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Thunder rumbled outside, but it was low and distant, not like the explosions hich the stor, coppery scent of bloodon the counter but still holding Laura at his side, Bob said, "Why can’t I just tell theuy, and didn’t want publicity, so you left?"

Ier raised his voice "An armed ress and decides to be a hero? The cops won’t believe a cockeyed story like that"

"That’s what happened-"

"But they won’t buy it! Listen, they’ll start thinking un, at least not according to public record, they’ll wonder if al weapon and if you disposed of it after you shot this guy, then cooked up a crazy story about so your ass"

"I’ood reputation"

In the stranger’s eyes a peculiar sadness arose, a haunted look "Bob, you’re a nice manbut you’re a little naive soer held up a hand to silence him ’ ’In a crunch a ht to Most people are good-hearted and willing to give a er to see others brought down, ruined" His voice had fallen to a whisper, and although he continued to look at Bob, he see other places, other people "Envy, Bob Envy eats them alive If you had money, they’d envy you that But since you don’t, they envy you for having such a good, bright, loving daughter They envy you for just being a happy reatest sorrows of human existence is that some people aren’t happy merely to be alive but find their happiness only in the e of naiveté was one that Bob could not refute, and he knew the stranger spoke the truth He shivered

After a ave way to a look of urgency again "And when the cops decide you’re lying about the Lone Ranger who saved you, then they’ll begin to wonder if maybe the junkie wasn’t here to rob you at all, if , even planned his murder and tried to make it look like a robbery That’s how cops think, Bob Even if they can’t pin this on you, they’ll try so hard that they’ll h that?’’

"No"

"Then do it my way"

Bob nodded "I will Your way But who the hell are you?"

"That doesn’t matter We don’t have time for it anyway" He stepped behind the counter and stooped in front of Laura, face to face with her "Did you understand what I told your father? If the police ask you what happened-"

"You ith that eneral direction of the corpse

"That’s right"

"You were his friend," she said, "but then you started arguing about h I’-’’

"It doesn’t er said

Laura nodded "And the next thing you shot him and ran out with all our money and drove away, and I was very scared"

The ht years old, huh?"

"She’s a sirl"

"But it’d still be best if the cops didn’t question her much"

"I won’t let them"

"If they do," Laura said, "I’ll just cry and cry till they stop"

The stranger sly that he made Bob uneasy His manner was not that of the pervert who had wanted to take her into the storeroom; his expression was tender, affectionate He touched her cheek Astonishingly, tears shimmered in his eyes He blinked, stood "Bob, put that money away Remember, I left with it"

Bob realized the wad of cash was still in his hand He jammed it into his pants pocket, and his loose apron concealed the bulge

The stranger unlocked the door and put up the shade "Take care of her, Bob She’s special" Then he dashed into the rain, letting the door stand open behind hiot into the Buick The tires squealed as he pulled out of the parking lot

The radio was on, but Bob heard it for the first ti, before the junkie had been shot Now Shelley Fabares was singing "Johnny Angel"

Suddenly he heard the rain again, not just as a dull background hiss and patter but really heard it, beating furiously on the s and on the roof of the aparth the open door, the stink of blood and urine was abruptly far worse than it had been aout of a trance of terror and regaining his full senses, he realized how close his precious Laura had co He scooped her into" his ar her naainst her neck and smelled the sweet freshness of her skin, felt the pulse of the artery in her throat, and thanked God that she was alive

"I love you, Laura"

"I love you, too, Daddy I love you because of Sir Toot to call the police now"

"Yes, of course," he said, reluctantly putting her down

His eyes were full of tears He was so unnerved that he could not recall where the telephone was

Laura had already taken the handset off the hook She held it out to hiht here on the phone Do you wantback tears, he took the phone froister

She put one hand on his arm, as if she knew he needed her touch

Janet had been eth and self-possession were unusual for her age, and Bob Shane was not sure where they ca motherlessthe phone with one finger "The police, re on the odor of death that perency number

Kokoschka sat in a car across the street fro the scar on his cheek

The rain had stopped The police had gone Neon shop signs and lalistened darkly in spite of that illuht instead of reflecting it