I want to do something, to stop feeling
so .damned helpless.”
I nodded and waited. She winced.
? -‘ : “‘132 Jonat/um Kellermaa
“Augie Valcroix knew the couple from the Touch
who came to visit the Swopes,” she said.
“How do you know ?”
“I saw him talking to them, calling them by name,
and I asked him about it. He said he visited the
place once, thought it was nice. Peaceful.”
“Did he say why ?”
“Just that he was interested in alternative lifestyles.
I know that’s true because in the past he’d
spoken of checking out other groups–Scientologists,
Lifespring, a Buddhist place in santa Barbara. He’s
Canadian, thinks the whole California thing is
fascinating.”
“Did you ever detect any collusion between
them?”
“None. Just that they knew each other.”
“You said he used their names. Do you remember
them?”
“I think he called the guy Gary or Barry. I never
heard the woman’s name. You don’t really think
this was some sort of conspiracy, do you?”
“Who knows?”
She squirmed as if her clothes were too tight,
caught the waiter’s eye; and ordered a banana liqueur.
She sipped it slowly ‘trying to appear relaxed,
but she was jumpy and ill-at-ease.
She put the glass down with a furtive look in her
eyes.
“Is there anything else, Bev ?”
She nodded, embarrassed. When she spoke it was
barely a whisper.
“This is probafiy even less relevant but as long
as I’m blabbing I might as well spill it all out. Augie
and Nona Swope had a thing going. I’m not sure
when it started. Not too long ago because the lam-
ily was only in town a couple
died with her napkin. “God, I feel like such a
If it weren’t for Woody I’d never have opened my
mouth.”
“I know that.”
“I wanted to tell your cop friend about it right
there, at the motel–he seemed nice enough–but I
just couldn’t. Then I got to thinking about it later
and I couldn’t let go of it. I mean, what if there was
a way to help that little boy and I let it go by ? But I
still didn’t want to go to the police. I figured if I
told you, you’d know what t’o do with it.”
“You did the right thing.”
“I wish doing right didn’t feel so wrong.” Her
voice broke. “I wish I could be sure. that my telling
you has any meaning.”
“All I can do is let Milo know. At this point he’S
not even convinced acrime’s been committed. The
only one who seems sure of that is Raoul.”
“He’s always sure of everything,” she said angrily.
“Ready to assess blame at the lrop of a hat.
He dumps on everyone but Augie’s been his favor,
ite scapegoat since he got here.”
She dug the nails of ‘one hand into the palm ‘of
the other. “And now I’ve made things worse for
· “Not necessarily. Milo may brush it off completely
or he may choose to talk to Valcroix. But he
doesn’t care what Raoul thinks. No one’s going to
get railroaded, Bev.”
That was meager balm for her conscience.
“I still feel like a traitor. Augie’s my friend.”
“Look at it this way, if Valcroix’s sleeping with
Nona had anything to do with this mess, you did a
good deed. If not, he can endure a. few questions.
It’s not like the guy’s a total innocent.”
“What do you mean ?”
“The way I hear it he makes a habit of sleeping
with his patients’ mothers. This time it was a sister,
for variety. At the very least it’s unethical.”
“That’s so self-righteous,” she snapped, turning
scarlet, “so damned judgmental!”
I started’ to reply but before I knew what was
happening she got up from the table, grabbed her
purse, and ran out of the restaurant.
I pulled out my wallet, threw down a twenty and
went after her.
She was half-running, half-walking north on
Westwood Boulevard, swinging her arms like a foot
soldier, heading into the crush and commotion of
the Village at night.
I ran, caught up, and took her arm. Her face was
wet’with tears.
“What the bell’s going on, Bev?”