And now what lies ahead for me? Instead of a memory of making love to an innocent girl, I shall be burdened for the rest of my life by the memory of a hurried act of copulation followed by an evil woman’s coy use of my Christian name followed in turn by a loss of control on my part. Not a single romantic, aesthetic image to treasure. The delight of our first kiss has been soiled. Even that image will forever torture me.
Before I left Violet’s apartment, I was careful to take account of all possible consequences. Alas, will I forever be burdened with consequences? Now I had become a wanted man, wanted by the police for an act they would classify as homicide. I could be tried for murder in the first degree. I hoped and prayed that Violet had not revealed my identity to anyone. And I needed
