“whatlistwouldthatbe?”heinquired.

“thebarred-windowboys.ifigureyoumightknowmyfriendalready.hisname’swade.ifigureyoumighthavehimstashedawaysomewhereinlittlewhiteroom.theguyismissingfromhome.”

“youareanass,”dr.vukanichtoldme.“idon’tgoinforpennyantestufflikefour-dayliquorcures.theycurenothinginanycase.ihavenolittlewhiteroomsandiamnotacquaintedwiththefriendyoumention—evenifheexists.thatwillbetendollars—cash—rightnow.orwouldyourathericalledthepoliceandmakeacomplaintthatyousolicitedmefornarcotics?”

“thatwouldbedandy,”isaid.“let’s.”

“getoutofhere,youcheapgrifter.”

istoodupoffthechair.“iguessimadeamistake,doctor.thelasttimetheguybrokeparoleheholedupwithadoctorwhosenamebeganwithv.itwasstrictlyanundercoveroperation.theyfetchedhimlateatnightandbroughthimbackthesamewaywhenhewasoverthejumps.didn’tevenwaitlongenoughtoseehimgointhehouse.sowhenhehopsthecoopagainanddon’tcomebackforquiteapiece,naturallywecheckoverourfilesforalead.wecomeupwiththreedoctorswhosenamesbeginwithv.”

“interesting,”hesaidwithableaksmile.hewasstillgivingmetime.“whatisthebasisofyourselection?”

istaredathim.hisrighthandwasmovingsoftlyupanddowntheupperpartofhisleftarmontheinsideofit.hisfacewascoveredwithalightsweat.

“sorry,doctor.weoperateveryconfidential.”

“excusemeamoment.ihaveanotherpatientthat—”

helefttherestofithangingintheairandwentout.whilehewasgoneanursepokedherheadthroughthedoorway,lookedatmebrieflyandwithdrew.

thendr.vukanichcamebackinstrollinghappily.hewassmilingandrelaxed.hiseyeswerebright.

“what?areyoustillhere?”helookedverysurprisedorpretendedto.“ithoughtourlittlevisithadbeenbroughttoanend.”

“i’mleaving.ithoughtyouwantedmetowait.”

hechuckled.“youknowsomething,mr.marlowe?weliveinextraordinarytimes.foramerefivehundreddollarsicouldhaveyouputinthehospitalwithseveralbrokenbones.comical,isn’tit?”

“hilarious,”isaid.“shootyourselfinthevein,don’tyou,doc?boy,doyoubrightenup!”

istartedout.“hastaluego,amigo,”hechirped.“don’tforgetmytenbucks.paythenurse.”

hemovedtoanintercomandwasspeakingintoitasileft.inthewaitingroomthesametwelvepeopleortwelvejustlikethemwerebeinguncomfortable.thenursewasrightonthejob.

“thatwillbetendollars,please,mr.marlowe.thisofficerequiresimmediatecashpayment.”

isteppedamongthecrowdedfeettothedoor.sheboundedoutofherchairandranaroundthedesk.ipulledthedooropen.

“whathappenswhenyoudon’tgetit?”iaskedher.

“you’llfindoutwhathappens,”shesaidangrily.

“sure.you’rejustdoingyourjob.soami.takeaganderatthecardileftandyou’llseewhatmyjobis.”

iwentonout.thewaitingpatientslookedatmewithdisapprovingeyes.thatwasnowaytotreatdoctor.