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〃Catherine;〃 James said sternly; changing the subject; 〃have you seen Bambi?〃
〃He was playing in the hall a few minutes ago。〃
〃He looked a little tired;〃 Decker offered。
〃Bambi?〃 Skink made a face。 〃You mean that goddamn yappy dog?〃
James stiffened。 〃He's a pedigreed。〃
〃He's a fucking rodent;〃 Skink said; 〃with a perm。〃
Catherine started to laugh; caught herself。 Even in his jealous snit; Decker had to admit they made a ical foursome。 He was glad to see that Skink's momentary charm had evaporated; he was much more likable as a heathen。
James glared at him and said; 〃I didn't get your name。〃
〃Ichabod;〃 Skink said。 〃Icky for short。〃
Decker suspected; and fervently hoped; that Ichabod was not Skink's real name。 He hoped that Skink had not chosen this particular moment; in front of these particular people; to bare the murky secrets of his soul。 Catherine was known to have that effect on a man。
Inanely Decker said to James; 〃This is quite a place。 Your practice must be going great guns。〃
〃Actually;〃 James said; 〃I picked up this house before I became a doctor。〃 He seemed relieved not to be talking about the poodle or his wife's good looks。 〃Back when I was in real estate;〃 he said; 〃that's when I lucked into the place。〃
〃What kinda real estate?〃 Skink asked。
〃Interval…ownership units;〃 James replied; without looking at him。
〃Timeshares;〃 Catherine added helpfully。
On the sofa Skink shifted with an audible crinkle。 'Timeshares;〃 he said。 〃Wherebouts?〃
Catherine pointed to several small plaques hanging on one of the walls。 〃James was the top salesman three years in a row;〃 she said。 It didn't sound like she was bragging; it sounded like she said it to get it out of the way; knowing James would have mentioned it anyway。
〃And where was this?〃 Skink pressed。
〃Up the coast north of Smyrna;〃 James said。 〃We did very well for a stretch in the late seventies。 Then Tallahassee cracked down; the media went sour on us; and the interval market dried up。 Same old tune。 I figured it was time to move along to something else。〃
〃Boom and bust;〃 Decker played along。 〃That's the story of Florida。〃 Was it purely the money; he wondered; that had attracted Catherine to this lanky twit? In a way he hoped it was that simple; that it was nothing more。
Skink got up and crunched over to examine the plaques。 Catherine and James couldn't take their eyes off him; they had never had such a wild…looking person roaming their house。
〃What was the name of your project?〃 Skink asked; toying with his silvery braid。
〃Sparrow Beach;〃 James said。 〃The Sparrow Beach Club。 Seems like ancient history now。〃
Skink gave no reply; but let out a soft and surprising noise。 It sounded to R。 J。 Decker like a sigh。
〃Is your friend all right?〃 Catherine asked later。
〃Sure;〃 Decker said。 〃He prefers to sleep outdoors; really。〃
In the middle of James's monologue about his sales triumphs at Sparrow Beach; Skink had turned to Catherine and asked if he could spend the night in the backyard。 Decker could tell he was brooding; but had no private moment to ask what was wrong。 Catherine had loaned Skink an old blanket and in a flat voice Skink had thanked her for the hospitality and lumbered out the back door。 He had ignored James pletely。
Skink settled in under a tall avocado tree; and from the window Decker could see him sitting upright against the trunk; facing the narrow waterway that ran behind Catherine's house。 Decker had an urge to join him there; under the stars。
〃Let James have a look at your neck;〃 Catherine said。
〃No; I'll be fine。〃
〃Lie down here;〃 James instructed; making room on the sofa。 〃Lie down on your stomach。〃
The next thing Decker knew; James was hunched over him with one knee propped on the sofa for leverage。 Intently he kneaded and probed the back of Decker's neck; while Catherine watched cross…legged on an ottoman。
〃That hurt?〃 James asked。
Decker grunted。 It did hurt; but the rubbing helped; James seemed to know what he was doing。
〃Brother; you're really out of alignment;〃 he said。
〃That's a medical term?〃
〃Full traction is what you need。 Slings and weights。 Thermal therapy。 Ultrasound。 You're too young for Medicare; otherwise I'd fix you right up with a twelve…week program。〃 James worked his fingers along Decker's spine。 He seemed at ease now; enjoying the role of expert。 〃Have you got any insurance?〃 he asked。
〃Nope;〃 Decker said。
〃Workmen's p? Maybe you're in an HMO。〃
〃Nope。〃 The guy was unbelievable; the pitchman's spark was probably left over from his days of peddling condos。
〃I must caution you;〃 James went on; 〃that injuries such as this should never go untreated。 Your neck has been wrenched badly。〃
〃I'm aware of that;〃 Decker said; wincing under the chiropractor's explorations。 〃Tell me; what's the difference between this and a massage?〃
〃I'm a doctor; that's the difference。 Don't move now; I think I've got an extra brace in the trunk of the car。〃
After James had left the room; Catherine came over and knelt down on the floor next to Decker。 〃Tell me what's happened; Rage。〃
〃Somebody's trying to frame me for a murder。〃
〃Who? Not the Fish People!〃
〃Afraid so;〃 Decker said。 He was ready for a trenchant scolding…this was Catherine's specialty…but for some reason (probably pity) she refrained。
〃The guy out back; Grizzly Adams…〃
〃He's all right;〃 Decker said。
〃James is scared of him。〃
〃So am I; but he's all I've got。〃
Catherine kissed him lightly on the ear。 〃Is there anything I can do?〃
For one flushed moment Decker felt his heart stop。 Bump; bump…then dead air。 All from a whiff of perfume and a silly peck on the earlobe。 It was so wonderful that Decker almost forgot she'd dumped him for a guy who wore ninety…dollar bathrobes。
Catherine said; 〃I want to help。〃
〃Does James have a broker?〃 Decker asked。
〃Yes。 Hutton; Shearson; somebody big like that。 It's a VIP account; that much I know。 They sent us a magnum of champagne last Christmas。〃
Decker said; 'This is what I need。 Tell James you got a tip at the beauty parlor…〃
〃Oh; please。〃
〃Or wherever; Catherine; just tell him you got a tip on a stock。 It's traded as OCN; I think。 The Outdoor Christian Network。 See if your husband's broker can send over a prospectus。 I need a copy as soon as possible。〃
She said; 〃He'll think it's odd。 We never talk about his investments。〃
〃Try it;〃 Decker said。 〃Play dumb and sweet and just…trying…to…help。 You can do it。〃
〃You're still an asshole; Rage。〃
〃And you're still a vision; Catherine。 Would your husband get too terribly upset if you and I took off our clothes and hopped in the shower? We can tell him it's part of my medical treatment。 Hot…water traction; they call it。〃
At that moment James walked in; too preoccupied to notice his wife scooting back to the ottoman。 James was carrying a foam…padded brace; the kind that fastens around the neck like a collar。
〃That man;〃 he said indignantly; 〃has built a bonfire in our backyard!〃
Catherine went to the window。 〃For heaven's sake it's not a bonfire;〃 she said。 〃It's just a barbecue; honey; no worse than you and your hibachi。〃
〃But the hiba