They hadnt been gunshots, of course. Theyd been the kind of firecrackers designed to scare folks intobelievingthey were gunshots. Not yet. They do have one clue. Katherines laugh was my reward. Oh shit. Then she goes to a lawyer. The lawyer talks about property settlements, about alimony. That completes the alienation. Every time the husband hears his wifes name, he associates it with financial worries, injunctions, court hearings,alimony pendente lite, and all of that. The other girl furnishes the fun. By that time the man wants his freedom badly enough to pay through the nose. His wife has come to signify a legal headache, impeding his true love for themost wonderful girl in the world who is filled with sympathy and understanding. Stone settled into the sofa and opened the book. He read for a few minutes, then something seemed to reflect a light from the wall he was facing. Sunlight, he reckoned, getting up and adjusting the blinds. Just help myself? Devine started to think all this had been a very bad idea. He rose and said,I dont want to intrude anymore. Again, Im so sorry. And if theres anything I can do while you’re in town. He pulled out one of his cards with his direct business and cell phone numbers on it and handed it to Fred, who took it without looking at it. Yes, sir. Most of them dont take it, but the papers there. Some housewives were standing with their loaded shopping carts near the entrance of the store waiting for their husbands to drive up and put the groceries into their cars. Slick and I moved over and joined them. Maybe. But, dude, crypto-mining is not illegal. I really shouldnt be thinking of anything funny now. I took another drag on my cigarette and said,Having met Mary and his five helpers, I was wondering if the other hundred and ninety-seven persons that you recruited for the union were similar. What? Elizabeth smiled her silky smile.We will be very good and not bother our dear mother for the rest of the day, she said in her rapid French. “And if we are good, our dear uncle will let us swing on the swing and later he will take us to visit the beavers. And no one saw anything? asked Devine. Yes. His grandson is dead. No, but he and I and Joan are the only people of my acquaintance who were aware of the list. Except you, of course; you seem to be aware of everything. George C. Lutts, the decedent, was also a stockholder and a director? Hamilton Burger asked..