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jockos. He right?“
    She was silent awhile. An old Plymouth convertible went by with the top down and radio up loud. I heard a fragment of Roberta Flack as the sound dopplered past.
    ”I guess I do. I never really gave it much thought but I guess the kind of guy I seek out is big and young and strong looking. Maybe I’m hoping for some kind of rejuvenation.“
    ”And a nice uncomplicated screw.“
    ”That too.“
    ”But not with someone who just wants to rut and roll off.“
    She frowned. ”Oh, don’t split hairs with me. You know what I mean.“
    ”No,“ I said. ”I don’t know what you mean. And I don’t think you know what you mean. I’m not trying to chop logic with you. I’m trying to find out how your head is. And I think it’s a mare’s nest.“
    ”What’s a mare’s nest?“
    ”Something confused.“
    ”Well, I’m not a mare’s nest. I know what I want and what I don’t want.“
    ”Yeah? What?“
    ”What do you mean what?“
    ”I mean what do you want and what do you not want.“
    ”I don’t want to live the way I have been for twenty years.“
    ”And what do you want?“
    ”Something different.“
    ”Such as?“
    ”Oh“—tears showed in her eyes—”I don’t know. Goddamn it, leave me alone. How the hell do I know what I want. I want you to leave me the goddamned hell alone.“ The tears were on her cheeks now, and her voice had thickened. Across the bridge Rose and Jane were in animated conference. I had the feeling Jane was to be unleashed in a moment. I took out one of my cards and gave it to her.
    ”Here,“ I said. ”If you need me, call me. You got any money?“
    She shook her head. I took ten of her husband’s ten-dollar bills out of my wallet and gave them to her. The wallet was quite thin without them.
    ”I won’t tell him where you are,“ I said, and walked off the bridge and back up the hill toward my car back of the museum.

Chapter 10
    Harvey Shepard had a large purple bruise under his right eye and it seemed to hurt him when he frowned. But he frowned anyway. ”Goddamnit,“ he said. ”I laid out five hundred bucks for that information and you sit there and tell me I can’t have it. What kind of a goddamned business is that?“
    ”I’ll refund your advance if you want, but I won’t tell you where she is. She’s well, and voluntarily absent. I think she’s confused and unhappy but she’s safe enough.“
    ”How do I know you’ve even seen her. How do I know you’re not trying to rip me off for five bills and expenses without even looking for her?“
    ”Because I offered to give it back,“ I said.
    ”Yeah, lots of people offer but try to get the money.“
    ”She was wearing a blue polo shirt, white shorts, white Tretorn tennis shoes. Recognize the clothes?“
    He shrugged.
    ”How’d you get the mouse?“ I said.
    ”The what?“
    ”The bruise on your face. How’d you get it?“
    ”For crissake, don’t change the subject. You owe me information and I want it. I’ll take you right the hell into court if I have to.“
    ”Hawk lay that on you?“
    ”Lay what?“
    ”The mouse. Hawk give it to you?“
    ”You keep your nose out of my business, Spenser. I hired you to find my wife, and you won’t even do that. Never mind about Hawk.“
    We were in his office on the second floor overlooking Main Street. He was behind his big Danish modern desk. I was in the white leather director’s chair. I got up and walked to the door.
    ”Come here,“ I said. ”I want you to see something in the outer office.“
    ”What the hell is out there?“
    ”Just get up and come here, and you’ll see.“
    He made a snort and got up, slowly and stiffly, and walked like an old man, holding himself very carefully. Keeping his upper body still. When he got to the door, I said, ”Nevermind.“
    He started to frown, but his eye hurt, so he stopped and swore at me. ”Jesus Christ! What are you trying to do?“
    ”You been beat up,“ I said. He forgot himself for a