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.Double-U Oh Aitch Ell, Mawson interrupted. Wohl, Payne went on. And his possibly lewd and carnal relationship withhis daughter. Okay.Tell me. Nothing, if you're asking my advice. I thought it might show how bright and clever we are to find that out sosoon, Mawson said. No father, Mawson, wants to hear from a stranger that his daughter is not asinnocent as he would like to believe she is. Mawson laughed. You're right, Brewster, he said.He walked to the door and opened it. Irene, would you ask Mr.Fengler to come over, please? And tell him to clearhis schedule for the rest of the day? And then reserve a good suite at theWarwick, billing to us, for Mr.Stanford Fortner Wells? And finally, call thatlimousine service and have them send one over, to park in our garage? And tellthem I would be very grateful if it was clean, and not just back from afuneral? Yes, sir, she said, smiling. Hello, Matt, Mawson said. How are you? Page 197 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html Morning, Colonel, Matt said. I was hoping to see Dad. Having just solved all the world's problems, he's available for yours, Mawson said, and turned to Brewster Payne. Mart's waiting for you. I'll be damned, Payne said, and got up from the couch. I wonder what's onhis mind? He had, in fact, been expecting to see Matt, or at least to have himtelephone.He had heard from Matt's mother how awkward it had been at theMoffitt home, and later at the funeral home, making the senseless death ofMatt's uncle even more difficult for him.He had half expected Matt to comeout to Wallingford last night, and, disappointed that he hadn't, hadconsidered calling him.In the end he had decided that it would be best ifMatt came to him, as he felt sure he would, in his own good time.He went in the outer office and resisted the temptation to put his armsaround Matt. Well, good morning, he said. If I'm throwing your schedule in disarray, Dad Matt said. There's nothing on my schedule, is there, Irene? Nothing that won't wait, she said. Go on in, Matt, Payne said, gesturingtoward his office. I've got to step down the corridor a moment, and then I'llbe with you. He waited until Matt was inside and then told Irene Craig that she was tohold all calls. It's important.You heard about Captain Moffitt? I didn't know what to say to him, she said. So I said nothing. I think a word of condolence would be in order when he comes out, Paynesaid, and then went in his office and closed the door.Page 198 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlMatt was sitting on the edge of an antique cherrywood chair, resting hiselbows on his knees. I'm very sorry about your uncle Dick, Matt, Brewster Payne said. He was afine man, and I know how close you were.Aside from that, I have no comfortingwords.It was senseless, brutal, unspeakable. Matt looked at him, started to say something, changed his mind, and saidsomething else: I just joined the police department. My God! He's not joking! That was rather sudden, wasn't it? Brewster Payne said. What about theMarine Corps? I thought you were under a four-year obligation to them?'' I busted the physical, Matt said. The marines don't want me. When did that happen? A week or so ago, Matt said. My fault.When I went to the naval hospital,the doctor asked me why didn't I take the flight physical, I never knew when Imight want to try for flight school.So I took it, and the eye examination wasmore thorough than it would have been for a grunt commission, and they foundit. Found what? It had some Latin name, of course, Matt said. And it will probably neverbother me, but the United States Marine Corps can't take any chances.I'mout. You didn't say anything, Brewster Payne said. I'm not exactly proud of being a 4-F, Matt said. I just.didn't wantto. Page 199 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html Perhaps the army or the air force wouldn't be so particular, Brewster Paynesaid. It doesn't work that way, Dad, Matt said. I already have a brand-new 4-Fdraft card. Think that through, Matt, Brewster Payne said. You should be embarrassed,or ashamed, only of things over which you have control.There is no reason atall that you should feel in any way diminished by this. I'll get over it, Matt said. It is not really a good reason to act impulsively, Brewster Payne said. Nor, he hesitates to add, but is thinking, is the fact that Uncle Dick gothimself shot a really good reason to act impulsively; for example, joining thepolice force. The defense rests, Brewster Payne said, softly. Actually, I was thinking about it before Uncle Dick was killed, Matt said. From the time I busted the physical.The first thing I thought was that itwas too late to apply for law school. Not necessarily, Brewster Payne said. There is always an exception to therule, Matt. And then, with sudden clarity, I realized that I didn't want to go to lawschool, Matt went on. Not right away, anyway.Not in the fall.And then Isaw the ads in the newspaper, heard them on the radio.the policedepartment, if not the Marine Corps, is looking for a few good men. I've noticed the advertisements, Brewster Payne said. And they aroused mycuriosity to the point where I asked about them.The reason they are activelyrecruiting people is that the salary is quite low Page 200 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html Thanks to you, Matt said, that really isn't a problem for me. Yes, I suppose that's true, Payne said. I went out and got drunk with a cop last night. After you left the Moffitts', you mean? I thought maybe you would comehome. I wanted to be alone, so I went to the bar in the Hotel Adelphia.It's agreat place to be alone. And there you met the policeman? And he talked you into the police? No.I'd met him that afternoon before.At Uncle Dick's house.Mr.Coughlinintroduced us.Staff Inspector Wohl
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