"Is it well?" asked the stranger. "You know me?"

"No. Never saw you before in my life? Is this a burglary?"

"Nope. If it were, I'd have drilled you first so you couldn't describe me."

Kingman shuddered. The stranger looked as though he meant it.

"In case you require an introduction," said the hard-faced man, "I'm Allison Murdoch."

"Hellion?"

"None other."

"You were in jail—"

"I know. I've been there before."

"But how did you escape?"