Nightwork

'Of course not. We laughed about it, I coached him on Britishisms. You were involved in quite a bit of business with him, weren't you?'

A bit,' I said.

'You remember I warned you about him when it came to money?'

'I remember.' 'Did he cheat you?'

A bit.'

She chuckled. 'Me, too,' she said. 'Dear old Miles. He's not an honest man, but he's a joyous one. And he gives joy to others. I'm not the one to say, but maybe one is more important than the other.' She lit a fresh cigarette. 'It's hard to think of his dying.'

'Maybe he won't die,' I said.

'Maybe.'

We said no more until we reached the hospital. 'I think I'd like to see him alone,' Lily said, as we drove up to the door of the handsome red-brick building.

'Of course,' I said. 'I'll drop your bags at the hotel. And 111 be home if you need me.' I kissed her and watched her go into the hospital, in her smart brown coat.

It was dark by the time I got home. There was a car I didn't recognize standing in front of the house. More reporters, I thought disgustedly, as I walked up the gravel path. Evelyn's car wasn't in the garage and I guessed that Anna had let whoever it was into the house. I opened the door with my key. A man was sitting in the living room, reading a newspaper.

He stood up when I came in.

'Mr Grimes...?' Yes.'

I took the liberty of coming in and waiting for you here,' he said politely. He was a thin, studious-looking man with sandy hair. He was neatly dressed in a lightweight, dark-gray summer suit with a white shirt and dark tie. He didn't look like a reporter. 'My name is Vance,' he said. 'I'm a lawyer. I'm here on behalf of a client. I came for a hundred thousand dollars.'

I went over to the sideboard where the whiskey was and poured myself a drink. 'Would you like a Scotch?' I asked the man.

'No, thank you.'

I carried my drink with me and sat down in an easy chair, facing Vance. He remained standing, a neat, small-boned, unmenacing, indoor type of man. 'I was wondering when you'd come,' I said.

'It took some time,' he said. His voice was dry, low, and educated. It would bore a listener in a short while. 'You were not easy to follow. Fortunately ...' He made a little movement with the newspaper. 'You've made yourself into quite a hero out here.'

'So it seems,' I said. There's nothing like a good deed for hilling in a naughty world.'

'Exactly,' he said.

He glanced around at the room. From the nursery came the sound of the baby crying. 'A nice place you've got here. I admired the view.'

'Yes,' I said. I felt very tired.

'My client has instructed me to tell you that you have three days to deliver the money. He does not want to be unreasonable.'

I nodded. Even that was an effort.

'I will be at the Blackstone Hotel. Unless you prefer the St Augustine.' He smiled, skull-like.

The Blackstone will do,' I said.

'In the same conditions in which it was found, please,' Vance said. 'In one-hundred-dollar bills.'

I nodded again.

'Well,' be said, 'that takes care of everything, I think. I must be on my way now.'

At the door, he stopped. 'You haven't asked me whom I represent,' he said.

'No.'

'Just as well. I couldn't tell you if you had asked. Still, I can say that your ... your escapade ... was not without its benefits. It might ease the pain of having to return the money to know that it saved several distinguished people ... very distinguished people from considerable embarrassment.'

That makes my day,' I said.

* * *

It was nine o'clock when I went up in the elevator in the apartment building on East Fifty-second Street. I had left word with Anna to tell Mrs Grimes that I had been called to the city suddenly on business and that I would be gone a day or two. I could have called Evelyn at her office, but I didn't want to have to explain anything.

Henry let me into the apartment. I had caught him just as he was about to go out. He and Madeleine had tickets for the theater, but when I said he would have to wait for me, he said, 'I'll be here.' He looked worried as he opened the door. Madeleine was in the living room. dressed for her night out in New York. She, too, looked worried.

'Maybe it would be better if you and I talked alone, Hank,' I said. But he shook his head. Td rather she stayed, if you don't mind.' 'All right,' I said. 'It won't take long. I need a hundred thousand dollars. Hank. In hundred-dollar bills. I haven't time to collect it from Europe and I don't have it here. I have only three days. Can you get it for me in three days?'

Henry sat down suddenly. We had all been standing in the middle of the living room. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, in a gesture that was a hangover from childhood. 'Yes,' he said, almost inaudibly. 'Somehow. Of course,'

* * *

It only took two days.

I called Vance's room from the lobby of the hotel. He was there. 'I'm coming up,' I said. I held the heavy suitcase in one hand while I held the telephone with the other.

'Excellent,' he said.