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B, I’m going to place your keys on this table, pick up my suitcase, and leave this apartment, never to return. Or C, one of us is going to call Pam and verify my story. It’s up to you. Personally, I would prefer ? or C. But, please. If you’re leaning toward A, I’d appreciate it if you would aim for a kneecap. I’d feel a lot better.”
    She didn’t respond right away, just swayed back and forth. Her eyes were beginning to droop.
    I smiled and played my trump card. “Your popcorn is burning.”
    Her eyes flew open. “Oh, shit.”
    She took the two steps to the stove and, without hesitating, put the gun on the stove and grabbed the smoking pot from the burner. The fact that the pot had a metal handle did not immediately register. When it did, she let out a yelp and dropped the pot, sending charred popcorn flying. She stood there, staring at her hand as if she were trying to figure out where it came from.
    I put my groceries on the counter and, taking her by the arm, directed her to the sink. Her hand was already bright red when I pushed it under cold running water. She looked at me, nodded her thanks, and took a long drink from her glass.

5
     
    A SIDE FROM THE scotch, Elaine didn’t stock much in the way of first-aid remedies. I found some petroleum jelly in the back corner of a shelf in her linen closet. I spread some of that on her hand, wrapped it in gauze, and sat her down on the couch in the living room. She kept muttering something about her life going from bad to worse and I decided the time was ripe for my exit. But she looked so lost and miserable that I wanted to do something for her. “I’ll make you some coffee before I go.”
    She looked up at me, startled. “You’re going? Don’t go.”
    I shrugged. “There obviously has been a major misunderstanding here. I think I’ve caused you enough grief for one night.”
    “No.” She shook her head. Long wisps of hair, more red than brown, were escaping the elastic band that held them against the nape of her neck. “It’s not you.” She stood slowly as if balancing on a high wire. “You stay here tonight. We’ll talk in the morning.” Then she walked down the hallway, steadying herself against the wall with her good hand. When she reached the door at the end of the hall she said without turning toward me, “This may work out for both of us.”
    I considered my options. I could take my suitcase and groceries, leave this warm, comfortable apartment, walk the four blocks to my car, and spend the night in another hotel. Or I could unpack my groceries, spend the night on a reasonably inviting couch, and leave in the morning before
    Elaine regained consciousness.
    Not one part of the first scenario appealed to me so I put the groceries away and poured myself some medicine. Then I made a sandwich and ate it in her dining room at a table that was old but probably not old enough to be an antique. It was dark wood with matching chairs. The seats of the chairs looked and felt like they were handsewn in a kind of crewel stitch. The background was lilac with large multicolored flowers at the center of each seat.
    Compared to the dining room set, the living room was ultramodern. Teak and chrome dominated the large room, and the focal point was a large shelving unit along one wall. The titles on the shelves were as varied as her furniture. A set of
Encyclopaedia Britannica
looked like it had been given a lot of use. There was some popular fiction, self-help books, and business titles like
Marketing Strategies for the Executive
and
Dress for Success,
also several natural-science books with topics varying from animals to astronomy. I noted the telescope in front of the big picture window and wondered how much star gazing one can do from a high-rise in Chicago.
    I wanted to look over the files Hauser had given me, but I decided to call Harry first. Carol answered and she reprimanded me for not doing a better job of keeping in touch. Then she invited me and