It’s one for the puzzle fans, he thought. You’ve been clobbered by the Squad, you were damn close to getting torn to pieces by the Squad, and yet according to what you see here, you’re still a member of the Squad.

But don’t try to account for it. Don’t try to account for anything that happens up there in Room 529. What happens in that room is something for the head doctors to figure out. And they couldn’t do it in three weeks or even three months. You can believe that.

But look now, just look at this here card and this here badge. Whaddya make of this? Sure, you can tell yourself that McDermott took it for granted you were booted off the Squad; and he just forgot to mention it to make it official. You can say he just forgot to tell you to hand over the card and the badge. He was occupied with other matters, like dancing around with Donofrio. That would be a simple explanation. Except that ain’t the explanation at all. You know it ain’t.

You know there’s gotta be another explanation why you still got the card and badge. It’s out there in the fog somewhere, maybe a little too far out for this explorer. But Jesus Christ, what are you trying to explore? You think there’s any way to explore McDermott? To do that you gotta go all the way down to hell, because that’s where he lives. He lives there with Mrs. McDermott who won’t let him come near her. Not because she don’t care for him. It’s a cinch she cares for him plenty; you can bet she worships the ground he walks on. You can also bet that she don’t hardly know what year it is. Or let’s say it don’t matter to her what year it is, considering the fact that she went away from everything some thirty-three years ago on that night when they jumped her. Them nine. Them nine from the Third Street Dragons.

Does that tell you anything? Does that give you any hint at all or bring in any connection? The only connection is Walter Grogan who these days is a respected member of the Southeast Boat Club. Some thirty-three years ago this same Walter Grogan was a member of the Third Street Dragons. This Walter Grogan was the leader.

You know what that tells you? It tells you absolutely nothing. The fog just gets thicker, that’s all. And the fog-maker is Detective-Sergeant Henry McDermott, the man with the mild eyes and the soft voice. The man who I swear it’s like he’s with you right now and he’s forcing you to look at the badge.

Why? Why me? Of all people, why me?