When he made love to her, what often started with foul language and rough talk would always turn into tender caresses and softness. But something bothered her about his love-making. Though he was strong and manly, she had the feeling he was only pretending his passion, that he never really climaxed. She wasn’t sure, but she knew she loved him and decided all it would take was time and understanding.

One evening Adalana slipped away and David found himself on the spot, frightened and sobbing.

“I’ve never seen a rnan cry,” Marlene whispered. “Whats wrong?”

David curled up like a baby, tears rolling down his cheeks. She felt touched and close to him when he was so vulnerable like this. She cuddled him in her arms.

“You have to tell me, Billy. I can’t help you if you don’t let me know what’s the matter.”

Not knowing what to tell her, David left the spot. Tommy found himself in the arms of a beautiful woman. He pulled away.

“If you’re going to act that way, I might as well go home,” she said, angry that he was trying to make a fool of her.

Tommy watched her as she walked to the bathroom.

“Holy shit!” he whispered, looking around in a panic. “Arthur’ll kill me!”

He jumped out of bed and pulled his jeans on, walking back and forth, trying to figure this out. “Who the hell is she?”

He saw her purse on the chair in the living room and went through it quickly. He read the name Marlene on her driver’s license, then shoved it back into her purse.

“Arthur?” he whispered. “If you can hear me, I didn’t have nothing to do with that. I didn’t touch her. Believe me. I’m not the one who’s breaking the rules.”

He went over to the easel and picked up a brush to work on a landscape he had started. Arthur would know he was doing what he was supposed to, perfecting his talents.

“I think you care more about your painting than you do about me.”

Tommy turned and saw that Marlene was dressed, brushing her hair. He said nothing but went on painting.

“Painting, painting, that’s all you think about is your damned painting. Talk to me, Billy.”

Remembering Arthur’s rule about being polite to women, Tommy put the brush down and sat in the chair across from her. She was beautiful. Though she was fully dressed now, he visualized her slender body, every curve, every hollow. He had never painted a nude before, but he would love to paint her. He knew le wouldn’t, though. Allen was the one who painted people.

He spoke to her for a while, fascinated by her dark eyes, her Till, pouting lips, her long throat. He knew that whoever she was, whatever had brought her here, he was crazy about her.

(4)

No one could understand why Billy Milligan started missing days at work or why he became so clumsy and stupid. Once he climbed up to fix the chain over the tanks and fell into the acid bath. They had to send him home. He walked off the job one day, and on December 21, 1973, he was fired from Lancaster Electro-Plating. He stayed home alone painting for a few days. Then one day Ragen took his guns and drove out into the woods for target practice.