Captain Leland was at the station but had left orders not to be disturbed until morning. Leland did not want to leave a message. He thought he could conclude that the Shoftel killing suspect had not been picked up yet. No matter how he tried, his father would not be able to sleep if the man was in custody.

Mike was home. He listened and then he said he would call Florence to see if she was all right. Leland told him not to bother. He didn’t understand. Leland said that she had arranged for her own protection. First Mike sounded surprised, then he started to laugh at himself. Leland told him that he was getting old.

It was after midnight now. When the telephone rang the third time he knew he was getting her out of bed, but their long-standing habit was to keep ringing until the other answered. She picked up as the sixth ring began.

“Hello? Joe?”

“Yes, it’s me. I’m sorry it’s so late, but I couldn’t help it. Were you asleep?”

“I dozed while I was watching the late movie. Is everything all right?”

“Oh, sure. It’s been a busy day. Do you mind talking for a while?”

She said that it was what she had been waiting for and asked if he wanted her to call him back because of the charges. He gave her his number, hung up, and waited. While walking over he had worked out what he could tell her about his conversation with Roberts. He had a question to ask that she could answer. The rest, all the references to her, he would skip. He had not mentioned Roberts’ name yesterday when he had told her of the case, and he could imagine no reason why she would guess that the case was closer to her than he made out. He was on good ground. The telephone rang and he picked up and started talking. When he told her what the doctor had said about Norma, she interrupted to say that it was what she had tried to tell him yesterday. She had sensed something wrong when she had seen her in the Flamingo. He said, “That’s what I understood you to mean. I told him I would think about it. The last thing I want to do is fight with the guy. You know more about this than I do, Karen. Is it possible that he was treating MacIver? I asked Norma and she said no. I asked him and he said no, too.”

“I’ve never heard of it. They were neighbors and friends. He couldn’t have been able to maintain his distance from MacIver. He would have been involved—not emotionally, but MacIver would have been able to see him in other roles. Arguing with his wife, for example. It wouldn’t work. Do you understand?”