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Danny Pogue pushed him with the crutch。 〃I can't fucking believe it；〃 he said。 〃Somebody hit the place。〃
〃No；〃 said Bud Schwartz； 〃it's more than that。〃
The sofas had been slit； chairs broken； mirrors shattered。 A ceramic Siamese cat had been smashed face…first through the big…screen television。 While Danny Pogue hopscotched through the rubble； Bud Schwartz went directly to the bedroom； which also had been ransacked and vandalized。 He reached under the mattress and found the Kingsbury files exactly where he had left them。 Whoever did the place hadn't been looking very hard； if it all。
A hoarse shout came from the kitchen。
Bud Schwartz found Danny Pogue on his knees next to Molly McNamara。 She lay on her back； with one leg folded crookedly under the other。 Her housecoat； torn and stained with something dark； was bunched around her hips。 Her face had been beaten to pulp； beads of blood glistened like holly berries in her snowy hair。 Her eyes were closed and her lips were gray； but she was breathing…raspy； irregular gulps。
Danny Pogue took Molly's wrist。 〃God Almighty；〃 he said； voice quavering。 〃What…who do we call？〃
〃Nobody。〃 Bud Schwartz shook his head ruefully。 〃Don't you understand； we can't call nobody。〃 He bent down and put his bandaged hand on Molly's forehead。 〃Who the hell would do this to an old lady？〃
〃I hope she don't die。〃
〃Me； too；〃 said Bud Schwartz。 〃Honest to God； this ain't right。〃
SEVENTEEN
Joe Winder's trousers were soaked from the thighs down。 Nina took a long look and said： 〃You've been fishing。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃In the middle of the day。〃
〃The fish are all gone；〃 Winder said dismally。 〃Ever since they bulldozed the place。〃
Nina sat cross…legged on the floor。 She wore blue…jean shorts and a pink cotton halter； the same outfit she'd been wearing the day he'd met her； calling out numbers at the Seminole bingo hall。 Joe Winder had gone there to meet an Indian named Sammy Deer； who purportedly was selling an airboat； but Sammy Deer had hopped over to Freeport for the weekend； leaving Joe Winder stuck with three hundred chain…smoking white women in the bingo hall。 Halfway out the door； he'd heard Nina's voice （〃Q 34； Q； as in 〃quicksilver；〃 34！〃）； spun around and went back to see if she looked as lovely as she sounded； and she had。 Nina informed him that she was part…timing as a bingo caller until the telephone gig came through； and he confided to her that he was buying an airboat so he could disappear into the Everglades at will。 He changed his plans after their first date。
Now； analyzing her body language； Joe Winder knew that he was in danger of losing Nina's affections。 A yellow legal pad was propped on her lap。 She tapped on a bare knee with her felt…tipped pen； which she held as a drummer would。
〃What happened to your big meeting？〃 she said。 〃Why aren't you at the Kingdom？〃
He pretended not to hear。 He said； 〃They dumped a ton of fill in the cove。 The bottom's mucky and full of cut trees。〃 He removed his trousers and arranged them crookedly on a wire hanger。 〃All against the law； of course。 Dumping in a marine sanctuary。〃
Nina said； 〃You got canned； is that it？〃
〃A mutual parting of the ways； and not a particularly amicable one。〃 Joe Winder sat down beside her。 He sensed a lecture ing on。
〃Put on some pants；〃 she said。
〃What's the point？〃
Nina asked why his tongue was blue； and he told her the story of the bogus mango voles。 She said she didn't believe a word。
〃Charlie practically admitted everything。〃
〃I don't really care；〃 Nina said。 She stopped drumming on her kneecap and turned away。
〃What is it？〃
〃Look； I can't afford to support you。〃 When she looked back at him； her eyes were moist and angry。 〃Things were going so well；〃 she said。
Winder was stunned。 Was she seriously worried about the money？ 〃Nina； there's a man dead。 Don't you understand？ I can't work for a murderer。〃
〃Stop it！〃 She shook the legal pad in front of his nose。 〃You know what I've been working on？ Extra scripts。 The other girls like my stuff so much they offered to buy； like； two or three a week。 Twenty…five bucks each； it could really add up。〃
〃That's great。〃 He was proud of her； that was the hell of it。 She'd never believe that he could be proud of her。
Pen in mouth； Nina said： 〃I wrote about an out…of…body experience。 Like when you're about to die and you can actually see yourself lying there…but then you get saved at the very last minute。 Only my script was about making love； about floating out of yourself just as you're about to e。 Suspended in air； I looked down at the bed and saw myself shudder violently； my fingernails raking across your broad tan shoulders。 I gave it to the new girl； Addie； and she tried it Friday night。 One guy； she said； he called back eleven times。〃
〃Is that a new record？〃
〃It just so happens； yes。 But the point is； I'm looking at a major opportunity。 If I start selling enough scripts； maybe I can get off the phones。 Just stay home and write…wouldn't that be better？〃
〃Sure would。〃 Winder put his arm around her。 〃You can still do that； honey。 It would be great。〃
〃Not with you sitting here every day。 Playing your damn Warren Zevon。〃
〃I'll get another job。〃
〃No； Joe； it'll be the same old shit。〃 She pulled away and got up from the floor。 〃I can't write when my life is in turmoil。 I need a stabilizer。 Peacefulness。 Quiet。〃
Winder felt wounded。 〃For God's sake； Nina； I know a little something about writing。 This place is plenty quiet。〃
〃There is tension；〃 she said grimly； 〃and don't deny it。〃
〃Writers thrive on domestic tension。 Look at Poe； Hemingway…and Mailer in his younger days； you talk about tense。〃 He hoped Nina would appreciate being included on such an eminent roster； but she didn't。 Impatiently he said； 〃It isn't exactly epic literature； anyway。 It's phone porn。〃
Her expression clouded。 〃Phone porn？ Thanks； Joe。〃
〃Well； Christ； that's what it is。〃
Coldly she folded her arms and leaned against one of the tall speakers。 〃It's still writing； and writing is hard work。 If I'm going to make a go of it； I need some space。 And some security。〃
〃If you're talking about groceries； don't worry。 I intend to pull my own weight。〃
Nina raised her hands in exasperation。 〃Where can you find another job that pays so much？〃
Joe Winder couldn't believe what he was hearing。 Why the sudden anxiety？ The laying on of guilt？ If he'd known he was in for a full…blown argument； he indeed would have put on some pants。
Nina said； 〃It's not just the money。 I need someone reliable； someone who will be here for me。〃
〃Have I ever let you down？〃
〃No； but you will。〃
Winder didn't say anything because she was absolutely correct； nothing in his immediate plans would please her。
〃I know you；〃 Nina added； in a sad voice。 〃You aren't going to let go of this thing。〃
〃Probably not。〃
〃Then I think we're definitely heading in different directions。 I think you're going to end up in jail； or maybe dead。〃
〃Have some faith；〃 Joe Winder said。
〃It's not that easy。〃 Nina stalked to the closet； flung open the door and stared at the clutter。 〃Where〃d you put my suitcase？〃
In the mid…1970s； Florida