With the model numbers Arthur had supplied, Ragen searched the warehouse for nearly an hour before he found what he wanted—a pair of leg braces for a four-year-old child, and a small collapsible wheelchair. He unlocked a window, lowered the braces and wheelchair to the ground, and climbed out. Then he put everything into the car and drove back to Columbus.

It was morning when he pulled up to Nancy’s house and knocked on the door. “I have something for little Nancy,” he said to the old lady, who peered at him through the window. He brought the wheelchair up from the car, opened it and showed them how it worked. Then he showed Nancy how to put on the leg braces.

“It vill take long time to learn use them,” he said, “but it is important to valk.”

The old lady began to cry. “I won’t never get the money to pay you for them things.”

“Is not necessary to pay. Is contribution from rich medical-supply company to needy child.”

“Can I make you some breakfast?”

“Vould like coffee.”

“What’s your name?” Nancy asked as her grandmother left for the kitchen.

“Call me Uncle Ragen,” he said.

She hugged him. The old lady brought out coffee and the best pie he had ever tasted. Ragen ate the whole thing.

In the evening, Ragen sat up in bed and listened to unfamiliar voices—one with a Brooklyn accent, the other just plain foulmouthed. Ragen heard something about splitting the money from a bank robbery. He slipped out of bed, got his gun and opened every door, every closet in the place. He put his ear to the walls, but the arguing was coming from right here in the apartment. He spun around and said, “Don’t move! I kill you both.”

The voices stopped.

Then Ragen heard a voice in his head saying, “Just who d’fuck are you to tell me to shaddup?”

“If you do not show yourself, I vill shoot. ”

“Shoot what?”

“Vere you are?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told ya. ”

“Vat you mean?”

“I can’t see where I’m at. I ain’t go no idea where I’m at.” “Vy for you are talking?”

“I was arguin’ with Kevin.”

“Who is Kevin?”

“He’s the one I was yellin’ at.”

Ragen thought a moment. “Give me description of things around you. Vat you see?”

“I see a yella lamp. A red chair near the door. A TV sets on.” “Vat kind is TV? Vat is show?”

“White cabinet. Big color RCA set. All in the Family’s on.” Ragen saw his TV set and he knew the strangers were here in the room—invisible. He searched the apartment again. “I look everyvere. Vere you are?”

“I’m right with ya,” Philip said.

“Vat you mean?”

“I been here all the time, always have been.”

Ragen shook his head. “All right. No more talk.” He sat down in the rocking chair and rocked all night, trying to figure it out, amazed that there were others he hadn’t known.