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day. I gather I’m sort of on probation and you’re part of that, along with me taking my medication. And here we are.’
    I felt a mild impulse to defend the family. ‘Your family want to know who hired the lawyers as well.’
    â€˜I bet they do. But I don’t suppose the lawyers are required to tell them.’
    â€˜I wouldn’t know.’ I took the credit card from my pocket and passed it across to him along with the documentation. ‘They’ve provided you with funds.’
    â€˜How much?’
    â€˜Seven thousand bucks plus.’
    â€˜That’s about right. I had a few grand left when I … I had to give Warren power of attorney.Knowing him, he’d have invested it wisely. What else have they got in mind?’
    I thought about it before replying. Should I tell him about his mother and brother commissioning Glen to find his wife and child? I decided to hedge the bet. ‘Maybe you ought to ask them.’
    He shook his head almost violently. ‘No way. I couldn’t bear to be in the company of either of them. Not for one minute. If you try to make me, I’ll resist.’
    I finished my coffee and made a don’t-blame-me gesture with both hands. ‘I’m not here to make you do anything.’
    He grinned. ‘No, you’re here to stop me from drinking. Don’t worry, I won’t. The impulse has gone.’
    â€˜Good. That should make my job pretty easy.’
    â€˜I dunno about that.’ He suddenly seemed to find some energy. He drained his mug, set it down on the floor, stood and began to inspect the flat. He went into the bedrooms, the bathroom, toilet and kitchen. I stood in the middle of the living room while he prowled around. He came from the kitchen munching on an apple.
    â€˜This isn’t bad,’ he said. ‘What would it be worth, about?’
    I shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Maybe six hundred thousand, maybe more.’
    â€˜Jesus. That much? I’m out of touch with property values along with everything else. Have I got a lease?’
    â€˜I saw an agent’s card by the fruit bowl. You could ring them and find out.’
    â€˜Maybe you could ring them?’
    â€˜Look, Rod, I’m not your servant.’
    â€˜Sorry. I know that. I should have … You’re a private detective, right?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Okay. Well, I want to hire you to find howthose lawyers who got me released found out about me and who’s trying to kill me and if they’re all one and the same.’

6
    I phoned Glen, gave her the minimum amount of detail, and she said she’d be there inside an hour. I stalled Rod Harkness until then by telling him that I had to consult my partner. He occupied himself by going over the flat minutely, unpacking his bag and arranging his few belongings in the living room and the bedroom without the surfboard. He had a dozen or so books, including the two-volume biography of Elvis, and he arranged them on a shelf near the television.
    He went into the other bedroom and stayed there for a few minutes. ‘A Malibu,’ he said as he came out. He lifted his eyebrows in the first theatrical gesture I’d seen from him.
    â€˜Good board,’ I said.
    â€˜Old man’s board—easy to paddle.’
    When he opened the sliding door to step out onto the balcony I stopped him.
    â€˜Think,’ I said. ‘There’d be a dozen places around here to take a shot from.’
    â€˜Jesus. Am I going to have watch my back for the rest of my life? I feel like a protected witness.’
    â€˜Are you?’
    â€˜Am I what?’
    â€˜Are you a witness to something that someone doesn’t want you talk about, ever?’
    â€˜No.’ He closed the door and sat down. One hand felt the scratches on his face and ear, the other tapped nervously on the arm of the chair. ‘What’s he supposed to be doing, this partner of yours?’
    â€˜She.