Chase nodded.
“I’d imagine the medals don’t mean much. I mean, considering everything you had to go through to earn them, they must seem kind of insignificant.”
Chase looked up from his drink, surprised at the insight. “You’re right. They don’t mean anything.”
Tuppinger said, “And it must be hard to come back from a place like that and settle into a normal life. Memories couldn’t fade that quickly.”
Chase started to respond, then saw Tuppinger glance meaningfully at the glass of whiskey in his hand. He closed his mouth, bit off his response. Then, hating Tuppinger as badly as he hated Judge, he lifted the drink and took a large swallow.
He said, “I’ll have another, I think. Sure you don’t want one?”
“Positive,” Tuppinger said.
When Chase returned to the bed with another glassful, Tuppinger cautioned him against answering the phone without first waiting for the tape to be started. Then he went into the bathroom, where he remained almost ten minutes.
When the cop returned, Chase asked, “How late do we have to stay up?”
“Has he ever called this late – except that first night?”
“No,” Chase said.
“Then I’ll turn in now,” Tuppinger said, flopping in the easy chair. “See you in the morning.”
* * *
In the morning, the whispers of the dead men woke Chase, but they proved to be nothing more than the sound of water running in the bathroom sink. Having risen first, Tuppinger was shaving.
When the cop opened the door and came into the main room of the tiny efficiency apartment a few minutes later, he looked refreshed. “All yours!” He seemed remarkably energetic for having spent the night in the armchair.
Chase took his time bathing and shaving, because the longer he remained in the bathroom, the less he would have to talk to the cop. When he was finally finished, it was quarter to ten. Judge had not yet called.
“What have you got for breakfast?” Tuppinger asked.
“Sorry. There isn’t anything here.”
“Oh, you’ve got to have something. Doesn’t have to be breakfast food. I’m not particular in the morning. I’ll eat a cheese sandwich as happily as bacon and eggs.”
Chase opened the refrigerator and took out the bag of Winesap apples. “Only these.”
Tuppinger stared at the apples and into the empty refrigerator. He glanced at the whiskey bottle on the counter. He didn’t say anything.
“They’ll do fine,” Tuppinger said enthusiastically, taking the clear plastic bag of apples from Chase. “Want one?”
“No.”
“You ought to eat breakfast,” Tuppinger said. “Even something small. Gets the stomach working, sharpens you for the day ahead.”
“No, thanks.”
Tuppinger carefully peeled two apples, sectioned them, and ate them slowly, chewing well.
By ten-thirty Chase was worried. Suppose Judge did not call today? The idea of having Tuppinger here for the afternoon and the evening, of waking up again to the sound of Tuppinger in the bathroom shaving, was all but intolerable.
“Do you have a relief man?” Chase asked.
“Unless it gets too protracted,” Tuppinger said, “I’ll stick with it myself.”
“How long might that be?”
“Oh,” Tuppinger said, “if we don’t have it wrapped up in forty-eight hours, I’ll call in my relief.”
Though another forty-eight hours with Tuppinger was in no way an attractive prospect, it was probably no worse – perhaps better than it would have been with another cop. Tuppinger was too observant for comfort, but he didn’t talk much. Let him look. And let him think whatever he wanted to think. As long as he could keep his mouth shut, they wouldn’t have any problems.
At noon Tuppinger ate two more apples and cajoled Chase into eating most of one. They decided that Chase would go for take-out fried chicken, fries, and slaw at dinnertime.
At twelve-thirty Chase had his first Jack Daniel’s of the day.
Tuppinger watched, but he didn’t say anything.
Chase didn’t offer him a drink this time.
At three in the afternoon the telephone rang. Although this was what they had been waiting for since the night before, Chase didn’t want to answer it. Because Tuppinger was there, urging him to pick it up while he adjusted his own earphones, he finally lifted the receiver.