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ound her； tight and firm； to keep her up。
Her hands tried to crawl up his lapels； up his shirt…front； toward his face； like wriggling white beggars pleading for alms。
A swipe of his hand and they were down again。
〃And did you？〃
〃Somebody…did。 Somebody…has already。 In there。 He's dead。〃 She shuddered and hid her face against him。 There is a point beyond which you can't be alone any more。 You have to have someone to cling to。 You have to have someone to hold you； even if he is to reject you again in a moment of two and you know it。
Suddenly his arm dropped and he'd left her。 It was terrible to be alone； even just for that minute。 She wondered how she'd stood it all these months； all these years。
Life was such a crazy thing； life was such a freak。 A man was dead。 A love was blasted into nothingness。 But a cigarette still sent up smoke in a dish。 And an ice cube still hovered unmelted in a highball glass。 The things you wanted to last； they didn't； the things it didn't matter about； they hung on forever。
Then he reappeared from the other room； stood in the opening looking at her again。 Looking at her in such a funny way。 A little too long； a little too silent…she couldn't quite make out what it was she didn't like about it； but she didn't like him to look at her that way。 Others； it didn't matter。 But not him。
Then he raised the gun； which he was still holding； and put it near his nose。
She saw his head give a grim nod。
〃No。 No。 I didn't。 Oh； please believe me…〃
〃It's just been fired；〃 he said quietly。
There was something rueful about the expression of his eyes now； as if they were trying to say to her： Why don't you want to tell me？ Why don't you get it out of the way by telling me； and then I'll understand。 He didn't say that； but his eyes seemed to。
〃No； I didn't。 I fired it at him； but I didn't hit him。〃
〃All right；〃 he said quietly； with just that trace of weariness you show when you don't believe a thing； but try to gloss it over to spare someone。
Suddenly he'd thrust it into the side…pocket of his coat； as though it were no longer important； as though it were a past detail； as though there were things of far greater moment to be attended to now。 He buttoned his coat determinedly； strode back to her； his movements had a sort of lithe intensity to them now that they'd lacked before。
An impetus； a drive。
He swept a sheltering arm around her again。 （That sanctuary that she'd been trying to find all her life long。 And only had now； too late。） But this time in hurried propulsion toward the door； and not just in support 〃Get out of here； quick；〃 he ordered grimly。 〃Get down to the street again fast as you can。〃
He was pulling her along； hurrying her with him； within the curve of his protective arm。 〃e on。 You can't be found here。 You must have been out of your mind to e here like this！〃
〃I was；〃 she sobbed。 〃I am。〃
She was struggling against him a little now； trying to keep herself from the door。 She pried herself away from him suddenly； and stood back； facing him。 Her hands kept rebuffing his arms each time they tried to reclaim her。
〃No； wait There's something you've got to hear first Something you've got to know。 I tried to keep you out； but now you're in here with me。 I've e this far； I won't go any further。〃 And then she added； 〃The way I was。〃
He reached out and shook her violently； in his exasperation。 As if to get some sense into her。 〃Not now！ Can't you understand？ There's a man dead in the next room。 Don't you know what it means if you're found here？ Any minute somebody's apt to stick his head into this place…〃
〃Oh； you fool；〃 she cried out to him piteously。 〃You're the one who doesn't understand。 The damage has been done already。 Can't you see that？ I have been found here！〃 And she murmured halfaudibly； 〃By the only one who matters to me。 What's there to run away and hide from now？〃 She brushed the back of her hand wearily across her eyes。 〃Let them e。 Bring them on now。〃
〃If you won't think of yourself；〃 he urged her savagely； 〃think of Mother。 I thought you loved her； I thought she meant something to you。 Don't you know what a thing like this will do to her？ What are you trying to do； kill her？〃
〃Somebody used that argument before；〃 she told him vaguely。 〃I can't remember who it was； or where it was。〃
He'd opened the door cautiously and looked out。 Narrowed it again； came back to her。 〃No sign of anyone。 I can't understand how that shot wasn't heard。 I don't think these adjoining rooms are occupied。〃
She wouldn't budge。 〃No； this is the time； and this is the place。 I've waited too long to tell you。 I won't go a step further； I won't cross that door…sill…〃
He clenched his jaw。 〃I'll pick you up and carry you out of here bodily； if I have to！ Are you going to listen to me？ Are you going to e to your senses？〃
〃Bill； I'm not entitled to your protection。 I'm not…〃
His hand suddenly clamped itself to her mouth； sealing it He heaved her clear of the floor； held her cradled in his arms。 Her eyes strained upward at him in muted helplessness； above his restraining hand。
Then they dropped closed。 She didn't struggle against him。
He carried her that way out the door； and along the hall； and down those stairs she'd climbed so differently a little while ago。 Just within the street…entrance he set her down upon her feet again。
〃Stand here a minute； while I look out〃 He could tell by her passiveness now that her recalcitrance had ended。
He withdrew his head。 〃No one out there。 You left the car around the corner； didn't you？〃 She didn't have time to wonder how he knew that。 〃Walk along close to me； I'm going to take you back to it。〃
She took his arm within a doublecoil of her own two； and clinging to him like that； they came out unobtrusively and hurried along together close in beside the building…front； where the shadow was deepest。
It seemed a long distance。 No one saw them； better still； no one was there to see them。 Once a cat scurried out of a basement…vent up ahead of them。 She crushed herself tighter against him for a moment； but no sound escaped her。 They went on； after the brief recoil。
They rounded the corner； and the car was there； only its own length back away from the corner。
They crossed on a swift diagonal to it； and he unlatched the door for her and armed her in。 Then suddenly the door was closed again； between them； and he'd stayed on the outside。
〃Here are the keys。 Now take it home and…〃
〃No；〃 she whispered fiercely。 〃No！ Not without you！ Where are you going？ What are you going to do？〃
〃Don't you understand？ I'm trying to keep you out of it I'm going back up there again。 I have to。 To make sure there's nothing there linking you。 You've got to help me。 Patrice； what was he doing to you？ I don't want to know why； there isn't time for that now； I only want to know what。〃
〃Money；〃 she said laconically。
She saw his clenched hand tighten on the rim of the door； until it seemed to be trying to cave it in。 〃How'd you give it to him； cash or check？〃
〃A check；〃 she said fearfully。 〃Only once； about a month ago。〃
He was speaking more tautly now。 〃You destroyed it when it came back； of c…？〃
〃I ne