“That’s not so. How do you know that?”

“Dr. Hoffbein.”

“He didn’t tell you either. He just called me....”

“Maybe it’s in your case history, then....” He leaned quickly forward. “Why did you hide the doll?”

“To protect my niece.”

He changed his tactics:

“Did you use your own syringe on the nurse?”

The old woman’s facial muscles contracted. Her yellow teeth laid bare against her purpling lips. Her bust relaxed hopelessly and then she began to talk, openly, helplessly:

“I didn’t do the nurse. Really, I didn’t. I didn’t do any of them! ... I ... I ... was ... there ... Monday ... but....”

“Who did ... them ... if you didn’t?”