There was wind and a hint of cold rain and somewhere in the gathering clouds was the sound of a passenger jet. In Berlin he had taken me out to dinner, an expensive spot just off the Kurfürstendamm, as I recall, made his usual fuss about ordering the wine, and then said that my mother had written him that I was thinking of returning to the States. I told him that I was only thinking about it, mostly because five years abroad seemed about enough. My only problem was a job. I didnt have one lined up mostly, I liked to think, because I really hadnt tried. Im going to help you get to bed. Youre pretty good. Showalter twice made me walk through everything Id done when I arrived here. Skully was with us most of the time. Id say something and Skully would comment as to its veracity. One time Showalter said to Skully, Did Conrad have time enough to smother him when he was inside? There was another brief silence and then Mixs voice came on again. The people whore holding me are serious. They mean business. They want two million dollars for my release. I repeat. Two million dollars. Youre going to have to deliver it exactly when and where I tell you to. The money must be unmarked. It must be old or at leastwell used. Don’t try anything tricky. If you do, you’ll just get me killed. You didnt have any blood on you or anything. The sheriff bent down, scratched around in the sand, then reached down, picked up a sand-covered revolver, held it up in front of him, and blew the sand off of it. This is our secret, this conversation. Della Street threw the door open. 14 Denise grinned.All right, miss, if youre sure. Honestly, Mr. Mason, she said, I feel terribly about this. I wouldnt let you down for anything in the world. Well, I felt absolutely certain I could get away with it and that no one would ever know—and then I felt if you were going to have to defend me you could do a better job if you… well, I thought it would perhaps rob you of some of your assurance if … “ What? Exactly whats the idea? Mason asked..