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a few houses away. Here’s the number.”
    I took it down and thanked her again. I called the number and got a pick-up on the fifth ring.
    ”Hullo.” The voice of a small boy.
    ”Can I speak to your mom?”
    ”She’s at work.”
    ”It’s very important that I reach her. Can you give me her telephone number there?”
    ”No. Mom said never to give out that information.” Click.
    This time I chose option number one. I slammed down the receiver.
    I kept trying Martha’s line every fifteen minutes or so. Busy for two and a half hours. I finally got a ring through about eight o’clock.
    ”Sachs residence.” It was a lilting male voice. ”May I speak with Martha Sachs, please?”
    ”Fm so sorry, but she can’t come to the phone just now. Who is this please?”
    ”John Cuddy. If you’re there, I take it you know about Al.”
    ”Yes.” There was a catch in his voice. ”You’re the bastard from Boston who gave her the news sledgehammer style.”
    Before I could respond, I heard a brief muttered argument and another male voice came on. ”Hello, Mr. Cuddy?”
    I sighed. ”Yes, who is this?”
    ”Dale Palmer. Please excuse Larry, we were all close friends and neighbors of Al, and...”
    ”That’s all right. Forget it. Is Martha in shape to talk?”
    ”Ah, yes.” He lowered his voice and said, ”But I don’t... When Carol—do you know Carol?”
    ”Only by name.”
    ”Well, when Carol called from the lounge, she got me. Naturally, I rushed over, leaving a note for Larry. I’ve been with her, Martha that is, since five, and she hasn’t shed a tear. She just keeps writing on a list.”
    ”A list?”
    ”Yes. A list of things to do. About Al.” He stifled a sob. ”I tell you, it’s like she was morosely planning a vacation. It’s breaking my heart.”
    He sounded sincere, and I found myself clamping my jaw again. ”Listen, Dale, I’ll take care of claiming the body and transporting it to Pittsburgh. Is there a funeral home there Martha would want to use?”
    ”I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
    ”Good. How can I reach you?”
    ”Well, one of us, Larry or I, will be here until Carol, who’s really Martha’s best friend, gets off work. I’ll give you our home number and Carol’s, since I’ll be either here, at Carol’s watching her son, Kenny, or at home.”
    Dale sounded like he had an orderly mind and reeled off the numbers, one of which I already had.
    ”I’ll call you when I have more information,” I said.
    ”Thanks, Mr. Cuddy.”
    ”John.”
    ”John, thanks for your help and...”
    ”Forget it. He was my friend before he was yours.”
    ”Good-bye.”
    I felt like having a good drink and a good cry. But I had a lot yet to do. I called a college classmate named George who had gone into the funeral business with his father. George said he would take care of the arrangements and call me with the details.
    I then bundled up and headed back to the Midtown.
     
    The same kid was behind the desk. Same blazer, same tie, too. I gave him the benefit of the doubt on shirt and underwear. He saw me coming and frowned.
    ”I wasn’t quite straight with you last night, Mr. Bell,” I said, using the first name Cross had mentioned. ”I’m a detective. I was here this morning with Lieutenant Murphy and Detective Cross.” Never tell a direct he when a misleading truth carries you as far. ”I assume she spoke with you today at home?”
    ”Yeah,” he said. ”My landlord didn’t appreciate cops coming looking for me.”
    ”I’m sorry, but we are talking murder here.”
    ”I know that.”
    ”Listen,” I said, ”Cross is on kind of a probationary period. I’m supposed to find out if she asked you certain questions. It’s like a check-up on her detecting ability. I didn’t want to disturb you at home, so I thought I’d drop by here when I figured you wouldn’t be too busy.”
    ”Well,” he said, buying it, ”she asked me a hell of a lot of questions. I sure wouldn’t remember