old man got up and went over to the bathroom. He steadied himself
against the door jamb and kicked the wadded sweater out of sight beneath
the dresser. He went into the bathroom and turned on the water. He ran
his hands over his face and thought about shaving, but he couldn't face
the work involved. He managed to run a comb through his hair and rinse
out his mouth.

He came back into the room. It was 6:30. Maybe Freddie's was open. If
Freddie wasn't, then maybe the Grill. He'd have to take his chances, he
couldn't stand it here any longer. He put on his coat and stumbled out.

* * * * *

At eight o'clock the watch was changed; Matesic replaced King.

"Anything?" asked Matesic.

"Just this one, Chuck," said King. "I may be a fool, but this one
bothers me." King was a diplomat where Blaney was not.

King showed him the entry. The dial now stood at 72.8. "It's been on
there all night, since before I had the watch. And it's been climbing,
just slow and steady, but all the time climbing. I locked a circuit on
him, but I'll take it off if you want me to."

"No," said Matesic, "leave it on. That don't smell right to me neither."

* * * * *

The old man was feeling better. He'd been in the bar two hours, and he'd
had two pickled eggs, and the bartender didn't bother him. Beer was all
right, but a man needed whiskey when he was sick. He'd have one, maybe
two more, and then he'd eat some breakfast. He didn't know why, but he
knew he mustn't get drunk.

* * * * *

At nine o'clock the needle on the dial climbed past seventy-five.
Matesic asked for coverage. That meant that two patrolmen would be tied
up, doing nothing but searching for an echo. And it might be a wild
goose chase. He was explaining to the Captain, but the Captain wasn't
listening. He was looking at the photographs in the deAngelis file.

"You don't like this?" the Captain asked.

Matesic said he didn't like it.

"And King said he didn't like it?"

"King thinks the same way I do, he's been on there too damn long and too
damn consistent."

"Pick him up," the Captain turned and ordered the audio controller. "If
we can't hold him, we can at least get a look at him."

"It's not too clear yet," said Matesic, "it'll take a spread."

"I know what it'll take," the Captain roared. "Don't tell me my job! Put
every available man on this, I want that guy brought in.