“Maybe you’re crazy,” he stated. “But I ain’t got nothin’ to worry about. Give me the twenty first— show me, and ask. I’ll answer you straight.”
“Fair enough,” I said, and reached for the twenty-dollar bill.
iii
It was dark when I got back to the city. It was colder. I went in somewhere and bought a fall overcoat— one that was short enough for leg movement without contact with the material. I looked up the name of Garren in the phone book and was a little surprised to find it. I’d figured it might be necessary for me to go down to his place.
He was in, and I talked nonsense, along with a few words that meant something.
“I’ve been up the line to look at that store location, and I’ve learned something you’ll be interested in. Supposing I come up around nine?”
“It’ll be all right, DeGro
