“I know, but I had an interest. Would you have come back after that? If I hadn’t been here?”

“I would have tried. I didn’t stop thinking about it.”

“You lied to me about yourself.”

“No.”

“You couldn’t even say my name when I asked if you had the line.”

That was true.

“So that’s the way it is,” she said. “She’s the cop, not you. It’s too bad.”

His lip curled. “Sure. Whatever you want to believe.”

She turned to her room. “Good night, Joe.”

He did not answer. She had been facing the other way and the walls could have played tricks with her voice. He had no doubt about the way he would sound, with unhappiness compounding unhappiness. He waited until he heard her door close. More than she—she had turned away—he did not want to be seen.

Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

She prodded him awake. “Sit up. Come on. There’s a telegram for you.”

The room was bright. Raising himself to one elbow, he took the envelope and tore it open. His fingers were numb. EASTERN FLIGHT 341 DUE PORT SMITH 10:30. MEET ME ARRIVAL GATE. MIKE. Leland gave the telegram to Norma.

“This is a change, isn’t it?”

“Yes. He was going to send a letter.”

“What do you want for breakfast?”

“I don’t care. Wait.” He sat up, pulling the covers with him. He looked at her; he did not know what he wanted to say. She knew it. She went to the door and turned around.

“Get dressed and come downstairs.”

“Listen, kid—”

“Not now. Understand? Not now.”

He nodded and reached for his cigarettes. She saw him, then closed the door.

While he was shaving he examined the puffiness of his face. His body was going to feel heavy for most of the day. It had taken him hours to fall asleep. And the sleep had been shallow and restless. He had not heard her, though. Her room had been quiet all night.

Downstairs he stayed quiet and she did not break in on him until he had his coffee.

“When will I hear from you?”

“I have to see my partner first. Then there may be the problem of finding a place to talk. I’ll call you when I can.”

She looked at the kitchen clock. “You have plenty of time before the plane arrives. If you want to lie down for a while, I’ll wake you.”

“I’ve been up too long for that. I’m too awake.”

“I don’t want you to think about last night,” she said. “I don’t want you to be upset.”

He said nothing.

“If you have time when you get to the airport, I wish you would call me.”

“All right.”

She got up to get the coffeepot. “What do you think you’ll be doing about tonight?”

“I don’t know.”

“His parties start about eight-thirty, but he invites so many that sometimes people are still coming in at ten and eleven. There will be a crush, I promise you.”