theyhaddoneawonderfuljobonhiminmexicocity,butwhynot?theirdoctors,technicians,hospitals,painters,architectsareasgoodasours.sometimesalittlebetter.amexicancopinventedtheparaffintestforpowdernitrates.theycouldn’tmaketerry’sfaceperfect,buttheyhaddoneplenty.theyhadevenchangedhisnose,takenoutsomeboneandmadeitlookflatter,lessnordic.theycouldn’teliminateeverytraceofascar,sotheyhadputacoupleontheothersideofhisfacetoo.knifescarsarenotuncommoninlatincountries.

“theyevendidanervegraftuphere,”hesaid,andtouchedwhathadbeenthebadsideofhisface.

“howclosedidicome?”

“closeenough.afewdetailswrong,buttheyarenotimportant.itwasaquickdealandsomeofitwasimprovisedandididn’tknowmyselfjustwhatwasgoingtohappen.iwastoldtodocertainthingsandtoleaveacleartrail.mendydidn’tlikemywritingtoyou,butiheldoutforthat.heundersoldyoualittle.henevernoticedthebitaboutthemailbox.”

“youknowwhokilledsylvia?”

hedidn’tanswermedirectly.“it’sprettytoughtoturnawomaninformurder—evenifshenevermeantmuchtoyou.”

“it’satoughworld.washarlanpotterinonallthis?”

hesmiledagain.“wouldhebelikelytoletanyoneknowthat?myguessisnot.myguessishethinksiamdead.whowouldtellhimotherwise—unlessyoudid?”

“whati’dtellhimyoucouldfoldintoabladeofgrass.how’smendythesedays—orishe?”

“he’sdoingallright.inacapulco.heslippedbybecauseofrandy.buttheboysdon’tgoforroughworkoncops.mendy’snotasbadasyouthink.hehasaheart.”

“sohasasnake.”

“well,whataboutthatgimlet?”

igotupwithoutansweringhimandwenttothesafe.ispuntheknobandgotouttheenvelopewiththeportraitofmadisononitandthefivecnotesthatsmelledofcoffee.idumpedthelotoutonthedeskandthenpickedupthefivecnotes.

“theseikeep.ispentalmostallofitonexpensesandresearch.theportraitofmadisonienjoyedplayingwith.it’sallyoursnow.”

ispreaditontheedgeofthedeskinfrontofhim.helookedatitbutdidn’ttouchit.

“it’syourstokeep,”hesaid.“i’vegotplenty.youcouldhaveletthingslie.”

“iknow.aftershekilledherhusbandandgotawaywithitshemighthavegoneontobetterthings.hewasofnorealimportance,ofcourse.justahumanbeingwithbloodandabrainandemotions.heknewwhathappenedtooandhetriedprettyhardtolivewithit.hewrotebooks.youmayhaveheardofhim.”

“look,icouldn’tverywellhelpwhatidid,”hesaidslowly.“ididn’twantanyonetogethurt.iwouldn’thavehadadog’schanceuphere.amancan’tfigureeveryanglethatquick.iwasscaredandiran.whatshouldihavedone?”

“idon’tknow.”

“shehadamadstreak.shemighthavekilledhimanyway.”

“yeah,shemight.”

“well,thawoutalittle.let’sgohaveadrinksomewherewhereit’scoolandquiet.”

“notimerightnow,señormaioranos.”

“wewereprettygoodfriendsonce,”hesaidunhappily.

“werewe?iforget.thatwastwootherfellows,seemstome.youpermanentlyinmexico?”

“ohyes.i’mnotherelegallyeven.ineverwas.itoldyouiwasborninsaltlakecity.iwasborninmontreal.i’llbeamexicannationalprettysoonnow.allittakesisagoodlawyer.i’vealwayslikedmexico.itwouldn’tbemuchriskgoingtovictor’sforthatgimlet.”

“pickupyourmoney,señormaioranos.ithastoomuchbloodonit.”