“What are you saying?”

“Adalana said she did it because she was desperate to be held and caressed and loved.”

“Adalana did the—”

“Adalanas a lesbian.”

When Judy hung up, she stared at the telephone for a long time. Her husband asked her what the call was about. She opened her mouth to tell him, but then she shook her head and instead turned out the light.

Chapter Two

(1)

The first interview by Southwest was scheduled on January 31, 1978. Dorothy Turner, a slight, motherly psychologist with a shy, almost frightened expression, looked up when Sergeant Willis brought Milligan into the interview room.

She saw a handsome six-foot-tall young man in a blue jump suit. He had a full mustache and long sideburns, but his eyes held a childlike fear. He seemed surprised to see her, but by the time he sat in the chair opposite, he was smiling, hands folded in his lap.

“Mr. Milligan,” she said, “I’m Dorothy Turner, from the Southwest Community Mental Health Center, and I’m here to ask you some questions. Where are you currently living?”

He glanced around. “Here.”

“What is your social security number?”

He frowned and thought about it for a long time, gazing at the floor, the yellow cinder-block walls, the tin butt can on the table. He nibbled on his fingernail and studied the cuticle.

“Mr. Milligan,” she said, “if I’m to help you, you’ll have to cooperate. You have to answer my questions so I’ll be able to understand what’s going on. Now, what is your social security number?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

She looked down at her notes and read off a number.

He shook his head. “That’s not my number. That must be Billy’s.”

She glanced up sharply. “Well, aren’t you Billy?”

“No”, he said. “Not me.”

She frowned. “Wait a minute. If you’re not Billy, who are your?”

“I’m David”

“Well, where’s Billy?”

“Billy’s asleep.”

“Asleep where?”

He pointed to his chest. “In here. He’s asleep.”

Dorothy Turner sighed and braced herself, nodding patiently. “I have to talk to Billy.”

“Well, Arthur won’t let you. Billy’s asleep. Arthur won’t wake him up, ’cause if he does, Billy’ll kill himself.”

She studied the young man for a long time, not sure how to proceed. His voice, his expression as he spoke, were childlike. ‘Now, wait a minute. I want you to explain this to me.”

“I can’t. I made a mistake. I wasn’t even supposed to tell.” “Why not?”

“I’ll get into trouble with the others.” There was panic in the young voice.

“And your name is ‘David’?”

He nodded.

“Who are the others?”

“I can’t tell you.”

She tapped the table gently. “Well, David, you’ve got to tell me about these things so I can help you.”

“I can’t,” he said. “They’ll get real mad at me and they won’t let me on the spot anymore.”

“Well, you’ve got to tell somebody. Because you’re very scared, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” he said, tears forming in his eyes.