“I didn’t think.”
“But why did you — why did you—”
I said, “Listen, dopey, I kept your name out of it. Do you get me? Where would you have been if that had been found?”
I could see she was thinking that over.
“Go back to bed,” I said. “No, wait a minute. Go on downstairs. Ask what’s happened, and what all the noise is about. They’ll tell you. They’re pretty much up in the air now. They won’t notice your expressions, what you say, or what you do. Tomorrow, they’ll be more alert... Does anyone know that you knew him?”
“No.”
“Anyone know that you were seeing him?”
“No.”
“If they ask you,” I said, “avoid the question. Understand? Don’t lie — not yet.”
“But how can I avoid it — if they ask me?”