“Seems to have a temper problem. What is he,
Guatemalan?”
“Cuban.”
“Same thing. The latino temperament.”
“What
edge he’s never been in
“I know that, Doctor. We rar
computer. That’s one reason 1
nient and let him go with just a fine. I’ve
to hold him over for quite a while–trespassing,
assault, malicious mischief, interfering with an officer.
Not to mention the damage he did to’ their
gate with his car. But the circuit judge doesn!t get
up this way until winter and we’d have to
to San Diego. It would be complicated.”
“I appreciate your leniency and I’ll write a check
for. any damages.”
He nodded, put out his cigarette, and got on the
phone.
“Walt, write up Dr. Lynch’s fines and include
the estimate on the gate… No need, Dr. Delaware
will come by and pay for it.” A glance in my direction.
“‘Take his check, he looks like an honest man.”
When he hung up he said, “It’s going to be a
sizable sum. The man created lots of problems.”
“He must have been traumatized hearing about
the Swope murders.”
“We were all traumat/zed, Doctor. Nineteen hundred
and seven people live in this town, not count-lng
migrants. Everyone knows everyone. Yesterday
we flew the flag at half mast. When little Woody
got sick it was a kick in the gut for all of us. Now
The sun had changed position and it flooded the
office. Houten squinted. His eyes disappeared in a
thatch of crow’s feet.
“Dr. Lynch seems to have gotten it into his head
that the children are here, over in the Retreat,” he
aidexpectantly: I gt the feelingtwas-be’rog tested
and turned it back on him.
“And you feel that’s out ofthe question.”
“You bet. Those Touch people are–unusual–but
they’re not criminals. When folks found out who
bought the old monastery, there was one hell Of an
uproar. I was supposed to play Wyatt Earp and run
’em out of town.” He smiled .sleepily. “Farmers
don’t always grasp the finer points of due process,
so I had to do a bit of educating.’ The day they
drove into town and actually moved in, it was a
circus, everyone gawking and pointing.
“That very day I went over and had a chat with
Mr. Matthias, gave him a sociology lesson. Told
him they’d do best to keep a low p’ofile, patronize
local businesses, make timely contributions to the
church auxiliary.”
It was precisely the strategy Seth Fiacre had
described.
“They’ve been here three years, without a traffic
ticket. Folks have grown used to them. I drop in on
them when I please, so that everyone knows there’s
no witchcraft brewing behind those gates. They’re
just as strange as the day they moved in. But that’s
all. Strange, not criminal. If felonie were being
committed, I’d know about it.”
“Any chance Woody and Nona could be somewhere
else around here?”
,H,,e lit up again?nd regarded me coldly..
Those children were raised here. They played
in the fields and explored the dirt roads and never
fell into harm’s way. One trip to your big city and
all that’s changed. A small town is like a family,
doctor. We don’t murder each other, or kidnap each
other’s young.”
him that families ar
lence is brewed. But I.,
“There’s one more thing I Want
that you can pass it along to Dr. Lynch.” He
and stood in front of the window. “This is
giant TV screen. The show is called La Vista. Some
days it’s a soap opera, other times a comedy. Once
ina while there’s action and adventure. No matter
what’s on, I watch it every day.”
“Iunderstand.”
“I thought you would, Doctor.”
He retrieved his hat and put it on.
“Let’s go see how the renowned expert is doing.”
The bolt on the metal door responded noisily to
Houten’s key. On the other side were three cells in
a row. I thought of the Laminar Airflow rooms. The
jail was hot and humid, and it stank of body odor
and solitude.
“He’s in the last one,” said Houten.
I followed his bootsteps down the windowless
passageway.
Raoul was sitting on a metal bench bolted to the
wall, staring at the floor. His cell was seven feet