Cynthia Chenowith came into the room a few minutes later. She was wearing a house robe, and sleep was in her eyes.
“Hello, Canidy,” she said. “Welcome home. I see you found the whiskey.”
“Hello, Cynthia,” Canidy said. “How are you?”
He was really surprised to see mi, She gave him her hand. It was soft and warm, and her breasts moved unrestrained under the housecoat. She was a very goodlooking female. It would be nice to get her out of that housecoat.
Jimmy has told me he loves her, he realized. Only a prick would try to jump his best friend’s lady love. Ergo, that makes me a genuine prick.
He glanced at Baker and saw on his face that he, too, admired Cynthia Chenowith’s unrestrained bosom and other physical charms.
“You don’t seem very surprised to see me she said. “Nothing much surprises me anymore Canidy said. “We didn’t know when you were coming,” Cynthia said to Baker. “The last we heard was that you were in Lisbon.”
“We?” Canidy asked. “Are you involved in whatever this is?”
“Mrs. Whittaker has turned the house over to the colonel for the duration,” Cynthia said.
“That wasn’t what I asked 9” Canidy said.
“I know it wasn’t ‘ ” she said. She looked at Baker. “Well, I expect you’re tired. He’s here. You can go home.”
“Yeah, Eldon,” Canidy said. “Take a walk. The lady and I want to be alone.”
Neither Cynthia nor Baker seemed amused.
“Is the captain going to be available in the morning?” Baker asked. “After nine,” Cynthia said. “I’ll be here then,” Baker said. “Is there a car?”
“Yes. You need a ride?”
“Please,” he said. “I think the driver’s in the kitchen,” Cynthia said. “Then I will head for home,” Baker said. “Good night, Canidy. Good night, Cynthia.”
“Good night, good night,” Canidy said cheerfully. “Finally parting with you, Eldon, is such sweet sorrow.”
“He’s yours, Cynthia Baker said, ignoring him.
“Entirely,” Canidy said. “Heart and soul.”
“Oh, shut up, Dick she said, but didn’t quite manage to suppress a smile.
“I was sorry to hear about Mr. Whittaker,” Canidy said after he was sure Baker was out of hearing.
“It was a stroke. The day the war started.”
“I know how much he meant to you,” Canidy said.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked.
“Just the way it sounded,” he said. “Has there been any word about Jimmy?”
“Not a word,” she said. “Except a letter he wrote to his aunt a week or so before the war started.”
She seemed genuinely concerned.
“What’s going on around here?” Canidy asked.
“I suppose you’ll have the chance to ask about that tomorrow, she said.
“And what’s your role in all this?”
“Can I get you something?” she asked, ignoring the question. “Something to eat?”
“I ate a sandwich on the train,” he said. “I asked, what’s your role in all this?”
“I knew you were probably going to be difficult,” she said. “Can’t it wait until morning, Dick?”
“And if I said no, you would say “It’ll have to,’right?”
“Yes.” She grinned. “Now, is there anything I can get you? Or can I take you to your room?”
“Is there a phone in my room?”
“I want to call my father,” he said.
“You’re not supposed to do that she said. Then she saw the look on his face and quickly went on. “You’re under certain restrictions here, Dick. They’ll be explained to you in detail in the morning. Until they are, you aren’t supposed to use the telephone or mail letters…
THE LAST BEBOEB 279
“For Christ’s sake!” Canidy fumed. “That’s absurd!”
“That’s the way it is,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
He started toward the library door. “Nice to have seen you again, Cynthia?” he said.
“And you’re restricted to the property,” she said. “You can’t leave.”
He stopped. “Those cops, you mean?”
“Dick, I can get you an outside line to call your father,” she said. “Provided you don’t tell him you’re here. Just to say hello, that’s all. And I’ll have to listen. If you say anything you shouldn’t, I’ll cut You off.”
He looked at her, then turned and came closer to her.