Norris went back grudgingly. A premonition of trouble gripped him.
"Phone's right there," the chief said, pointing with a stubby thumb.
The receiver lay on the desk, and he could hear it saying, "Hello—hello—" before he picked it up.
"Anne? What's the matter?"
Her voice was low and strained, trying to be cheerful. "Nothing's the matter, darling. We have a visitor. Come right home, will you? Chief Franklin's here."
It knocked the breath out of him. He felt himself going white. He glanced at Chief Miler, calmly sitting nearby.
"Can you tell me about it now?" he asked her.
"Not very well. Please hurry home. He wants to talk to you about the K-99s."
"Have the two of them met?"
"Yes, they have." She paused, as if listening to him speak, then said, "Oh, that! The game, honey—remember the game?"