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〃He doesn't need any money； Hoke；〃 Bill said。 〃If he can't pay； we can get him a lawyer free。〃
〃This is a benevolent state。〃 Hoke smiled。 〃The government will pay for a lawyer if you're broke。 Do you understand？〃
〃Why do I need a lawyer？〃 Morrow frowned。 〃I haven't done anything illegal。〃
〃It's just that we don't know what you're working on；〃 Hoke said。 〃Maybe it's legal and maybe it isn't。〃
〃My system；〃 Morrow said； pressing his lips； 〃isn't for sale！〃 He closed his notebook and slid it under the slipless pillow。 He crossed his arms in front of his chest。
〃It looks to me；〃 Hoke said； glancing around the room； 〃like your system； whatever it is； isn't working。 You seem to be living under…what's the term？…reduced circumstances； Captain。 The last time we talked to you； about three years ago； you were living in a nice neighborhood with a swimming pooi in your backyard。〃
〃That's because they changed the wheels on me。 My system is foolproof； but they got onto me and rigged the wheels。〃
〃When did you invent your system？〃 Bill asked from the doorway。 〃Before or after you killed your wife？〃
〃Before。 Frances just didn't understand； that's all。 I told her we could bee millionaires within a year or so； but she wanted me to keep flying。 She didn't have faith in me。 She wouldn't let me resign from the airline； or even take an extended leave of absence。 And she refused to sign the papers so I could sell the house。〃
〃We always wondered why you killed her； but could never e up with a motive；〃 Hoke said。 〃Let me take a look at your notebook for a moment。 I promise not to use your system。〃
〃You can believe Sergeant Moseley； Captain Morrow；〃 Henderson said。 〃He's got his own system。〃
〃He couldn't understand mine anyway。〃 Morrow shrugged。 〃Even if I explained it； you still wouldn't understand it。 Look at the notebook all you like。〃 He handed Hoke the Blue Horse notebook。
Hoke paged through it。 There were long columns of figures on each page； with the arabic numbers written as small as possible with a ballpoint pen。 The numbers 36； 8； 4； and 0 were circled on each page。
〃You're right； Captain；〃 Hoke said； passing the notebook to Henderson。 〃It's too plicated for me。〃 Henderson riffled through the pages； shook his head； and returned the notebook to Morrow。
〃If we promise not to use it； will you explain some of it to us？〃 Hoke said。
〃Do you promise？〃 Morrow narrowed his eyes。
Henderson raised his right hand； and so did Hoke。
〃I promise；〃 Hoke said。
〃Me； too；〃 Bill said。
Morrow pointed to Ellita。 〃What about her？〃
〃I won't tell anyone either；〃 Ellita said； raising her right hand。 〃I promise。〃
Morrow wet his lips。 〃It's too plicated for a woman to understand anyway。 Frances couldn't understand it； and I tried my best to explain it to her。〃
〃Is that why you killed Frances？〃 Bill asked。 〃Because she was too dumb？〃
〃Frances wasn't dumb！〃 Captain Morrow raised his voice。 〃She was a receptionist for a lawyer when I met her； and she had a high…school diploma。 But mathematics are beyond a woman's prehension。 They're too emotional to understand arithmetic； let alone logarithms。 Here； let me show you。〃 Morrow opened his notebook and pointed to the vertical columns of figures。 〃It's not that hard to understand； not if you have the patience。 Even you two men should be able to grasp the basics。 You bet the eight and the four three times； then you bet thirty…six five times。 Meanwhile； you watch the Oh； the house number。 The Oh and the double…Oh are both house numbers； but the single Oh is the one you watch。 If the Oh doesn't e up during your first eight bets on the three numbers； then you start to play the Oh only； and double up until it hits。 Four； eight； and thirty…six e up more often than any of the other numbers； and I can prove it by my notebook。 So you'll break even； or pull ahead a little while you wait for the Oh to miss eight times。 After eight times； the Oh's odds change； and it only takes a few turns of the wheel； doubling up； before it hits。 Then； what you've done； you've made a nice profit for the day。 If you play my system every day； betting with fifty…cent chips； you'll earn about five hundred dollars a day。 No one understands roulette any better than I do。〃
〃Where'd you play roulette？〃 Hoke said。 〃Nassau？〃
〃Aruba。 After I sold my house I moved to Aruba and rented a little beach house。 I just rented it。 I could've bought it； but I didn't。 Sometimes； when the wheel wasn't right…it's dry in Aruba； but there's more humidity some days than others； and humidity affects the wheel； you see…I'd fly over to Curacao。 I'd play the casinos there。 But I liked Aruba best。 I had a housekeeper； and learned enough Papiamento to tell her what I wanted for lunch and what to get at the store。 I got up late； swam some； ate lunch； took a nap； and then had another swim。 Then I would eat dinner at one of the hotels； and play in the casino till midnight。 I put in a six…hour working day； and my system worked fine。 When I won five hundred； I quit for the day。 Otherwise； on slow days； when I only won two or three hundred； I still quit after putting in six hours of play。 After six hours； it's hard to maintain your concentration； you see。〃
〃You must've made a lot of money；〃 Bill said。
〃I did。 But then something happened。 What I think is they got onto me and changed the wheels or something。 I started to lose； but it wasn't my system's fault。 My system's foolproof。 All you need is concentration and patience。 One mistake； one bet on the wrong number out of sequence； and it won't work。 And that's what I don't understand。 I never varied from it。 Before I took my leave of absence from the airline； I'd already tested the system in Nassau； in San Juan； and in Aruba； you see。 I'd fly deadhead down there and spend a weekend in the casinos。 It never failed me； and that's what I tried to explain to Frances。 I hated flying。 Flying a plane's the most boring job in the world； and roulette was our ticket out。 But Frances just couldn't understand。〃
〃But your wife was two months pregnant；〃 Hoke said。 〃Maybe she wanted the security your job offered her？〃
Morrow snorted。 〃There is no security；' General Douglas MacArthur once said； 'there's only opportunity。' Besides； I told her there'd be no problem in Aruba with the baby。 It would be Just as easy to get an abortion in Aruba as it was in Miami。 Or； if she wanted to； I told her； she could have her abortion in Miami； and then join me later in Aruba。〃
Ellita started to cry。 She didn't make a sound； but tears rolled down her cheeks。 Hoke and Bill looked at her； and then at each other。
〃Excuse me；〃 Ellita said； breaking in sharply。 〃But I've got to go to the bathroom across the hall。 Would you guys mind waiting till I get back before you go on？ I don't want to miss any of this conversation； and I 。 。 。 I think your system's brilliant； Captain Morrow。〃
Captain Morrow smiled； and got to his feet。 〃Not at all。〃 He sat down again as Ellita left the room and closed the door behind her。
〃Did you lose it all； Captain？〃 Hoke asked。
Morrow nodded。 〃I think we'd better wait for the little lady。 She said she didn't want to miss anything。〃
〃Sure。〃 Hoke nodded。 Hend