We’ll—oh, okay,” she said. “We’ll see you later.”

“Not long,” he said, and pushed the sixteen button. “Hello, sir.”

“Lieutenant Leland? Joe?”

“That’s right sir. What can I do for you?”

He wanted Leland’s personal impressions of the case and a synopsis of what had been done since last night. He wanted to know what kind of a person Leikman had been. It was just curiosity, and he made no effort to hide it as he asked Leland to tell him what Leikman had been doing in Port Smith, what kind of life he had lived, and the people he had seen.