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ion published Thursday night。
The funeral was long in the chapel and it was long at the grave…side。
A radio evangelist went on and on in fulsome eulogy。 Graham rode the greasy swells of his hangover and tried to study the crowd。
The hired choir at graveside gave full measure for the money while the Tattler photographers' motor…driven cameras whizzed。 Two TV crews were present with fixed cameras and creepy…peepies。 Police photographers with press credentials photographed the crowd。
Graham recognized several plainclothes officers from Chicago Homicide。 Theirs were the only faces that meant anything to him。
And there was Wendy of Wendy City； Lounds's girlfriend。 She was seated beneath the canopy； nearest the coffin。 Graham hardly recognized her。 Her blonde wig was drawn back in a bun and she wore a black tailored suit。
During the last hymn she rose； went forward unsteadily； knelt and laid her head on the casket； her arms outstretched in the pall of chrysanthemums as the strobe lights flashed。
The crowd made little noise moving over the spongy grass to the cemetery gates。
Graham walked beside Wendy。 A crowd of the uninvited stared at them through the bars of the high iron fence。
〃Are you all right？〃 Graham asked。
They stopped among the tombstones。 Her eyes were dry； her gaze level。
〃Better than you；〃 she said。 〃Got drunk； didn't you？〃
〃Yep。 Is somebody keeping an eye on you？〃
〃The precinct sent some people over。 They've got plainclothes in the club。 Lot of business now。 More weirdos than usual。〃
〃I'm sorry you had this。 You did 。 。 。 I thought you were fine at the hospital。 I admired that。〃
She nodded。 〃Freddy was a sport。 He shouldn't have to go out that hard。 Thanks for getting me in the room。〃 She looked into the distance； blinking； thinking； eye shadow like stone dust on her lids。 She faced Graham。 〃Look； the Tattler's giving me some money； you figured that； right？ For an interview and the dive at the grave…side。 I don't think Freddy would mind。〃
〃He'd have been mad if you passed it up。〃
〃That's what I thought。 They're jerks； but they pay。 What it is； they tried to get me to say that I think you deliberately turned this freak on to Freddy； chumming with him in that picture。 I didn't say it。 If they print that I did say it； well that's bullshit。〃
Graham said nothing as she scanned his face。
〃You didn't like him； maybe … it doesn't matter。 But if you thought this could happen； you wouldn't have missed the shot at the Fairy； right？〃
〃Yeah； Wendy； I'd have staked him out。〃
〃Do you have anything at all？ I hear noise from these people and that's about it。〃
〃We don't have much。 A few things from the lab we're following up。 It was a clean job and he's lucky。〃
〃Are you？〃
〃What？〃
〃Lucky。〃
〃Off and on。〃
〃Freddy was never lucky。 He told me he'd clean up on this。 Big deals everywhere。〃
〃He probably would have； too。〃
〃Well look； Graham； if you ever； you know； feel like a drink； I've got one。〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃But stay sober on the street。〃
〃Oh yes。〃
Two policemen cleared a path for Wendy through the crowd of curiosity…seekers outside the gate。 One of the gawkers wore a printed T…shirt reading 〃The Tooth Fairy Is a One…Night Stand。〃 He whistled at Wendy。 The woman beside him slapped his face。
A big policeman squeezed into the 280ZX beside Wendy and she pulled into the traffic。 A second policeman followed in an unmarked car。
Chicago smelled like a spent skyrocket in the hot afternoon。 Graham was lonely； and he knew why； funerals often make us want sex … it's one in the eye for death。
The wind rattled the dry stalks of a funeral arrangement near his feet。 For a hard second he remembered palm fronds rustling in the sea wind。 He wanted very much to go home； knowing that he would not； could not； until the Dragon was dead。
CHAPTER 31
The projection room at Baeder Chemical was small … five rows of folding chairs with an aisle in the middle。
Dolarhyde arrived late。 He stood at the back with his arms folded while they screened gray cards； color cards； and cubes variously lighted； filmed on a variety of infrared emulsions。
His presence disturbed Dandridge； the young man in charge。 Dolarhyde carried an air of authority at work。 He was the recognized darkroom expert from the parent pany next door； and he was known to be a perfectionist。
Dandridge had not consulted him in months； a petty rivalry that had gone on since Gateway bought Baeder Chemical。
〃Reba； give us the development dope on sample 。 。 。 eight；〃 Dandridge said。
Reba McClane sat at the end of a row； a clipboard in her lap。 Speaking in a clear voice； her fingers moving over the clipboard in the semidarkness； she outlined the mechanics of the development…chemicals； temperature and time； and storage procedures before and after filming。
Infrared…sensitive film must be handled in total darkness。 She had done all the dark room work； keeping the many samples straight by touch code and keeping a running record in the dark。 It was easy to see her value to Baeder。
The screening ran through quitting time。
Reba McClane kept her seat as the others were filing out。 Dolarhyde approached her carefully。 He spoke to her at a distance while there were others in the room。 He didn't want her to feel watched。
〃I thought you hadn't made it；〃 she said。
〃I had a machine down。 It made me late。〃
The lights were on。 Her clean scalp glistened in the part of her hair as he stood over her。
〃Did you get to see the 1000C sample？〃
〃I did。〃
〃They said it looked all right。 It's a lot easier to handle than the 1200 series。 Think it'll do？〃
〃It will。〃
She had her purse with her； and a light raincoat。 He stood back when she came into the aisle behind her searching cane。 She didn't seem to expect any help。 He didn't offer any。
Dandridge stuck his head back into the room。
〃Reba； dear； Marcia had to fly。 Can you manage？〃
Spots of color appeared in her cheeks。 〃I can manage very well； thank you； Danny。〃
〃I'd drop you； love； but I'm late already。 Say； Mr。 Dolarhyde； if it wouldn't be too much trouble； could you…〃
〃Danny； I have a ride home。〃 She held in her anger。 The nuances of expression were denied her； so she kept her face relaxed。 She couldn't control her color； though。
Watching with his cold yellow eyes； Dolarhyde understood her anger perfectly； he knew that Dandridge's limp sympathy felt like spit on her cheek。
〃I'll take you；〃 he said； rather late。
〃No； but thank you。〃 She had thought he might offer and had intended to accept。 She wouldn't have anybody forced into it。 Damn Dandridge； damn his fumbling； she'd ride the damned bus； dammit。 She had the fare and she knew the way and she could go anywhere she fucking pleased。
She stayed in the women's room long enough for the others to leave the building。 The janitor let her out。
She followed the edge of a dividing strip across the parking lot toward the bus stop； her raincoat over her shoulders； tapping the edge with her cane and feeling for the slight resistance of the puddles when the cane swished through them。
Dolarhyde watched her from his van。 His feelings made him uneasy； they were d