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…even then he couldn't have gone more than halfway to the gate in such a short time。
So where was he？
Where was he？
From the offices of Maugham & Crichton on Front Street； Carol and Jane drove a few blocks to the Second Street address that was supposed to be the home of Linda Bektermann。 It was in a good neighborhood； a lovely French country house； at least fifty years old； in fine condition。 No one was at home； but the name on the mailbox was Nicholson； not Bektermann。
They rang the bell at the house next door and talked to a neighbor； Jean Gunther； who confirmed that the French country place was owned and occupied by the Nicholson family。
〃My husband and I have lived here for six years；〃
Mrs。 Gunther said； 〃and the Nicholsons were next door when we moved in。 I think I once heard them say they'd lived in that house since 1965。〃
The name Bektermann meant nothing to Jean Gunther。
In the car again； on the way home； Jane said； 〃I'm really a lot of trouble for you。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 Carol said。 〃I kind of enjoy playing detective。 Besides； if I can help you break through your memory block； if I can uncover the truth behind all the sleight…of…hand tricks that your subconscious is playing； then I'll be able to write about this case for any psychology journal I choose。 It'll definitely make my name in the profession。 I might even wind up with a book out of it。 So you see； because of you； kiddo； I could bee rich and famous some day。〃
〃When you're rich and famous； will you still talk to me？〃 the girl teased。
〃Certainly。 Of course； you'll have to make an appointment a week in advance。〃
They grinned at each other。
***
Using the kitchen phone； Grace called the offices of
the Morning News。
The switchboard operator at the newspaper didn't have an extension number listed for Palmer Wainwright。 She said； 〃So far as I know； he don't even work here。 And I'm sure he's no reporter。 Maybe one of the new copy editors or somebody like that。〃
〃Could you connect me with the managing editor's office？〃 Grace asked。
〃That would be Mr。 Quincy；〃 the operator said。 She buzzed the proper extension。
Quincy wasn't in his office； and his secretary didn't know whether or not the paper employed a man named Palmer Wainwright。 〃I'm new here；〃 she said apologetically。 〃I've only been Mr。 Quincy's secretary since Monday； so I don't know everybody yet。 If you'll leave your name and number； I'll have Mr。 Quincy return your call。〃
Grace gave her the number and said； 〃Tell him Dr。 Grace Mitowski wishes to speak with him and that I'll only need a few minutes of his time。〃 She seldom used the honorific in front of her name； but it came in handy in cases like this； for a doctor's phone calls were always returned。
〃Is this an emergency； Dr。 Mitowski？ I don't think that Mr。 Quincy's going to be back until tomorrow morning。〃
〃That'll be good enough；〃 she said。 〃Have him call me first thing； no matter how early he gets in。〃
After she hung up； she went to the kitchen and stared out at the rose garden。
How could Wamwright vanish like that？
For the third evening in a row； Paul and Carol and Jane prepared dinner together。 The girl was fitting in better day by day。
If she stays with us just another week； Paul thought； it'll seem like she's always been here。
The salad consisted of hearts of palm and iceberg lettuce。 That was followed by eggplant Parmigiana with spaghetti on the side。
As they were starting dessert…small dishes of
richly flavored spumoni…Paul said； 〃Any chance we
could postpone the trip to the mountains for two days？〃
〃Why？〃 Carol asked
〃I'm a bit behind in my writing schedule； and I'm at a very critical point in the book；〃 he said。 〃I've written two…thirds of the toughest scene in the story； and I hate to leave it unfinished just to go on vacation。
I won't enjoy myself。 If we left Sunday instead of tomorrow； that would give me time to polish off the end of the chapter。 And we'd still have eight days at the cabin。〃
〃Don't look at me；〃 Jane said。 〃I'm just excess baggage。 I'll go wherever you take me； whenever you take me。〃
Carol shook her head。 〃Just last week； when Mr。 O'Brian said we were pulsive overachievers； we made up our minds to change our ways； didn't we？ We've got to learn to make time for leisure and not let our work encroach on that。〃
〃You're right；〃 Paul said。 〃But just this once…〃
He broke off in midsentence because he saw that Carol was determined。 She was rarely intractable； but when she did decide not to promise on。 an issue； she was about as movable as Gibraltar。 He sighed。 〃Okay。 You win。 We'll leave tomorrow morning。 I'll just bring along the typewriter and the manuscript。 I can finish the scene up at the cabin and…〃
〃Nothing doing；〃 Carol said； emphasizing each word by tapping her spoon against her ice cream dish。
〃If you bring it along； you won't stop when you've reached the end of the scene you're working on。 You'll keep going。 You know you will。 Having the typewriter within easy reach will just be too much of a temptation。 You won't be able to resist it。 The whole vacation will go down the drain。〃
〃But I just can't put that scene on hold for ten days；〃 he said pleadingly。 〃By the time I get back to it； the tone and the spontaneity will be lost。〃
Carol ate a spoonful of spumoni and said； 〃All right。 Here's what we'll do。 Jane and I will leave for the mountains first thing in the morning； just as we planned。 You stay here； finish your scene； and then drive up to join us whenever you're ready。〃
He frowned。 〃I'm not sure that's a good idea。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Well； is it really wise for the two of you to go up there alone？ I mean； the summer season is over。 Theme aren't going to be many campers in the woods now； and most of the other cabins will be deserted。〃
〃For heaven's sake；〃 Carol said； 〃there's no
Abominable Snowman lurking around in those mountains； Paul。 We're in Pennsylvania； not Tibet。〃 She smiled。 〃It's nice to know you're so concerned about us； darling。 But we'll be perfectly safe。〃
***
Later； after Jane had gone to bed； Paul made one last attempt to change Carol's mind； although he knew the effort would be wasted。
He leaned against the frame of the closet door and watched as Carol selected clothes for the suitcases。
〃Listen； be straight with me； okay？〃
〃Aren't I always？ Straight about what？〃
〃The girl。 Is there any chance she's dangerous？〃
Carol turned from the clothes rack and stared at him； obviously surprised by his question。 〃Jane？ Dangerous？ Well； a girl as pretty as she is will probably
break a lot of hearts over the years。 And if cuteness could kill； she'd leave the streets littered with bodies behind her。〃
He refused to be amused。 〃I don't want you to be flippant about this。 I think it's important。 I want you to give it careful thought。〃
〃I don't need to give it a lot of thought； Paul。 She's lost her memory； sure。 But she's a stable； mentally healthy kid。 In fact； it takes an amazingly stable personality to handle amnesia the way she's handled it。 I don't know that I'd do half as well if I were in her shoes right now。 I'd either be a nervous wreck or s