Bones

CHAPTER 37

Travis Huck trembled.

Veins wormed across his temples, crossed his hairline, invaded the dense black stubble capping his skull. Eyes so deep-set they vanished in all but the strongest light stared at nothing. His cheeks could’ve been hollowed by melon scoops. The sag of his face was a history of its own.

Debora Wallenburg had bought him a brand-new shirt. Sky-blue, crisp cotton, sharp box-creases. He looked like a candidate for parole.

She’d had her desk moved forward several feet, positioned Huck and herself behind the wooden barrier. Mary Cassatt’s mother and baby looked down with jarring serenity. The kind lighting Wallenburg had choreographed failed to calm her client. He rocked in his chair. Sweated.

Maybe he’d fare worse under the fluorescence of a police interview room. Maybe nothing would make a difference.

It was four a.m. Wallenburg’s text message had roused Milo at two fifteen and he’d called me twenty minutes later. A Sahara of silent streets turned the ride to Santa Monica into a motor-sprint. But for a hyphen of amber upper-floor windows, Wallenburg’s office building was a granite spade excavating a starless sky.

As the unmarked pulled near the sub-lot, a mesh partition slid open and a uniformed guard stepped forward.

“I.D. please.”

Milo ’s badge was exactly what the guy expected. “Elevator’s over there, park wherever you like.” Waving at a sea of vacant slots. The only vehicle in sight, a copper-colored Ferrari.

“Her sporty wheels,” said Milo. “Hope it’s not a game.”

From the backseat, Moe Reed squelched a yawn and rubbed his eyes. “I’m ready to play.”

Debora Wallenburg touched Huck’s hand. He slid away from her. She sat up straighter, every silver hair in place, full-tilt makeup, diamonds.

Courtroom confidence wavered only when she glanced at Huck. He remained in his own world, had yet to make eye contact.

Wallenburg said, “Whenever you’re ready, Travis.”

A minute passed. Thirty additional seconds. Moe Reed crossed his legs. As if sparked by the movement, Huck said, “The only person I killed was Jeffrey.”

Wallenburg frowned. “That was an accident, Travis.”

Huck tilted his head away from her, as if offended by the characterization. “I think about Jeffrey a lot. Before I wasn’t able to.”

I said, “Before…”

Huck sucked in breath. “I used to live in a dream-state. Now I’m sober and awake but it’s not always… good.”

“Too many things to think about,” I suggested.

“Bad things, sir.”

“Travis,” said Wallenburg.

Huck shifted and caught a faceful of caressing light. His pupils were dilated, his forehead an oil slick. Some sort of rash had spread around his nostrils, tiny berries sprouting in a pallid field. “Bad dreams fill me. I’m the monster.”

“Travis, you are nothing close to a monster.”

Huck didn’t answer.

“How could you not feel stigmatized, Travis, with people prejudging you all the time?” Pretending to talk to him, but addressing the jury.

“Debora.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “You’re the rare bird who flies freely. I don’t know what I am.”

“What you are is a good person, Travis.”

“The average German.”

“Pardon?”

“Man in the crowd,” said Huck. “Comfortable in his suit and his good shoes, oblivious to the stench.”

“Travis, we need to concentrate on-”

“ Dachau, Debora. Rwanda, Darfur, slave ships, Cambodia, melting deserts. Average man sits in a café and eats his cream cakes. He knows which way the wind blows, the stench blows into his nose but he pretends. You choose to fly freely, Debora. The crowd chooses a cage. I chose a cage.”

“Travis, this isn’t an issue of war and-”

Huck swiveled toward her. “It is, Debora. War breathes in all of us. Raid the neighboring pack, raze the village, eat the young. In a good world, to be human is to be un-animal. You made the choice to be human. I-”

“Travis, we’re here for you to tell them what you know-”

“-sniffed the wind and stench blew through my head. I allowed it to happen, Debora.”

Before Wallenburg could retort, I said, “You allowed the murders.”

Huck clapped his hands on the desk, as if bracing for a fall. Long, knobby fingers pressed on leather, slid back, leaving snail-trails of perspiration. He worried his sagging cheek.

Wallenburg said, “Travis, you had absolutely noth-”

“I could’ve stopped it. I don’t deserve to live.” He bared his wrists, ready for shackles. Debora Wallenburg pushed one hand down. Huck grew rigid.

I said, “When did you know?”

“I-there’s no beginning,” said Huck. “It was just in here. Here. Here. Hereherehere.” Slapping his head, his cheek, his chest, his gut. Increasing the force with each blow.

“You sensed violence was coming.”

“Kelvin,” he said. Lowering his head, he mumbled to leather. “I took him on walks. We didn’t talk much, Kelvin’s quiet. We saw deer, lizards, eagles, coyote. Kelvin likes listening to the ocean, says the ocean’s a ground bass, the universe hums like a Gregorian chant.”

I said, “And Kelvin is…”

Huck stared at me.

I said, “The family’s dead.”

Huck sobbed raggedly. A mustache of snot formed over his crooked lips. Debora Wallenburg offered him a tissue and when he didn’t take it, she wiped him.

I said, “How do you know?”

“Where are they?” he wailed.

“You have no idea where they are?”

“I thought she loved them, I thought she was capable of love.” One hand opened, as if panhandling. His palm was scrubbed clean, his nails gnawed stubby. When the fingers rotated, I saw scars on his knuckles-glossy, white, what appeared to be old burns.

I said, “By ‘she’ you mean…”

No answer.

“Who, Travis?”

He mouthed the word. Sound followed an instant later, as if digitally delayed. “Simone.”

Moe Reed’s eyes narrowed. Milo ’s were shut and his hands rested on his belly. To the casual observer, sleeping. I knew better; no snoring.

I said, “You’re saying Simone killed the Vanders.”

Each word made Huck shudder.

“That’s your theory, Travis? Or do you know it for a fact?”

“It’s not-I know-from what she-I thought she was vulnerable, not-because she hurt herself.”

“Hurt herself how?”

“Wounds you can’t see unless… it’s a secret game.”

“Simone cuts herself.”

Nod. “She tastes her own blood.”

“When we met her, we saw no visible wounds-”

“She chooses the secret places.” Licking his lips.

“You know that because…”

His head lurched forward. A cold, raw sound made its way past clenched lips.

I said, “You and Simone were intimate.”

Strangled laughter. He supported himself on the desktop, again. “Stupid dream. She had other ideas.”

Wallenburg prompted: “Tell them exactly what you told me about her, Travis.”

Silence.

“Tell them how she seduced you, Travis.”

Huck shook his head furiously. “That makes it sound romantic. It wasn’t romantic, it was a… a… a…”

“Tell them or I will.”

Huck pleaded, “Debora.”

“I told them you’d give them facts, Travis. They won’t believe you unless you give them facts.”

Several moments passed. Huck said, “I-it-she came over. To the big house. No one was home. I’d been watching her. Because she’s beautiful. Physically. Talking to her was out of the question, she’s the daughter, I’m hired help. But she talked to me. It was like she knew my brain from the inside out. Being with her was like opening a window.”

I said, “Easy for her.”

Nod. “She made herself small, we stared at the ocean. She came into my room. Rested her head on my… she showed me her wounds. Cried into my shirt. It was a revelation. The geography of flesh. Holding her as she cried.” He rubbed glossy knuckles.

“You knew about the geography of flesh.”

He stared at leather.

I said, “For her it’s blades, for you it’s fire.”

Crooked smile. “I used to need punishment.”

“In jail?”

“After.” Waiting for Wallenburg to scold him.

She said nothing.

“I’m sorry, Debora. Being free brought back pictures of Jeffrey… I didn’t want to worry you.” To me: “I needed to feel something.”

I said, “What exactly does Simone use?”

“Everything. Razors, kitchen knives, a box cutter. She has guns, gifts from Simon. When he married Nadine, Nadine said please, no guns in the house. Simone holds them, talks about them, expensive guns, she puts the barrels in her mouth, makes believe… she put her hands down her throat to vomit. Sometimes she gives herself a sore throat, coughs blood. She loves her own taste.”

Reed exhaled silently.

Milo continued to slump, barrel chest heaving. Wallenburg looked at him, then at me.

I said, “What else are you going to tell us about Simone?”

Huck said, “The first time she showed me fresh… stigmata, that’s what she called them-the first time, I held her. Then we… she shaved my head, told me I was her priest, my bones were beautiful. I thought… the dream was thinking I could help her.”

“How long did the two of you have a relationship?”

His eyes rolled back. Snapped back into place like slot-machine cherries. “An eternity.”

I said, “Give us something more concrete.”

Debora Wallenburg said, “Two months. It ended around six months ago.”

“That true, Travis?”

Nod.

“How did you learn Simone wasn’t the person you thought she was?”

“I stalked her.”

Reed’s shoulders bunched.

Milo didn’t budge.

Wallenburg said, “Poor choice of words. Just give them the facts, Travis.”

Huck said, “I stalked her, Debora.”

“You had concerns so you began watching her.”

I said, “You followed Simone.”

“I called for a week but she didn’t answer. I was confused. The last time we were together, she said… kind things. Then all of a sudden, nothing? I started to worry she was hurt. Then I thought, maybe she’s waiting for me. To do something spontaneous. She told me spontaneous turned her on, I needed to loosen up. I was afraid to… improvise. Surprises aren’t… I don’t like them. Simone knew I didn’t like to leave the script. So it would be a surprise.”

“You made a spontaneous visit to her house?”

“Just once.”

“When?”

“Three months ago,” said Wallenburg.

Huck said, “Simon and Nadine and Kelvin were in Ojai for the weekend, they went because Kelvin wanted to meet Nikrugsky-the composer. The house was quiet, Simone wasn’t calling back. The quiet turned into… old desires came back.”

“For heat and pain.”

“I found matches. Lit them but didn’t broil myself. I called a sponsor. We talked, but not about what was really in my head. The quiet kept getting louder. I said go, go, go, be spontaneous. Drove to Malibu Canyon and picked flowers, made a bouquet, tied it up with grocery twine, poured grape juice into a wine bottle, wrapped it with a ribbon-black, her favorite color. I took water biscuits from the pantry. Two boxes. Havershams, from England, licensed to the royal family, Simone doesn’t eat much more than water biscuits but when she does… I’ve seen her go through two boxes. Later she… expels them. Her throat bleeds, it looks like strawberry porridge.”

I said, “You went over to her house.”

“I wanted a loving surprise. She didn’t answer my knock. I went out in back, Simone likes to be outside. All kinds of weather, she takes off her clothes… outside is where she bleeds herself. There are stains on her furniture. Teak furniture. It’s a tiny backyard, overgrown, steep hillside in back, a little gazebo where she sleeps. Before I got there I heard it. Simone and someone. My brain understood but my legs kept moving. I found a stalker spot. Watched. There was no reason, I already knew what was…”

Catching his breath, he studied the ceiling.

I said, “What did you see?”

“Licking each other. Cats. Grooming, licking, licking, grooming.” Moistening his own lips. “Licking, growling. Laughing, talking brutality.”

“Simone and…”

Long silence.

“Who was with her, Travis?”

“The wig.”

“Give us a name.”

“Him,” said Huck. “The-wig-the-smile-Weir-the-lawyer. A nightmare. She told me she hated him, he was corrupt, stealing from Simon, she was going to tell Simon, I shouldn’t do it, she would do it, shit would hit the fan, teach those scumbags a lesson, then we’d be free…”

“But in the backyard…”

“Licking. No hatred. Except what they shared.”

I said, “They shared hatred.”

Silence.

“Hatred of who, Travis?”

Huck’s breathing quickened. His eyes jumped.

“Who, Travis?”

“Licking laughing, that disgusting word.”

“What word?”

“Gook.”

“Nadine?” I said. “Because she’s Asian?”

“They spewed it out like vomit gook-lover gook-sucker gook-fucker gook bitch slant-eyed gook scum-spawn.” Clenched fists turned burn scars into pearls. “My head-hearing it, I wanted to burn myself up. Went home, found more matches. Soaked them in water. Called another sponsor.”

Tears filled his eyes. “I never told Simon.”

“Simone hates her family.”

“More than hatred,” said Huck. “It-she-there’s no word for it.”

“Had Simone ever shown resentment about Simon remarrying?”

“No, no, no, no, just the opposite. She loved Nadine, Nadine was smart, stylish, beautiful, not like her mother. I know Kelly, Kelly’s good people, but she wasn’t there for Simone, okay, I understand that, we all understand that, but…”

“Simone claimed she loved Nadine.”

“She said she wished Nadine had raised her. They hugged, they kissed, Nadine treated Simone like a sister. When Simone came to the house, she played with Kelvin’s hair. Beautiful hair, she always said. She kissed his cheeks. So cute, Travis. I love him, Travis. A genius, I love him, Travis. Hands of gold, I love him, Travis.”

“Hands of gold.”

“Gold, diamond, platinum, magic hands. She said his music was pure love and his hands went straight to his soul.”

“No love that day in the backyard.”

“My world flamed,” said Huck. “I crawled back in my cage.”

Wallenburg said, “You didn’t say anything to the Vanders because you had no proof. Why would anyone believe you?”

Huck smiled. “Objection overruled.”

“Travis-”

“I didn’t say anything because I’m a coward.”

“That’s ridiculous, Travis. You have more courage than most.”

I said, “She may be right.”

Moe Reed arched a brow. Milo still didn’t stir.

I said, “It was a tough choice, Travis. Lance the boil and hope you can dodge the pus stream, or pray that it stays at the verbal level.”

“Excuses,” said Huck. “Average German.”

“Oh, for God’s sake, Travis,” said Wallenburg. “We’re not here to be cosmic and philosophical, these are legal matters. There was absolutely no way for you to know what they had planned and you had absolutely no obligation to divulge what you heard.”

One of Milo’s eyes opened. “Unless he was involved.”

Wallenburg said, “Oh, please. Have you been awake for the last ten minutes?”

“Oh, yeah. Heard a good story.”

Travis Huck said, “It’s logical, Debora. I killed someone, I pay for sex-”

“Be quiet, Travis!”

I said, “Let’s talk about the other victims.”

Huck said, “Three women.”

“Sheralyn Dawkins. Lurlene Chenoweth. DeMaura Montouthe.”

No flicker of recognition. No tell, whatsoever.

Huck said, “I heard about them on the television. That’s when I ran.”

“Why then?”

“What they did for a living. I go to women like them. I started to feel I knew them. Maybe I did do something.”

“Did you?”

“Sometimes it’s hard to know what I do.”

I repeated the names.

He said, “No. I don’t think so.”

Wallenburg’s teeth clenched. “Travis. That is not. What you. Told me.”

“Deb-”

Reed fished out three mug shots.

Huck studied them for a long time. Shook his head.

Wallenburg said, “He had nothing to do with it. He panicked and fled.”

I said, “Have you ever picked up women near the airport?”

“No.”

“Where do you cruise for them?”

“Sunset Strip.”

“Why not the airport?”

“I have to stay close to home, in case Simon and Nadine need me.”

“Need you for what?”

“Errands, takeout from all-night places-sometimes Nadine gets hungry late at night. Sometimes I get a CD for Kelvin at Tower Records on Sunset. Used to. It closed, now I go to Virgin.”

Both stores were minutes from where Reed had found prostitutes who knew Huck.

“Twenty-four seven availability,” I said.

“It’s my job.”

“Did Simone know you frequented prostitutes?”

Tiny smile, hard to decipher.

“Something funny?” said Reed.

Huck gave a start. “No-it wasn’t frequent. I… I… occasioned.”

I said, “Did Simone know?”

“I confessed to her.”

“Why?”

“We were talking. Filling in dark spaces.”

“Sharing secrets.”

“Yes.”

“What dark spaces did Simone fill?”

“Tasting her blood. Needing to feel. Wanting the perfect body, always feeling huge, hating the mirror, seeing lumps.”

“What did you tell her about prostitutes?”

“I said before her there were only women like that. I said being with her was like landing on the moon.”

“New life.”

“New universe.”

“So discovering her with Weir was-”

Huck clapped his hands together. “Crash-down.”

I glanced at Milo. Back in shut-eyed repose.

“Travis, tell us about Silford Duboff.”

Clouded eyes. “Who?”

“The guy who takes care of the Bird Marsh.”

“I’ve never been to the Bird Marsh.”

“Never?”

“Never.”

I repeated Duboff’s name.

Huck said, “Am I supposed to know him? I’m sorry.”

“Let’s talk about someone you do know. Selena Bass.”

Huck seemed prepared for the question. “Selena is how I knew for sure.”

“Knew what?”

“Simone’s hatred didn’t stop at words.”

“You figured Simone murdered Selena.”

“Selena came from Simone.”

“Came from her how?”

“Simone found her. Said she did it for Kelvin. Simone brought Selena to the house.”

“Finding a teacher for Kelvin.”

“Finding a friend who-guess what-is also a piano genius and a teacher.”

“Simone called Selena her friend.”

“They acted like friends.”

“How so?”

“Happy skinny girls laughing,” said Huck. “Those low jeans they wear.”

“How do you know they weren’t friends?”

“Simone told me. Later. Said she heard Selena play piano at a party. Selena had magic hands, golden hands just like Kelvin, she’d be perfect for Kelvin. Kelvin had a grumpy old teacher, wanted to stop his lessons. Simone told Selena she could make big money. I should’ve known there was more.”

“More what?”

“The first time, I was bringing in groceries and Simone’s car pulled up, she’s got another girl with her, they’re giggling. I went inside. They didn’t. When I came out to get more groceries, they were looking at the ocean. Hands around each other. Simone’s hand went to Selena’s… her butt.”

“Selena and Simone had a sexual relationship.”

“Maybe.”

“This was before you and Simone had a relationship.”

“Yes.”

“It didn’t make you wonder.”

“About what?”

“Simone’s sexual preferences?”

Huck’s eyes turned fiery. “I didn’t care.”

I said, “Later, after you were involved, Simone told you she’d met Selena at a party.”

Nod.

“What did she say about the party?”

“Just a party.”

“Tea and cookies?”

Silence.

He said, “Later, I had ideas.”

“What kind of ideas?”

“In the backyard… after the licking, he got up and Simone stretched on the teak lounge and…” Wincing. “She had a razor blade. He came back, tasted her. He brought things with him. Ropes-beads-big huge plastic… I turned from that, didn’t want to look, but I could hear. He said, ‘Party time.’ She said, ‘Golden hands. Baby. All we’re missing is her and the piano.’ ”

Huck shook his head; dripped sweat onto the desk. Debora Wallenburg saw it, let the spatter sit there.

I said, “Party time. Meaning…”

“Selena was into the same things.” Looking to me for confirmation.

“When you heard about Selena’s murder, you developed a theory about what happened to her.”

“A feeling.”

“When we came to tell you about Selena, you didn’t mention that feeling.”

“I was… I didn’t… you put fog in my head. Finally, it drifted out and I had the feeling. I didn’t know what to do.”

Without opening his eyes, Milo said, “You could’ve picked up the phone.”

Wallenburg said, “And told you what? He had an intuition.”

Milo favored her with an avuncular smile. “On whodunit cases, Counselor, we take anything we can get.”

“Oh, sure. You would’ve believed him.”

Huck said, “I was going to tell Simon. If.”

I said, “If what?”

“I told anyone.”

Reed said, “If. Longest word in the dictionary.”

“I thought about it,” said Huck. “Telling Simon. But she’s his daughter, he loves her. I do errands.”

“So you did nothing,” said Reed.

“No, I… I phoned him, to hear his voice, maybe his voice would tell me what to do. He didn’t answer. I kept trying. He didn’t answer. I e-mailed. He didn’t answer. I switched to Nadine’s e-mail, she didn’t answer. Then I started worrying. Then those other women got… I heard about them and said, ‘Those are the women you go to.’ ”

I said, “So you ran.”

“I killed someone, I pay for sex. I knew Selena. Everyone else is rich.” Turning to Wallenburg. “You told me to come back, I disobeyed.”

“Travis, it’s not a matter of dis-”

Milo got up, walked to the front of the desk, focused on Huck.

“That the whole story, pal?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Some yarn.”

“Put me back in a cage, sir. I deserve what you want to give me.”

“That so?”

Wallenburg shot to her feet, thrust her arm between Huck and Milo. “That was not an admission of guilt.”

Milo said, “Selena, the hookers, one big setup just to frame you. Convenient.”

“For God’s sake, can’t you see it?” said Wallenburg. “Superficially, he’s the perfect scapegoat.”

“Superficially?”

“Look at his core: a man who was railroaded but harbors no anger. Who’s led a totally nonviolent life-who saved a baby, for God’s sake.”

“I didn’t save her, Debora. I just lifted her from the sidewalk and-”

“Shut up, Travis! You’ve seen how Brandeen looks at you. If you hadn’t found her, that bastard might’ve come back and beat her to death the way he beat her mother to death.”

“Debora-”

“Don’t Debora me, Travis. It’s about time you got smart and started looking after yourself. You were stupid to run, stupid not to return when I told you to. Now you’re being a total blithering idiot.”

“I-”

“Life sucks, fine, we all get that, Travis. But you are not to blame for this particular disaster and if you stick to the facts, the police will believe you.”

Looking at Milo.

He remained silent.

Huck said, “I let it all happen, Debora-”

“You were their gofer, Travis. You are not a cosmic watchdog. If you’d said anything negative about Simone, you’d have lost your job and she would’ve remained free to charm her father and go about her plan.”

“What plan are we talking about?” said Reed.

“A hundred-and-thirty-three-million-dollar plan,” said Wallenburg. “That girl would never have been deterred. Never.”

Milo said, “Pretty precise figure.”

Wallenburg’s smile was icy.

Milo said, “If that’s the case, we’re talking about a real long-term plan. Killing prostitutes over a fifteen-month period, dumping them in sequence, just to set up the Vanders as a thrill kill?”

“We’re talking about a hundred thirty-three million worth of incentive, Lieutenant. Selena’s murder got you focused on the Vanders, which led you to Travis. The three women made all of it look psychopathic. That conniving little bitch spoon-fed you Travis. Given his history, she knew you’d put on your blinders.”

“Garsh,” said Milo. “Can someone tell me the way to Keystone?”

“A hundred and thirty-three million, Lieutenant. A year’s worth of planning doesn’t seem too much for that pot of gold.”

“Be a great movie.”

“Oscar for documentary, Lieutenant.”

“We’re supposed to buy it because of Mr. Huck’s feelings. In here.” Massaging the swell of his belly.

“You’re supposed to buy it because it’s true and it makes sense and you haven’t a shred of evidence tying Travis to a single act of violence.”

Milo flashed his happy-wolf grin. Bent over the desk and put his face inches from Huck’s.

Huck licked his lips.

Wallenburg said, “There’s no need for physical intimida-”

“Travis, I like your stories. Now tell me another one.”

“About what, sir?”

“The blood we found in the drain of your bedroom sink.”

Huck’s Adam’s apple rose and fell. “I… maybe I cut my hands… I go off balance. Headaches, maybe I got a cut and washed it.”

“Got any scabs?”

Inspecting Huck’s hands. “Nope, clean.”

Huck said, “Put me in a cage, I don’t care.”

“What’s your blood type, son?”

“O positive.”

“AB’s what we found in your drain.”

Huck turned white.

Milo placed his paw atop Huck’s left hand. Huck’s fingers clasped Milo’s, like a child wanting security.

“Tell us about AB, son.”

“Simon,” said Huck. “It’s rare. He always gets asked to donate.”

“Looks like he donated some to your drain. Tell me another story, son.”

Wallenburg said, “Someone who’d slaughter people in a calculated manner would have no problem planting blood in a damn drain. Simone had access to that house-I’ll bet Weir did, too-of course he did, given his relationship with Simone, all she had to do was give him a damn key and-”

Still gripping Milo’s hand, Huck held out his free arm. “Put me in a cage.”

“Don’t say another word, Travis!”

Milo said, “Counselor, looks like we’ve come to a sort of consensus. Get up please, son. We’re going to read you your rights and take you into custody.”

“I agree,” said Huck.

Wallenburg shot to her feet, clamped her hands on Huck’s shoulders. “On what charges?”

“We’ll start with a whole bunch of 187s, go on from there.”

Her turn to tremble. “You’re making a disastrous mistake.”

Reed said, “You’re really committed to this guy. What am I not seeing?”

Wallenburg’s mouth formed a curse. “Lieutenant, our explicit agreement was-”

“That we’d listen,” said Milo. “We did, now we’re arresting him.”

Wallenburg’s mouth worked. “Oh, this is great, so predictable-I promise you it’ll be futile, Lieutenant. And you’d better make damn sure he’s not abused. The moment you walk out that door, I’ll be drafting motions.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less, ma’am. Please get up, son.”

Huck complied.

“Please step around to this side of the desk.” Out came the cuffs.

Wallenburg said, “Are you booking him at West L.A. or Downtown?”

“We’ll hold him at West L.A. until appropriate transportation can be arranged.”

“Everything according to procedure,” said Wallenburg. “Talk about average Germans-you damn well better put him on suicide watch.”

“I’m already dead,” said Huck.

Wallenburg raised a hand, as if to slap him. Stared at her quivering fingers and let her arm flop.

“Thank you for everything, Debora,” said Huck.

“You,” she spat, “are a first-class pain in the ass.”

Riding the elevator down to the sub-lot, Huck said, “You really had no choice.”

Reed said, “Why’s she so devoted to you?”

Huck blinked. “Once she told me about volunteer work she does. At animal shelters. She can’t have children.”

“You’re her kid?” said Reed.

“No, but once you save an animal in the shelter, she said, you’re responsible for it.”

“You’re one of her puppies, huh?”

Huck smiled. “I think maybe I am.”

The door opened. Milo took hold of Huck’s cuffed arm, propelled him to the car. “Anything else you want to tell us?”

“I don’t think so. You don’t believe me anyway.”

“They teach you passivity in rehab?”

Huck exhaled. “Life’s been long. Longer than I thought.”

“So it’s time to give up.”

“When there’s something to do, I do. At this point, there’s nothing left.”

I said, “Not necessarily.”