common on the outskirts of cities. Once-forty or fifty years ago-it had
been the proud symbol of a rising middle class extending themselves out
beyond the cement confines toward the country, but not so courageous as to
leave the city completely. It wasn’t so much run down as it was . . . not
spruced up. The most glaring aspect of the apartment house to Matlock,
however, was that it seemed to be a most unlikely place for a student to
reside.
But he was there now; Peter Daniels had ascertained that.
Pace had not wanted to unlatch the door. It was only Matlock’s strong
emphasis on two points that made the student relent. The first point was
that he wasift from the police; the second, the name of Rocco Aiello.
“What do you want? I’ve got a lot of work to do;
276 Robert Ludlum
I dodt have time to talk. I’ve got comprehensives tDmorrow.
-May I sit downP-
‘What for? I told you, Im busy.’ The tat brownhah-ed student crossed back
to his desk, piled with books and papers. The apartment was neat-except for
the desk-end quite large. There were doors and short corridors leading to
other doors. It was the sort of apartment that usually was shared by four
or five students. But Alan Pace had no roommates.
“I’ll sit down anyway. You owe that much to Rocco.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just that Rocco was my friend. I was the one with him the other night when
you brought him a tab to sign. Remember? And he was good to you. … Hes
dead.”
“I know. I read about it Im sorry. But I diddt owe him anything.”
“But you bought from him.”
“I dodt know what you’re talking aboue
‘Come on, Pace. You don’t have the time and neither do 1. You~re not
connected to Aiello’s death, I know that. But I’ve got to have information,
and yoere going to supply it”
“You!re talking to the wrong person. I don!t know you. I don’t know
anything.”
“I know you. I’ve got a complete rundown on you. Aiello and I were
considering going into business together. Now, that’s none of your concern,
I realize that, but we exchanged . . . personnel information. rm coming to
you because, frankly, Rocco’s gone and there are areas that need filling.
I’m really asking a favor, and I’ll pay for it.”
01 told you, rm not your man. I hardly knew A161- TBE MATLOCK PAP= r/7
Io. I picked up a few dollars waiting tables. Sure, I heard rumors, but
thaes all. I don~t know what you want, but yoxed better go to someone else.”
Pace was sharp, thought Matlock. He was disen. gaging himself but not
foolishly claiming complete innocence. On the other hand, perhaps he was
telling the truth. There was only one way to find out
“I’ll try again… Fifteen months in Vietnam. Saigon, Da Nang; excursions
to Hong Kong, Japan. I&S officer, the dullest, most exasperating kind of
work for a young man with the potential that earns him honors at a very
tough university.’
“I&S was good duty; no combat, no sweat Everybody made the tourist hops.
Check the R&R routs sheets.”
“Then,” continued Matlock without acknowledging Pace~s interruption, “the
dedicated officer rehirns to civilian life After a four-month voluntary
extension in Saigon-rm surprised you weren~t caught up on that one–he
comes back with enough money to make the proper investments, and certainly
not from his army pay. He!s one of the biggest suppliers in New Haven. Do
you want me to go on?”
Pace stood by the desk and seemed to stop breathIng. He stared at Matlock,
his face white. When he spoke, it was the voice of a frightened young man.
“You can’t prove anything. I haven’t done anything. My army record, my
record here-they’re both good. The3ere very good.*
Ile best Unblemished. They’re records to be proud of; I mean that
sincerely. And I wouldn’t want to do anything to spoil them; I mean that,
too.”
“You couldn’t. I’m cleanf”
“No, you’re not. You’re up to your fellowship neck. Aiello made that clear.
On paper,”
-sig Robed Ludluin
-Yotfre lyingf-
You re stupid. You &Ink Aiello would do business with anyone he didn’t run
a check on? Do you think Wd be allowed to? He kept very extensive books,
Pace, and Ive got them I told you, we were going Into business tDgether.
You don1 form a partnership without audit disclosures, you should know
that”
Pace spoke barely above a whisper. “Thore are no books like that There
never are. Cities, towns, codes. No names. Never any names.”
‘Then why am I here?”
‘You saw me in Hartford; you!re reaching for a comiection.”
“You know better than that. Don’t he foolish.”
Matlock’s quickly put implications were too much for the tall, shocked
young man. “Why did you come to me? Im not that important You say you know
about me; then you know rm not important~
“I told you. I need information. Im reluctant to go tD the high priests,
anyone with real authority. I doet want to be at a disadvantage. Thats why
I’m willing tD pay; why I’m prepared to tear up everything Ive gDt on YOU.
so
The prospect of being cut free of the stranger’s grip was obviously all
that was on Paas mind. He replied quickly.
‘Suppose I can!t answer your questions? You’ll think I’m lying.”
“You can’t be worse off. All you can do is try me
‘Go ahead.*
^I met a girl … from a nearby college. I met her under circumstances that
can only be described as professional prostitution. Professional in every
sense of the word. Appointinents, set fees, no prior knowl-
THE MATLOCK PAM 279
edge of clients, the works. . . . What do you know about itr
Pace took several steps toward Matlock. “What do you mean, what do I know?
I know it!s there. What else is there to know?”
“How extensiver
“All over. Ies not new&”
“It is to me.”
“You don’t know the scene. Take a walk around a few college towns.”
Matlock swallowed. Was he really that far out of touch? “Suppose I were to
tell you I’m familiar with a lot of … college townsr
“rd say your circles were cubed. Also, rm no part of that action. What
else?”
‘I&es stick to this for a minute…. Why?” Why what?-
“Why do the girls do it?”
“Bread, man. Why does anyone do anything?”
“YoxiCre too intelligent to believe that … Is it organized?”
“I guess so. I told you, I’m no part of it”
‘Watch itl Ive got a lot of paper on you. . .
“All right Yes, ies organized. Everythines organized. If it’s going to
work.”
“Where TecificaUy are the operations?”
“I told youl All over.*
“Inside the colleges?”
“No, not inside. On the outskirts. A couple of miles usually, if the
campuses are rural. Old houses, away from the suburbs. If they’re in
cities–downtown hotels, private clubs, apartment houses. But not here.”
“Are we talking about … Columbia, Harvard, Radcliffe, Smith, Holyoke? And
points south?”
28o Robert LucUum
~Everyone always forgets PrinceW replied Pace with a wry smile. ‘A lot of
nice old estates in those back roads…. Yes, were talking about those
piaces.w
I never would have believed it . . .- Matlock spoke as much to himself as
to Pam “But, whyP Doet give me the ‘bread! routine. . . .”
“Bread is fnwdom manI For these kids Ifs freedom. Theyre not psyched-up
freaks; theyre not running around in black berets and field jacketL Very
few of us am Weve Wmed. Get the money, fella, and the nice people will like
you. … Also, whether yoeve noticed it or not, the stritight moneys not as
easy to come by as it once was. Most of these kids need e
‘Jrhe girl I mentioned before; I gathered she was forced Into e
‘Oh, Jesus, nobodys forcedl Thafs crap
‘She was. She mentioned a few things…. Controls is as good a word as any.
Courts, doctors, even jobs … 0
1 woul(Wt know anything about that.-
‘And afterward. Malang contact later-perhaps a few years later. Plain
old-fashioned blackmaA just as rm blackmailing you now.”
‘Men she was in trouble before; this girl, I mean. If fes a bummer, she
doesn’t have to make the trip. Unless shes into somebody and owes what she
caet pay f=*
‘Who is Nimrod?’ Matlock asked the question softly, without emphasis. But
the question caused the young man to turn and walk away
“I do@Yt know that I don’t have that hiformatIon.’
Matlock got out of the chair and stood motionless. On ask you just once
more, and if I dodt get an answer, rU walk out the door and you’ll be
finished.
THE MAnA= P”IM 281
A very promising life will be altered drastically–4f you have a life….
Who is Nimrod?”
The boy whipped around and Matlock saw the fear again. The fear he had seen