stereoasterile

@@@@@And I talked, all right - for almost an hour, refreshing myself with sips of green tea from a glass Wireman kept filledAt last I stopped and for a little while there was no sound but the mild whisper of the incoming waves, breaking and running up the strand Wireman must have heard enough wrong in my voice the night before to concern him, because he'd offered to come in the Palacio golf cart immediatelyHe said he could stay in touch with Miss Eastlake via walkie-talkieI told him it could wait a littleIt was important, I said, but not urgentNot in the 911 sense, at leastIf Tom were to commit suicide on his cruise, there was little I could do to prevent it 245 But I didn't think he'd do it as long as his mother and brother were with him I had no intention of telling Wireman about my furtive hunt through my daughter's purse; that was something of which I'd grown more rather than less ashamedBut once I started, beginning with LINKBELT, I couldn't stopI told him almost everything, finishing with Tom Riley standing at the head of the stairs leading up to Little Pink, pale and dead and minus an eyeI think part of what kept me going was the simple realization that Wireman couldn't commit me to the nearest lunatic asylum - he had no legal authorityPart of it was that, attracted as I was by his kindness and cynical good cheer, he was still a stranger Sometimes - often, I think - telling stories that are embarrassing or even downright crazy is easier when you're telling them to a strangerMostly, though, I pushed on out of pure relief: I felt like a man expressing snake-venom from a bite Wireman poured himself a fresh glass of tea with a hand that was not quite steadyI found that interesting and disquietingThen he glanced at his watch, which he wore nurse-style, with the 246 face on the inside of his wrist"In half an hour or so I really have to go up and check her," he said"I'm sure she's fine, but-" "What if she wasn't?" I asked"If she fell, or something?" He pulled a walkie-talkie from the pocket of his chinosIt was as slim as a cell phone"I make sure she always carries hersThere are also Rapid Response call-buttons all over the house, but-" He tapped a thumb on his ch