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"Me, too I prefer ’Kinsey,’ if you would What can I do to help?"

He glanced apologetically at his wife "We were just discussing that I’ here She can hold down the fort while we get out and bump doors I told the director of this two-bit establish’s happened to Agnes…"

Irene shot him a look "We can talk about this later," she said to hi home has been wonderful They feel Mother was probably confused You knoillful she is, but I’h I had my doubts

Clyde’s expression indicated he had about asout if you’d care to joinConcorde as far as Molina and then head north"

Irene spoke up "I want to come, Clyde I won’t stay hereby myself"

An expression of exasperation flickered briefly in his face, but he nodded agreement Whatever opposition he may have previously voiced, he now set aside, perhaps in deference to me He reminded me of a parent reluctant to discipline a kid in front of co the street for so wrong, dear? You seeword"

"We can wait if you like"

Clyde gestured i on," he said "I’ll take this side and you can take that We’ll ave Irene’s cheek a perfunctory kiss before he headed off She stared after hi, but she let thehome where we’ll be?"

"Never ure it out"

13

We started with the house diagonally across frohborhood, it was substantially constructed, probably built in the early years of the century The facade ide, the two-story exterior shingled in cedar tinted with a pale green wash A proe bay s reflecting blankly the sprawling branches of an overhanging oak I thought I saw movement in an upstairs e ca toto slow me down, but I didn’t have the heart toher anxiety would ease if she could help in the search

I pressed the bell, which jangled harshly Moments later, the front door opened a crack and a face appeared, an older wolar chain was still judiciously in evidence Had I been a thug, I could have kicked the door open with a well-placed boot

"Yes?"

I said, "Sorry to bother you, but we’re talking to everybody in the neighborhood An elderly wo hoht have seen her About seven this et up until eight o’clock these days Doctor’s orders I used to get up at five, but he says that’s ridiculous I’ on at that hour that I need to know about"

"What about your neighbors? Have you heard anybody mention…"

She waved an impatient hand, knuckles speckled and thick "I don’t talk to thee in the last fifteen years I pay the paperboy to corow clear up through the telephone wires They have a dog comes over in my yard, too Does his business everywhere I can’t step a foot out without getting dog doodie on , ’Pee-you, Ethel There’s dog doodie on your shoe again’ "

I took out one ofhome on the back "Could I leave you ive me a call We’d appreciate your help"

The woman took it reluctantly It was clear she didn’t have eriatric runaways "What’s this wones Grey"

"What’s she look like? I can’t very well identify sones briefly With Irene standing there, I couldn’t very well suggest that Agnes looked like an ostrich