“I mean I like you to some extent in spite of the bum coffee Olga makes, and I’m coming up there right away just to make sure. Where’s the phone you’re talking from?”
“In the living room.”
“That’s at the other end from the foyer?”
“Yes. Did you say you’re coming up here?”
“Right. Will you take instructions from me?”
“I will if — yes. Of course.” Her voice was not steady.
“Then listen. This is almost certainly a false alarm, but listen anyway. Don’t ring off. When I say, ‘Go ahead,’ you say this to me, quote, ‘I don’t think so, but if you’ll hold the line I’ll go to the foyer and see if it’s there.’ Unquote. Do you want me to repeat that?”
“No, you don’t need to.”
“Sure you’ve got it all right?”
“Yes.”