I felt suddenly brittle Inside, like someone had stepped in close with a half-arm jab, but still I couldn’t think of anything to say.
He looked at me thoughtfully, then he put his hand up to his chin. I could hear his nails rasp on his beard. He said, “Take it easy—it’s no use gettin’ rattled.”
I walked with stiff legs over to Mardi. I said, “I’m with you all the way—but I’ve got to know the truth.”
She didn’t look up. She just sat there as if I hadn’t spoken.
Curtis turned on his heels, so that he was facing me. He said, “I’ve been waiting for this, for some time. Now I’ve got you both where I want you.”
I turned ray head and looked at him. I guess I must have had a flicker in my eye, because he jerked a gun out of his hip pocket.
“Take it easy,” he said. “I don’t want to start shootin’, but I’m not riskin’ anything from you.”
I said between my teeth, “Talk quick an’ get out.”
He sat on the edge of the table, still holding the gun leveled at me. “It’s quite a tale,” he said, with a sneer. “Sit down—you’ll get tired.”
I didn’t move.