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ore who did dirty things in bed with men； things she had never done with him。
He walked into her bathroom； naked； and she was in the tub； her whore's face smiling。 She turned her head and saw him and said； 〃Daniel； darling！ What are you…？〃
He carried a pair of heavy dressmaker's shears in his hand。
〃Daniel…〃 Her mouth was opened into a pink…lined O； but there was no sound until he made the first stab into the breast of the stranger in the tub。 He acpanied her screams with his own。 〃Whore！ Whore！ Whore！〃
They sang a deadly duet together； until finally there was his voice alone。 〃Whore。。。 whore。。。〃
He was spattered all over with her blood。 He stepped into her shower and scrubbed himself until his skin felt raw。
That man next door had killed his mother； and that man would have to pay。
After that； everything seemed to happen with a supernal clarity； in a curious kind of slow motion。 Daniel wiped the fingerprints off the shears with a washcloth and threw them into the bathtub。 They clanked dully against the enamel。 He dressed and telephoned the police。 Two police cars arrived； with sirens screaming； and then another car filled with detectives； and they asked Daniel questions； and he told them how he had been sent home from school early and about seeing their next…door neighbor； Fred Zimmer； leaving through the side door。 When they questioned the man； he admitted being the lover of Daniel's mother； but denied killing her。 It was Daniel's testimony in court that convicted Zimmer。
〃When you arrived home from school； you saw your neighbor； Fred Zimmer； running out the side door？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Could you see him clearly？〃
〃Yes； sir。 There was blood all over his hands。〃
〃What did you do then； Daniel？〃
〃I… I was so scared。 I knew something awful had happened to my mother。〃
〃Then did you go into the house？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃And what happened？〃
〃I called out； 'Mother！' And she didn't answer； so I went into her bathroom and…〃
At this point the young boy broke into hysterical sobs and had to be led from the stand。
Fred Zimmer was executed thirteen months later。
In the meantime young Daniel had been sent to live with a distant relative in Texas； Aunt Mattie； whom he had never met。 She was a stern woman； a hard…shelled Baptist filled with a vehement righteousness and the conviction that hell's fire awaited all sinners。 It was a house without love or joy or pity； and Daniel grew up in that atmosphere； terrified by the secret knowledge of his guilt and the damnation that awaited him。 Shortly after his mother's murder Daniel began to have trouble with his vision。 The doctors called the problem psychosomatic。
〃He's blocking out something he doesn't want to see；〃 the doctors said。
The lenses on his glasses grew thicker。
At seventeen Daniel ran away from Aunt Mattie and Texas forever。 He hitchhiked to New York； where he was hired a messenger boy by the International Insurance Protection Association。 Within three years he was promoted to an investigator。 He became the best they had。 He never demanded raise in salary or better working conditions。 He was oblivious to those things。 He was the Lord's right arm； his scourge； punishing the wicked。
**********
Daniel Cooper rose from his bath and prepared for bed。 Tomorrow； he thought。 Tomorrow will be the whore's day of retribution。
He wished his mother could be there to see it。
BOOK THREE
Chapter 34
Amsterdam
FRIDAY； AUGUST 22… 8：OO A。M。
Daniel Cooper and the two detectives assigned to the listening post heard Tracy and Jeff at breakfast。
〃Sweet roll； Jeff？ Coffee？〃
〃No； thanks。〃
Daniel Cooper thought； It's the last breakfast they'll ever have together。
〃Do you know what I'm excited about？ Our barge trip。〃
〃This is the big day； and you're excited about a trip on a barge？ Why？〃
〃Because it will be just the two of us。 Do you think I'm crazy？〃
〃Absolutely。 But you're my crazy。〃
〃Kiss。〃
The sound of a kiss。
She should be more nervous； Cooper thought。 I want her to be nervous。
〃In a way； I'll be sorry to leave here； Jeff。〃
〃Look at it this way； darling。 We won't be any the poorer for the experience。〃
Tracy's laughter。 〃You're right。〃
At 9：00 A。M。 the conversation was still going on； and Cooper thought； They should be getting ready。 They should be making their last…minute plans。 What about Monty？ Where are they meeting him？
Jeff was saying； 〃Darling； would you take care of the concierge before you check us out？ I'm going to be rather busy。〃
〃Of course。 He's been wonderful。 Why don't they have concierges in the States？〃
〃I guess it's just a European custom。 Do you know how it started？〃
〃No。〃
〃In France； in 1627； King Hugh built a prison in Paris and put a nobleman in charge of it。 He gave him the title of te des cierges； or concierge； meaning 'count of the candles。' His pay was two pounds and the ashes from the king's fireplace。 Later； anyone in charge of a prison or a castle became known as a concierge； and finally； this included those working in hotels。〃
What the hell are they talking about？ Cooper wondered。 It's nine…thirty。 Time for them to be leaving。
Tracy's voice： 〃Don't tell me where you learned that… you used to go with a beautiful concierge。〃
A strange female voice： 〃Goede morgen； mevrouw； mijnheer。〃
Jeff's voice： 〃There are no beautiful concierges。〃
The female voice； puzzled： 〃Ik begrijp het niet。〃
Tracy's voice： 〃I'll bet if there were； you'd find them。〃
〃What the hell is going on down there？〃 Cooper demanded。
The detectives looked baffled。 〃I don't know。 The maid's on the phone calling the housekeeper。 She came in to clean； but she says she doesn't understand… she hears voices； but she doesn' see anybody。〃
〃What？〃 Cooper was on his feet； racing toward the door； flying down the stairs。 Moments later he and the other detectives burst into Tracy's suite。 Except for the confused maid； it was empty。 On a coffee table in front of a couch a tape recorder was playing。
Jeff's voice： 〃I think I'll change my mind about that coffee。 Is it still hot？〃
Tracy's voice： 〃Uh…huh。〃
Cooper and the detectives were staring in disbelief。
〃I… I don't understand；〃 one of the detectives stammered。
Cooper snapped； 〃What's the police emergency number？〃
〃Twenty…two…twenty…two…twenty…two。〃
Cooper hurried over to the phone and dialed。
Jeff's voice on the tape recorder was saying； 〃You know； I really think their coffee is better than ours。 I wonder how they do it。〃
Cooper screamed into the phone； 〃This is Daniel Cooper。 Get hold of Inspector van Duren。 Tell him Whitney and Stevens have disappeared。 Have him check the garage and see if their truck is gone。 I'm on my way to the bank！〃 He slammed down the receiver。
Tracy's voice was saying； 〃Have you ever had coffee brewed with eggshells in it？ It's really quite…〃
Cooper was out the door。
**********