“It’s Peter, can I come in?”

“No. Why?”

“I have to see you.”

“You could have seen me last night.”

“I ... I’m sorry. Something came up.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet. Well, too bad for you. Go ‘way.”

“Please? It’s important. Open up.”

“I’m not dressed yet. I’m just out of the shower.”

“That’s okay.”

“I’ve got a meeting in an hour. I’ve got to get ready. Go.”

“No. It’s about the meeting. It’s important. Something about B&B.”

“What something?”

“Can we talk inside?”

“Talk now.”

“But...”

“Talk now and talk quickly.”

“One of the principle ... Please, can’t I tell you this inside.”

“I told you I’m not dressed. I don’t even have a robe on. Just a towel.”

“If I tell you will you let me in?”

“Tell me what?”

“Um ... something happened to one of the principles. Something bad.”

“Which one?”

“I’ll tell you when you let me in. I can’t whisper out here in the hall like this. I feel foolish.”

“Tell me now, and then we’ll see.”

“One of them was found dead.”

“Dead?”

“Yeah, dead. Strangled or something like that.”

“Oh, how horrible. How did you find out?”

“I just did. I just happened to. I ... I can’t really explain.”

“Which one? Was it Robert?”

“No. Not Robert.”

“Schmee?”

“Schmee? Who’s Schmee?”

“The old guy. What’s his name? Schultzie.”

“Yeah, I think it was the old guy.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“So what do you think it means?”

“It means you shouldn’t go over there. Too dangerous. Open the door and let’s talk about it. I can’t talk through the chain.”

“What can you do through the chain?”

“Huh?”

“Anyway, it’s not a chain. It’s one of those bar things. Those brass bar things with a brass ball at the end that slides between two other brass bar things.”

“Sounds sexy.”

“Not very.”

“Look. I just want to tell you, don’t go over to B&B. Don’t make that deal.”

“You’ve told me.”

“I want to tell you in person. That it’s dangerous.”

“Because of what happened to Schmee?”

“Because of the way that it happened. I have some inside information. Something only the cops know.”

“What?”

“I can’t whisper this.”

“You’ll have to.”

“Schmee died with a pair of panties stuffed in his mouth ... Why are you laughing?”

“Nothing. It’s just that now you’re calling him Schmee. So, how did you find out? Are you a cop? Are you the killer?”

“Neither.”

“Then what are you?”

“Just a friend. Your friend. I think you’re in over your head. You need to scotch the deal.”

“Scotch the deal?”

“Yes. What’s so funny?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say ‘scotch the deal.’ It sounds so serious. But now I have to get dressed. Please forgive me.”

“Wait!”

“Is there more?”

“Maybe I can tell you something about Thom.”

“You can?”

“Maybe. If you’ll let me in.”

“I’d rather know about Robert. Tell me, Peter, do you happen to know how his finger got like that?”

“Like what?”

“That little crookedness at the end. It’s very ... something.”

“I could ... um...”

“You could?”

“I could find out.”

“I keep thinking maybe it was from a lover’s quarrel. Like maybe he had a mistress, a lovely slinky mistress, and one night he stood her up. He was supposed to meet her, but he didn’t. Then later they met, and he was so full of apologies. ‘Something came up,’ he probably said. ‘I’m so sorry, so very sorry.’ And she said, ‘That’s okay, baby, I forgive you.’ And she had his hand in hers, and she brought his hand up to her mouth, started giving it kisses, little pecking kisses, and then she took his finger, his forefinger into her mouth and she started kissing it and sucking on it. And then ... then she bit it, right at the tip, right down to the bone. Do you think that’s what happened, Peter?”

“I don’t know. I guess it’s...”

“Or maybe it was just an industrial accident. Something utterly prosaic. Put your finger in the door, Peter.”

“No. What would that prove?”

“That you trust me?”

“I...”

“Put it in, Peter. Or I’m closing.”

“Okay.”

“Good. That’s good. You have a nice finger. Did anyone ever tell you that? I think I’m going to give it a little kiss. Would that be okay? A little kiss before I slam the door on it. Just kidding. You sure did flinch. But you didn’t pull out. You’re such a brave boy. Are you brave, Peter? Are you my brave boy?”

“I’m pretty brave.”

“Put your penis in the door, Peter.”

“What?”

“I whispered it because it sounds sexier that way. I said put your penis in the door. Right through the little slit. Would you do that for me? To show me how brave you are, and how much you trust me, and how much you want me?”