Chapter 4
Steiner
THE THIRD NIGHT outside went better. My nerves were less jerky. But the hotel rooms were small, and even with the windows opened the walls kept closing in. There was a radio playing somewhere, and I kept thinking about the one Ben Garren had been playing before Donelly’s lead shoved him out of the land of dials and loudspeakers forever. I got some sleep, at that. The telephone bell woke me at ten minutes after eight; Donelly choked for a while, then got his words straightened out.
“Lentz wants to see you, down at Headquarters,” he stated. “About the party last night— and maybe some other things. You’ll be all right, Ourney.”
I told him I hadn’t much doubt about that, and that I’d show at Headquarters. It took me a half hour to get dressed, not rushing things, and with
