Page 14

Canidy asked, as if Whittaker were a total stranger. "I need clean clothes. I need a razor, and a comb and brush. And underwear and socks. I have to see a dentist, and I think I caught the crabs," Whittaker said.

"Where would you like to start?" Canidy laughed.

"You're a real basket case, aren't you, Jimmy? " he asked. "And you, on the other hand, are not only well fed but here, and not wearing a uniform. I'm going to have to find out how you did that, you clever son of a bitch."

"Cowardice. It works every time," Canidy said. "Bullshit. I'm the biggest coward you ever met, and you won't believe what those sons of bitches had me doing."

"You look like hell, and you smell like a barroom floor, but I'm glad to see you anyway."

"Fuck you, Dick," Whittaker said fondly. "We can give him pajamas and a robe," the black woman said practically, "and a comb and a razor and a toothbrush and that sort of thing-" "Pajamas and a robe? Christ, I'd forgotten there were such things," Whittaker said. "-but I don't know what to do about the crabs," the black woman went on matter-of factly.

"Unless you go to that all-night drugstore on Massachusetts Avenue."

"I'll send the chief when he comes back," Canidy said. "I didn't mention that I also don't have any money," Whittaker said. "Don't worry about that," Canidy said.

"I'll trust you. You have an honest face."

Ellis returned as the black woman was frying a steak. Canidy told him what Whittaker needed, and handed him money.

"Get him whatever else you think he needs," he added. "Right," Ellis said.

"It won't take me long. You going to be all right?"

"We'll be fine," Canidy said. "I only look this way, Chief," Whittaker said.

"I'm not really crazy."

"You really want eggs with this steak?" the skinny black woman asked.

Whittaker nodded.

"Four, sunny-side up. And toast. She shrugged and went to the refrigerator. "And coffee," he said.

"And milk." While Whittaker ate at the kitchen table, Canidy took a cup of coffee and sat down with him. The black woman went out of the kitchen and returned with pajamas and a robe.

"I couldn't find slippers," she said. "Thank you," he said. She saw that all the food she had heaped on his plate was gone. "if that's all you want to eat, I'll show you your room," she said.

Whittaker was unsteady on his feet, It was entirely possible he couldn't make it upstairs by himself. "I'll show him," Canidy said quickly, and went with him. He was glad he did. Whittaker had to haul himself upstairs on the banister railing. In the upstairs foyer, Whittaker stopped at the door to the master bedroom. "As I recall," he said," the shower in here has two heads. I'll use this."

"The way it works around here," Canidy said, "is that rooms are assigned by Miss Chenowith. Miss Chenowith goes into a snit when someone dares disobey her. Miss Chenowith, I think you should know, is very impressed with her role in the hierarchy around here."

"Fuck Miss Chenowith," Whittaker said, laughing, "which seems to be a splendid idea, come to think of it."

"You going to be all right in there?" Canidy asked seriously.

Whittaker looked terrible. His e

yes were bloodshot and burning, he was thirty or forty pounds underweight, and he looked as if he was teetering over the edge of exhaustion. "I look that bad, huh?"

"Yeah. You want me to wait?"

"if you hear a loud crash, come after me," Whittaker said. "But I'd rather do it myself, thank you."

"I'm really glad to see you, you bastard," Canidy said.

"And now that re here, I don't want you cracking open your skull falling down in the you shower. "That's not how I plan to die," Whittaker said.

"Don't worry."