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stared sightlessly at the cracked ceiling。 Her jaw was rigid； Hoke wouldn't be able to get her false teeth into her mouth without using a lot of force； so he dropped them back into the glass of water。 He put the wig on her； though； knowing that she would have wanted it that way； and would have put it on herself if she had known she was going to die in her sleep。
Hoke returned to the lobby and told Eddie to call Kaplan's； the funeral parlor the Eldorado had an arrangement with。 It would be a half…hour before Mr。 Kaplan arrived with his hearse。 While he waited for Kaplan； Hoke looked up Mrs。 Feistinger's guest card and discovered that she had listed a cousin in Denver as her next…of…kin。 He wrote down the Denver address for the funeral director。
Kaplan arrived with his two grown sons and sent them upstairs on the elevator with a folding stretcher。 Hoke handed him the slip of paper with the information。
〃Mr。 Bennett'll check out her effects； Mr。 Kaplan。 If she's got an insurance policy； or some money； he'll see that you're paid。〃
〃I understand that。 There's usually something。 We always work it out together。 Me and Mr。 Bennett go back a long way。〃
〃But in case there isn't any insurance； she's wearing a diamond ring。 Don't mention it to the cousin； and if she doesn't e up with the funeral expenses； the ring will more than cover it。〃
〃Don't worry； Mr。 Moseley。 I take care of everything。 I notify Social Security； I get the necessary six death certificates…everything。 I've had this arrangement with Mr。 Bennett for several years now。〃
After the hearse left； Eddie brought out a bottle of Israeli slivovitz and two glasses。 They drank at the desk； then Eddie poured two more shots before locking the bottle in a cabinet behind the counter。
〃We saved a full day；〃 Eddie said； 〃and this time no one saw the hearse。 Some of them around here get very upset when someone dies。 I wish everybody subscribed to the morning paper。 It was almost a week that time when Arnie Weisman passed away。 Nobody checked his room because somebody said he was visiting his son in Fort Lauderdale。 It turned out he didn't have no son in Lauderdale or anywhere else。 I still remember how his room smelled。 That's why I didn't want to go up there with you tonight； Sergeant Moseley。〃 Eddie looked down at his shot of slivovitz。 〃I wasn't really worried about the switchboard。〃
Hoke grinned。 〃I thought as much。 I also suspect that you knew she was dead because you didn't pull the plug on her air conditioner the last couple of days。 But it makes no difference to me； Eddie。 Mrs。 Feistinger had a long life。〃
〃She was eighty…four； she told me once。 But she probably took off a few years。 Either that； or she added on a few。 Sometimes the old ladies like to add on a few so you'll say they don't look that old。〃
〃You've seen your share e and go； Eddie。〃
〃I've seen a few all right。 I'll type up a little notice and put it on the bulletin board tomorrow。〃
〃Cheers； Eddie。 For Mrs。 Feistinger。〃
〃For Mrs。 Feistinger。〃
Hoke went into the manager's office and typed his report for Mr。 Bennett； adding that he had told Mr。 Kaplan to keep the old lady's ring for the funeral expenses。 There were two or three deaths a month at the retirement hotel； and Mr。 Bennett and Kaplan always took care of the paperwork。 Deaths weren't Hoke's responsibility； but he kept a carbon of his report to cover himself。
It was after 3 A。M。 before Hoke could fall asleep。 On the other hand； he had thought； when he first went to bed； that he wouldn't be able to sleep at all。
20
Hoke awoke groggily at 6 A。M。； heated water on the hot plate for instant coffee； put his teeth in； and shaved in the bathroom。 He had learned already that if he didn't get to the bathroom first in the morning； the girls spent an unconscionable length of time in there。 They also managed； somehow； to use every dry towel； and they consumed an unfathomable amount of toilet paper。
When Hoke was dressed； he filled two cups with strong instant coffee and walked down the corridor to Ellita's room。 He banged the door twice with his knee and called out to her。 Ellita； wearing her nightgown and a pink quilted robe； opened the door。 She had on her large silver circle earrings； she actually does sleep in them； he thought。
〃Sorry to wake you so early； but I wanted to talk to you。〃
〃I was awake； but I didn't want to get out of bed yet。〃 She lifted the cup in a toast。 〃This is exactly what I needed。 e on in。〃
Hoke sat in the straight chair； and Ellita sat on the edge of her unmade bed。 She had turned off the air conditioner； and the odor of her Shalimar and musk was strong in the small room； but not unpleasantly so； maybe he was getting used to it。
〃No use dragging it out；〃 Hoke said； 〃so I'll get right to the point。 We've both got a problem； but I think we can work it out together。 I've been through some of this before； and you haven't； but in the next few months some strange things will happen to you。 You'll start getting sick in the mornings； and later on； when the baby starts growing inside you； it'll take over your entire body。 You'll get these periods of extreme lassitude； and your ti…your breasts； I mean； will hurt。 You'll still be able to work okay； right up until the eighth month； but there'll be days when you'll have to force yourself to do anything。 You'll also have to see a doctor at least twice a month。 You'll have to give up spicy foods； and coffee； too。 Then； when the baby es； you'll either have to take an extended leave without pay； or else have someone take care of it when you go back to work。〃
〃I know all this； Hoke。 And I'm sure that my mother will…〃
〃Your mother'll help some； yes。 But with your father's attitude； her help will be limited at best。 So let me finish。 What I thought was this： When I get a house in Miami； it'll be easier to get a three…bedroom than a two…bedroom； so why don't you move in with me and the girls？〃
〃I still have to pay the rent for my parents' house； Hoke…〃
〃I know。 You told me that already。 But money won't be a problem； or not so big a problem as it is now。 I'll have my entire pay； now that I don't have to pay half of it for child support。 And what I'm gonna do； I'm going to go to one of these credit places where they consolidate all your debts and then you pay it off at so much a month with just one payment。 In a few months； we'll be in good shape financially。 Sue Ellen'll be working； and you can just pay a small portion of the expenses if you want…say half the Florida Power bill； or something like that。〃
〃I've got quite a bit of money saved； Hoke。〃
〃You won't have to touch your savings。 You'll need your money for the baby。 We can drive to work together； and if we need another car during the day； we'll get one from the motor pool。〃
〃It takes an hour to get a pool car； sometimes longer than that。〃
〃We're partners； and we'll be together anyway。 So we'll still be able to use one car most of the time。 The point is； I need you as much as you need me。 The girls like you； and you can help me out with them。 I know you've never lived alone before； and you shouldn't be all alone while you're pregnant。 And certainly not after the ba