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"They couilty when he's not, especially if the operator isn't very good at what he's doing But if they say you're innocent, it's a pretty good bet you are I think they ought to be admissible in court"

I had always felt that way hfell into place It took its tiation of Beverly Ethridge, pointing up his remarks with observations on what he would like to do with her I didn't pay him much attention

I said, "The car wasn't him I should have realized that"

"How's that?"

"The car," I said "I told you a car took a shot at ren for the first time, and the place was the same as where he came at me with the knife, so I had to think it was the saured it was Lundgren because he'd been doggingme up But it couldn't have been that way It wouldn't be his style He liked that knife too much"

"Then as it?"

"Spinner said somebody ran up onto a curb after him The same bit"

"Who?"

"Plus the voice on the phone Then there were no calls any more"

"I don't follow you, Matt"

I looked at hi to make the pieces fit That's all Somebody killed Spinner"

"The question is who"

I nodded "That's the question," I said

"One of the other people he gave you the dope on?"

"They all check out," I said "Maybe he had more people after him than he ever told ave me the envelope The hell, maybe somebody rolled him for his cash, hit him too hard, panicked, and threw the body in the river"

"It happens"

"Sure it happens"

"You think we'll ever find out who did him?"

I shook my head "Do you?"

"No," Guzik said "No, I don't think we ever will"

Chapter 19

I had never been in the building before There were two doormen on duty, and the elevator was manned The doormen made sure that I was expected, and the elevator operator whisked hteen floors and indicated which door was the one I was looking for He didn't budge until I had rung the bell and been admitted

The apart There was a stairway leading to a second floor An olive-skinned e den with oak-paneled walls and a fireplace About half the books on the shelves were bound in leather It was a very comfortable room in a very spacious apartment The apartment had cost almost two hundred thousand dollars, and thelike fifteen hundred

When you've got enoughyou want

"He will be with you in a moment," the maid said "He said for you to help yourself to a drink"

She pointed to a serving bar alongside the fireplace There was ice in a silver bucket, and a couple of dozen bottles I sat in a red leather chair and waited for hi He entered the roo white flannel slacks and a plaid blazer He had a pair of leather house slippers on his feet

"Well, now," he said He slad he was to seeto drink, I hope"

"Not just now"

"It's a little early for ent on the phone, Mr Scudder I gather you've had second thoughts about working for et in here"

He frowned "I'm not sure I understand"

"I'm really not sure whether you do or not, Mr Huysendahl I think you'd better close the door"

"I don't care for your tone"

"You're not going to care for any of this," I said "You'll like it less with the door open I think you should close it"

He was about to say so, perhaps another observation about my tone of voice and how little he cared for it, but instead he closed the door

"Sit down, Mr Huysendahl"

He was used to giving orders, not taking the to make an issue out of it But he sat down, and his face wasn't quite enough of athat he knehat it was all about I'd known anyway, because there was just no other way the pieces could fit together, but his face confir to tellto tell you But I think you already know Don't you?"

"Certainly not"

I looked over his shoulder at an oil painting of somebody's ancestor Maybe one of his I didn't notice any fah

I said, "You killed Spinner Jablon"

"You're out of your mind"

"No"

"You already found out who killed Jablon You told "

"I don't knohat you're driving at, Scudder-"