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n。
I wanted Tyndale to take a look at the photos and tell me what he thought of them…whether or not they were authentic…but he just shooed me out with another reminder to 〃stick close；〃 as he put it。 It had started to rain and I couldn't get a cab and by the time I'd walked the seven blocks back to Zenith House I was soaked。 I had also eaten half a roll of Tums。
Roger was in my office。 I asked him if the distributors were gone； and he flapped a hand in their direction。 〃Sent one back to Queens and one back to Brooklyn；〃 he said。 〃Inspired。 They'll sell another fifty copies of Ants from Hell between them。 Schmucks。〃 He lit a cigarette。 〃What did the cops say？〃
I told him what Tyndale had told me。
〃Ominous；〃 he said。 〃Very fooking ominous。〃
〃They looked real to you； didn't they？〃
He considered； then nodded。 〃Real as rain。〃
〃Good。〃
〃What do you mean； good？ There's nothing good about any of this。〃
〃I only meant…〃
〃Yeah； I know what you meant。〃 He got up； shook the legs of his pants the way he always does； and told me to call if I heard from anybody。 〃And don't say anything to anyone else。〃
〃Herb's looked in here a couple of times；〃 I said。 〃I think he thinks you're going to fire me。〃
〃The idea has some merit。 If he asks you right out…〃
〃Lie。〃
〃Right。〃
〃Always a pleasure to lie to Herb Porter。〃
He stopped again at the door； started to say something； and then Riddley； the mailroom kid； came by pushing a basket of rejected manuscripts。
〃You been in there most de mawnin； Mist' Adler；〃 he said。 〃Is you gwine t'fire Mist' Kenton？〃
〃Get out of here； Riddley；〃 Roger said； 〃and if you don't stop insulting your entire race with that disgusting Rastus accent I'll fire you。〃
〃Yassuh； Mist' Adler！〃 Riddley said； and got his mail basket rolling again。 〃I'se goan！ I'se goan！〃
Roger looked at me and rolled his eyes despairingly。 〃As soon as you hear；〃 he repeated； and went out。
I heard from Chief Iverson early that afternoon。 Their man had ascertained that Detweiller was at the House of Flowers； business as usual。 He said that the House of Flowers is a neat long frame building on a street that's 〃going downhill〃 （Iverson's phrase）。 His man went in； got two red roses； and walked out again。 Mrs。 Tina Barfield； the proprietor of record according to the papers on file at City Hall； waited on him。 The fellow who actually got the flowers； cut them； and wrapped them； was wearing a name tag with the word CARLOS on it。 Iverson's man described him as about twenty…five； dark； not bad looking； but portly。 The man said he seemed very intense； didn't smile much。
There's an exceptionally long greenhouse behind the shop。 Iverson's man mented on it and Mrs。 Barfield told him it was as deep as the block； she said they called it 〃the little jungle。〃
I asked Iverson if he'd gotten the wirephotos yet。 He said he hadn't； but wanted to confirm for me that Detweiller was there。 Just knowing he was brought me some relief…I don't mind telling you that； Ruth。
So here's Act III； Scene I； and the plot sickens； as us guys in the prose…biz like to say。 I got a call from Sergeant Tyndale； at the 31st Precinct。 He told me that Central Falls had gotten the pictures； that Iverson had taken one look； and had ordered Carlos Detweiller brought in for questioning。 Tyndale wanted me down at the 31st right away to make a statement。 I was to bring the Demon Infestations manuscript with me； and all my Detweiller correspondence。 I told him I would be happy to e down to the 31st as soon as I talked to Iverson again； in fact； I'd be willing to catch The Pilgrim at Penn Station and train right up there to…
〃Please don't call anyone；〃 Tyndale said； 〃and don't go anywhere…anywhere； Mr。 Kenton…until you've beat your feet down here and make a statement。〃
I'd spent the day feeling upset and on edge。 My nervous condition was getting worse rather than better； and I suppose I snapped at the guy。 〃You sound as though I'm the one under suspicion。〃
〃No；〃 he said。 〃No； Mr。 Kenton。〃 A pause。 〃Not as of now。〃 Another pause。 〃But he did send you the pictures； didn't he？〃
For a moment I was so flabbergasted I could only flap my mouth like a fish。 Then I said； 〃But I explained that。〃
〃Yes； you did。 Now e down here and explain it for the record； please。〃 Tyndale hung up； leaving me feeling both angry and sort of existential…but I'd be lying； Ruth； if I didn't tell you that mostly what I felt was scared…I'd gotten in far over my head； and it hadn't taken long at all。
I popped into Roger's office； told him what was going on as quickly and sanely as I could； and then headed for the elevator。 Riddley came out of the mailroom wheeling his Dandux cart…empty； this time。
〃Is you in trouble wid de law； Mist Kenton？〃 he whispered hoarsely as I went past him…I tell you； Ruth； it did nothing at all to improve my peace of mind。
〃No！〃 I said； so loudly that two people going up the hall looked around at me。
〃Cause if you is； my cousin Eddie is sho one fine lawyer。 Yassuh！〃
〃Riddley；〃 I said； 〃where did you go to college？〃
〃Co'nell； Mist Kenton； and it sho was fine！〃 Riddley grinned； showing teeth as white as piano keys （and just as numerous； one is tempted to believe）。
〃If you went to Cornell；〃 I said； 〃why in God's name do you talk that way？〃
〃What way is dat； Mist Kenton？〃
〃Never mind；〃 I said； glancing at my watch。 〃It's always fine to have one of these philosophical discussions with you； Riddley； but I've got an appointment and I ought to run。〃
〃Yassuh！〃 He said； flashing that obscene grin again。 〃And if you want my cousin Eddie's phone numbah…〃
But by then I had escaped into the hall。 It's always a relief to get free of Riddley。 I suppose it's terrible to say this； but I wish Roger would fire him…I look at that big piano…key grin and； God help me； I wonder if Riddley hasn't made a pact to drink white man's blood when the fire es next time。 Along with his cousin； Eddie； of course。
Well； forget all that…I've been tickling the typewriter keys for over an hour and a half； and this is starting to look like a novelette。 I had better scamp through the rest。 So。 。 。 Act III； Scene II。
I arrived at the police station late and soaking wet all over again…no cabs and the rain had bee a good steady downpour。 Only a January rain in New York City can be that cold （California looks better to me every day； Ruth！）。
Tyndale took a look at me； offered a thin smile with no noticeable humor in it； and said： 〃Central Falls just released your author。 No cabs out there； huh？ Never are when it rains。〃
〃They let Detweiller go？〃 I asked incredulously。 〃And he's not our author。 I wouldn't touch him with a ten…foot…plague…pole。〃 〃Well； whatever he is； the whole thing's nothing but a tempest in a teapot；〃 he said； handing me what may have been the vilest cup of coffee I have ever drunk in my life。
He took me into a vacant office； which was something of a mercy…that sense that the others in the squadroom were sneaking peeks at the prematurely balding editor in the drippy tweeds was probably paranoid； but it was pretty strong just the