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"Can't see e'd need it for," he said, "but you could have fun with so aside "Have fun with most of this shit It's toys is all it is"

"And what's the coer toy than the others?"

He shook his head "It's a tool, Buell But why do I be wastin' h to you?"

"Why indeed?"

I thought we et to see a knockout in the next round, but it was clear halfway through that it wasn't going to happen The kid had shaken off the effects of the knockdown, and o where he wanted the, and Elaine picked it up in the other roouy shook off a punch and waded in

Elaine came in, a hard-to-read expression on her face "It's for you," she said "It's Adrian Whitfield Do you want to call hi "I wonder what he wants"

Adrian Whitfield was a rising star, a cri nuh-profile clients in the past couple of years, and a corresponding increase in media attention In the course of the suer Ailes had him on to discuss the notion that the jury system was outmoded and due for replacement (His position was a tentative maybe in the civil courts, a flat no in cri twice, first to talk about the latest star-spangled houe the ainst it) Most recently I'd seen hi with Rayht up in an earnest discussion of the question of the lawyer as popular celebrity Hard-Way Ray had put the issue in historical context, telling soers and Bill Fallen and Clarence Darrow

I had done so checks on witnesses and potential jurors, and I liked hih to hope to dome on business, but the nature of the business is such that you get calls at all hours I didn't mind the interruption, especially if it meant work It had been a slow summer thus far That wasn't all bad, Elaine and I had been able to get away for soet rusty The signs were there in the way I read thepapers, obsessively interested in the local criet mixed up in it

I took the phone in the kitchen and said, "Matthew Scudder," announcing myself to whoever had placed the call for him

But he'd made it hiet you at a bad ti each other," I said "Without much enthusiasood question Tell , would you? How do I sound?"

"How do you sound?"

"My voice isn't shaky, is it?"

"No"

"I didn't think it was," he said, "but it ought to be I got a phone call a little while ago"

"Oh?"

"From that idiot with the News, but perhaps I shouldn't call him that For all I know he's a friend of yours"

I knew a few people at the Daily News "Who?"

"Marty McGraw"

"Hardly a friend," I said "I met him once or twice, but neither of us had much of a chance to make an impression on the other I doubt he'd re his column twice a week for I don't kno many years"

"Isn't he in there three times a week?"

"Well, I don't usually read the News on Sundays"

"Got your hands full with the Tienerally"

"Isn't that so? You'd think they could print the damned newspaper so it doesn't come off on your hands"

" 'If they can put a man on the moon…' "

"You said it Can you believe there's a newsstand in Grand Central sells disposable white Pliofil?" He drew a breath "Matt, I'uess is you already knohat the point is"

I had a pretty good idea "I suppose he got another of those letters From Will"

"From Will, yes And the subject of that letter?"

"It would have to be one of your clients," I said, "but I wouldn't want to try to guess which one"