Bye Bye Baby

FRIDAY
21

It was about nine-thirty when I drove to Mrs Wilson's. The sun was out and it felt like the wrong kind of weather.

I'd swung by the station at seven. Dropped off the fake finger, wrote up a brief report.

I hadn't slept much. I suspected Mrs Wilson wouldn't have slept much either. I was right. She answered the door wearing the same clothes she'd had on last night. Most likely she hadn't even gone to bed.

She looked rough, but then I'd never seen her look anything but.

"Have a few things to check out," I said. "Can't stay."

"Who is it?" Les's voice in the distance.

"Heard anything from the kidnapper?" I asked Mrs Wilson.

She winked at me, then shook her head.

"When you do, call me," I said. "Right away."

"Okay."

"It's important. That business with the finger," I said. "We can't be too careful."

Les appeared behind her. He was dressed too, twirling his keys on the end of his crooked index finger. He gave me a look and said, "Still don't trust me?"

I wasn't sure what he meant.

"Then tag along," he said.