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sharp, and it was not as difficult as I had been afraid it might be.
    She rubbed her hands and slapped them together, muttering cuss words (including a couple that were new to me) and rubbed and slapped them again.
    â€œYou cut me a little.” She stopped to lick one of her cuts.
    I said, “I couldn’t help it.”
    â€œI suppose not. You couldn’t see what you were doing, could you?”
    â€œNo. Not at all.”
    â€œThey’re listening to us. Maybe watching us, too. How long will it be before they come through that door again?”
    I shrugged. “I don’t think they will.”
    â€œReally? Did they find it?”
    I shrugged again.
    â€œYou went into my kitchen.”
    I admitted I had, and explained that I had forgotten her rule.
    â€œWe’ll forget about that this time, but not next time.” Colette paused. Then, “I think I can get you loose now.”
    And she did. We found our clothes and dressed, and after that she wanted me to help her move the furniture to barricade the door. I told her to wait.
    Half to herself she muttered, “I suppose you want to screen the police.”
    I shook my head. “They’d want the book, and arrest you when you couldn’t produce it.”
    For a few seconds, she digested that. Then she said, “I don’t see how they got around that lock. Those locks are terribly sophisticated.”
    â€œSo are our friends.” I sat down on the divan and rubbed my head.
    â€œI suppose.”
    â€œFive hundred years ago, you would have had an iron bar you could drop into brackets. Anybody who wanted to get in would have to demolish your door with an ax. Today we’re very clever, but someone more clever still can get in easily.”
    â€œAre you sick?”
    I shook my head. “Just tired. I want to take whatever you’ve got for headaches.”
    Leaning very close, she whispered, “Where did you put it, Ern?”
    I shook my head again.
    â€œI know I gave you a bedroom and a bed, but can I get you to sleep out here? And make noise if they come in to wake me up? You’ll have to sleep on the divan.”
    â€œThey won’t come back, but I’ll be delighted to sleep here if it is your wish. I need to ask you about laundry facilities, however. In the basement?”
    â€œThat’s right, and you’ll need a card. Would you like me to take you down?”
    â€œThat won’t be necessary. Or at least, I hope it won’t. Can you lend me a robe?”
    â€œOne of mine? I’ll be happy to, but I’m going to come with you; I’d have to lend you my card—you’ll need a card to get into the laundry room and operate the universals. Are you going to clean that suit?”
    â€œNot unless you think it needs it.”
    â€œIt doesn’t. That shirt doesn’t have to be pressed, does it?”
    I shook my head.
    â€œThen the whole thing should take ten minutes or so. You’ll want to strip in your room. Wait a minute and I’ll find a robe for you.”
    I waited, then retreated to Colette’s spare bedroom carrying a woman’s filmy robe with white roses and purple morning glories all over it. In there I took off my shirt, undershirt, socks, and briefs. I put my trousers and shoes back on, slipped into the robe, and told Colette I was all set to go.
    As I had expected, each tenant had a locked bin for dirty clothing. “Now I have to borrow your card,” I told Colette. “I hope you don’t mind.”
    â€œOf course not.” Unnecessarily, she pointed out the bin with her apartment number. “Your things should be in there.”
    â€œNo, yours.” I unlocked the bin.
    â€œSome of mine, yes; but I usually do laundry once a week. There’s no need to do mine now.”
    I was reaching into the bin. When I found Murder on Mars , I held it up.
    Colette’s eyes widened and her mouth shaped a little round O.
    I