Outwardly I was like a good number of them. White, fortyish, clean-cut. But in places like this that wasnt enough. No, it certainly was not. Housed in an elderly brick building, windows painted black, the interior narrow with a long bar running half the length of the west wall and the rest of the space divided up into six red leathered booths and four tiny tables, the place was worn but scrupulously clean. The east walls were covered with a large American flag and posters for the Chicago Bears and the University of Illinois football and basketball teams. Set off on their own were large framed photos of officers whod died in the line of duty, and as a final touch, as if to annoy me especially, a huge campaign poster of Dorsey. I didnt think it would be, Koontz said. His face screwed itself up into what seemed to be a painful expression and his mouth worked a little as though he wanted to say something that would make him hurt. Finally, he got it out. I wantcha to know I appreciate what you guys did tonight. Im much obliged. All I can say is there is nothing between us.Except for a pair of guns, he thought.And secrets. I smiled sweetly at him and told him that I didnt think my lawyer would want me to answer any questions unless he was here. little naked teen Call Herbert Doxey, Hamilton Burger said. A white TV van lumbered onto the property, bouncing and jerking as it went through a large and deep hole. Dino shrugged and went back to his cricket match. Ill bet the stadium sells a hell of a lot of beer, Stone commented. No, I suppose not, but they havent any lead to this yacht. Murfin and Freddie Koontz and I had a final drink in The Feathered Nest bar and grill. Koontz hadnt tried to get the meeting going again. Instead, he had let the members stand around and tell each other what they had seen and what heroes they had been. After they finally got tired of that, they went home. Tell me something I dont know. Mason looked the place over with careful scrutiny, then said,Do you happen to remember whether there was a stepladder around here, Sheriff, a good, fall stepladder? I think it might be less alarming and more convenient for both you and Bergdorfs if you use your credit card, deposit the check, and pay the bill when it comes. Jackson nodded. Fine. Ill try to get in a restorative nap before then. They hung up. I didnt. But Showalter killed him and I promised my stepfather that Id prove it someday. My own father was a miserable drunk. He used to pound on my mother two or three times a month. He hit her so hard one time that she permanently lost hearing in one ear and later on he beat her again sobadly that she now has a limp. We finally ran away one night — to a small town in Colorado — and he was never able to find us. Then my mom met a policeman, Don Sheridan, and married him. He was the finest man — finest person besides my mother — Ive ever met. My real father was a surgeon so we never had the creature comforts he’d given us, but from the time I was eleven I considered Don my real father. Chapter 81 Ill cross that bridge when I come to it, Hamilton Burger said angrily. Right now, Im interested in finding out how it happened that this trap was set. Your Honor must realize that if the defendant hadnt had a guilty conscience, she wouldn’t have manipulated things so that there would have been this unforeseen development. Hell no, she said. I cant keep from crying for over thirty seconds. Get that matron! Let me get out of here..