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The blond said something to one of the men and the drill started up。 He walked over to where Croaker was standing and took off a pair of thick plastic safety goggles； pushed the filter mask down off his nose and mouth。 The skin of his face and hands was covered in a fine powdering of whitish dust。
〃I don't have a lot of time； I'm afraid。 I have a deadline to make here and we're already a day behind schedule。〃
〃I understand。 This won't take long。 I need to speak with you about your ex…wife。〃
Arkham eyed him for a moment； sizing him up。 He was huge； perhaps six feet five inches； with brawny shoulders and narrow waist and hips。 He had the winning good looks of a college quarterback in whiteface with all the paraphernalia of his trade hanging off him。 Croaker supposed he could see the appeal this man might have had for a woman of Vesper's unusual beauty。
Arkham pointed to his left。 〃Let's go out here so we can talk in peace。〃
He led Croaker through the ruins； out a side doorway into a gray alley with a rivulet of water。 Far away at one end Croaker could see part of Arkham's team assiduously positioning charges from a set of plans。
〃What do you want to know about Vesper？〃
〃Everything。〃
Arkham grunted。 〃Then you've e to the wrong place。 I loved her but I hardly understood her。〃
〃Too brainy？〃
〃Shit； maybe。 Your guess is as good as mine。〃 Arkham took out a cigarette； lit up。 He blew out some smoke； looked disgustedly at the end of the cigarette； and ground it out beneath the thick rubber sole of his construction boot。 〃I know I can give it up； I've done it so many times。〃 He wiped his forehead with his sleeve。 〃All I can tell you about Vesper could fit on the head of a pin。 I think she loved me in her own way； though God knows what that was。 See； I was just a part of her life。 She'd disappear for days； sometimes weeks； and when I'd ask her where she'd been； d'you know what she'd say？ 'Jay； I have a life independent of you。 That's the way I am。 Accept it or leave me。' 〃
He looked down at his feet。 〃In the end I did。 She gave me no choice； although I'm sure if you'd ask her； she'd tell you differently。〃 He sighed。 〃Yes； she loved me； but in the end what did that mean？ I'm sure I can't tell you because she's still a plete mystery to me。〃
〃Maybe you liked that about her。〃
〃Yeah； sure； what man wouldn't？ Up to a point。 But the mystery was far more than a game to her； I'm positive of that。 When she got serious； she was deadly serious。 So much so that she frightened me。 I've never been scared of another human being。〃 He cracked a wry smile。 〃A benefit； I guess； of being so damn big。 But there were times I admit Vesper spooked the shit out of me。〃
〃In what way？〃
〃She was so smart。〃 He shook his head。 〃Actually； the word smart doesn't even e close to defining what she is。 There were times when I was convinced she knew me so well she was right inside my head。 And then； there were other times when it seemed as if〃 … he shrugged； in its resignation a peculiarly anguished gesture … 〃she wasn't aware I existed。〃 He glanced at his watch。 〃I gotta get back to work。〃
Croaker let him get a few steps away before he said。 〃There's more； isn't there？〃
The big man turned toward him。 〃There's no more。〃
〃Mr。 Arkham； it's likely that Vesper is in serious trouble。〃
〃How serious？〃
〃Quite frankly； it could be terminal。〃 Croaker felt a twinge of remorse trapping Arkham this way。 But he had no choice； most often he didn't。 People were not in the habit of spilling their guts to investigators； so you needed to find their vulnerable spot and press as hard as you could。 Without knowing it； Arkham had revealed his soft spot： it was Vesper。 Despite whatever had happened between them； he was still very much in love with her。
Arkham came back to where Croaker stood； 〃Look； what if there is more？ How will it help her now？〃
〃I need to understand her； Mr。 Arkham。 She's still innocent until proven guilty。 The better I know her； the better my chances of saving her in the end。 You'd want her to have that chance； wouldn't you？〃
The mist filtered down on them； the filthy water ran in the alley； and far away now； the drill continued to bore through the concrete subfloor。 Croaker was aware of all these things； but they had been shifted into the background； as if they were no more than hiss on a bad cassette tape one needed to ignore in order to enjoy the music that had been recorded。
Arkham put his big hands in his pockets； nodded at Croaker's biomechanical hand。 〃That's some piece of work。 It do well for you？〃
Croaker looked around； pulled up an old rusty crowbar from the rubble close to the building。 He wedged it between two exposed girders and； gripping one end with his biomechanical hand； exerted pressure。 The bar bent； then wrapped itself around the girders in a U shape。
〃Nifty。 But I'll bet you'd still rather have the real one。〃
It was clear from the way Arkham spoke that he felt he had lost something fully as valuable as a hand。 Maybe that is to the good； Croaker thought。 It'll make it easier if he thinks we have something in mon。
Arkham took a look around； as if he were worried they would be overheard。 〃Shit；〃 he said softly。 Then he raised his head； looked Croaker in the eyes； and began。 〃One time when she disappeared； I was so frantic I tried to find her。 I went to her parents' house。〃
〃The Harcasters。〃
Arkham nodded。 Beads of moisture were building on his hard hat； slipping like tears off the metal surface。 〃I didn't know what to expect because； well； Vesper hardly spoke of them。 There had never been any talk of being with them on； you know； Easter or Christmas or Thanksgiving。 We always spent holidays with my family； and she seemed happy to be there。
〃Still； I was unprepared for the reception I got from her parents。 It was openly hostile。 I told them I was Vesper's husband； and for a moment I thought her father was going to get his shotgun off the wall。 Then his wife put a hand on his arm。 His face was white。 She asked me what I wanted and I told her that I was looking for Vesper。 Do you know what her father said； Mr。 Croaker？ He said； 'Why have you e here？' Can you imagine a parent saying that about his child？〃
Arkham had a stunned look on his face； as if he were living the terrible incident all over again。 〃 'Our child doesn't live here anymore；' Vesper's mother said。 'It's been many； many years。' Neither of them would use her name。 They had kicked her out； disowned her。 They wanted no part of her。 I could see her mother's heart was still breaking； but her father's was stone cold。〃
〃What happened？〃
〃For one thing； she was adopted。。。 and she was gay； or at least bisexual。〃 The sentence had been squeezed out of him； and Croaker was aware of how much the admission had taken out of him。 〃When the Harcasters found out； they freaked out。〃
〃When did that happen？〃
〃According to Mrs。 Harcaster； when Vesper was a senior in high school。〃
A warning bell went off in Croaker's head。 〃I'm curious about something。 Vesper is exceedingly well educated … Yale； Columbia； postdoctoral work。 All of that schooling takes a whole lot of money。 Obviously； she didn't get it from mommy an