Fine, Mason told her. And a certain amount of quiet acclaim, Slick said. I grabbed a donut and a paper cup of coffee. Ted did the same and followed me into the auditorium where the debate had been held. Though the stage was dark I could see the outlines of the rostrums. The TV people had cleared all their equipment away. Its not your fault. Its not your fault at all. Listen, I want you to do something and I want you to do it right now. Believe it. I did not find it the least bit pleasant. I dont just mean with what happened to Sara. I mean it seemed pretty damn degrading... to you. Hell have an ambulance waiting for me, Frances said. No, I didnt. I was still dealing with Denniss death. Her face twisted in anger at him. But then I found out you two were seeing each other. She moved to her new place. But I found out. I saw you there with her. I know you slept with her. When a room became available at the town housewhere you lived, I grabbed it. Didnt you say at the directors meeting that you thought it was a breach of the agreement? She picked up a woman at the Royale Hotel maybe ten minutes ago. Fifteen at the most. Id really like to know where she took her. I, Minerva Danby, make this statement because if anything should happen to me I want justice done. The bar wasnt too crowded, since the five oclockers had come and gone, and Dino wasnt there yet. He waved a finger at a bartender and the man produced a Knob Creek bourbon on the rocks. He took a sip, and before he could put the glass down, the bartender set another beside it, filled with a brown whiskey. Well, I dont think you need to be here very long, the sheriff said. They took it away. Whos he? I heard a young female reporter ask one of the greybeards. And left three months unpaid rent, Stone added. Home, Fred, Stone said. While there, he placed a telephone call. Well, Mason said, itll probably turn out all right. I wanted to get him to take me out to show me the actual location of that north boundary line on the ground. He promised me hed co-operate in every way he could. I wanted to get out there before dark..