Elwood tried to signal his receptionist when he saw her leading Ray toward his office but he was too late and she conducted Ray into the office, closing the door as she left. Elwood puzzled at the move; she never closed his door unless asked. His previous fantasy about her dissolved instantly.

"Hello again, Mr. Peters."

"What are you doing here? What do you want? I'll have no more of your threats or intimidation."

"Maybe just a little, eh?" Ray said, making himself comfortable. Elwood sank slowly back into his chair and waited, palms sweating. "I've been thinking about the clean up money you collected-the five hundred dollars-and I think I've figured out what it was for." Elwood's face fell as if from the inside and it turned ashen as he listened to Ray's words.

When he was done Ray sat back and watched Elwood's career begin melting before his eyes. The mouth opened and closed. A handkerchief appeared and mopped the beads of sweat dotting his forehead. The other hand scratched at the surface of the desk like it was scrabbling for a safe grip.

"Nothing to say?"

"You don't know what you're talking about." The words squeaked out in a whisper.

"We both know I do, Mr. Peters. Imagine the horror on your client's faces if they knew their trusted bank manager was a drug pusher."

"You- that's nonsense! I've never- you think you can come in here, into this office, and accuse me of such things?"

"I do. And there's something else you should listen carefully to. Irene Paget's loan will be extended at the original rate for another year and her services as your personal maid are over as of this minute."

Elwood's eyes bulged. "You can't do that! This is bank business."

"This is my business, Mr. Peters, and I'm telling you right now if you harass her once more over the loan I will come into your life like the apocalypse. Are we clear?"

"That's a- a threat... I'll have the police..." His protest trailed off as he realized his situation and his earlier warning from Williams."

"I take it we have a deal." Ray stood and glared down at the shaken banker until his head bobbed in submission.

Duffy shoveled a large portion of roast beef into his mouth and chewed with delight. His napkin was stuffed under his collar and he looked for all the world like a silent film comic actor with his exaggerated moves and twinkling eyes. Ray had taken his phone call and accepted the invitation to dinner at the hotel and now he was seated at the table trying to keep from laughing at the older man's antics.

"I hope all this making me wait while you perform your pantomime is worth it."

Duffy swallowed and took a large gulp of beer. "Trust me, it's worth every minute." His smile spread and he dug into the mashed potatoes with gusto.

Irene came through the room serving other guests and she passed their table to see if they needed anything.

"Keep watch on this guy, Irene, we made need a hose to cool him down." She smiled blankly, unsure of the joke. "Duffy has some news about what we discussed before." Ray touched her hand. "So do I, if you're free later?"

A serious shadow crossed her face and she wiped her hands on her apron. "I can be... I guess." She hurried back to the kitchen and Ray watched her go.

"I sense more than business there, friend."

"I didn't think you had any sense. Eat your dinner and let's get to the news."

Between mouthfuls, Duffy related his visit to the taxi garage and the visit from Williams while he was there. He leaned eagerly toward Ray and divulged the word his friend had given him, proving that Williams was selling drugs to some of the drivers."

"He saw you there?" Ray sat back and exhaled.

"Yeah, so what? It's a free world. I visit these guys plenty of times."

"Maybe so, but not when he's there conducting business. I don't like this, Duff, you could be putting yourself in a dangerous position."

"How? You think Williams would try anything stupid with me? A town this size he'd be a fool."

"And quite capable of doing foolish things if my theory is right. I just think you should back off. The information is great but we have to find a safe, solid way to use it."

Duffy's fork scraped the residue of gravy into a puddle and he worried it until most of it was in his mouth. "Fantastic meal." He wiped his mouth, patted his stomach and finished the last of his beer. "If dessert is as good this will be my new haunt for eating."

"Tell Irene, she does the cooking."

"Speaking of Irene, how did you make out with your friend, Elwood?"

"What do you know about what I did with Elwood?"

"Small town, Ray, and I'm the eyes and ears of the place."

"And what did they tell you happened?"

"That Elwood was a nervous wreck, locked in his office with the phone stuck in his ear for most of the afternoon after you left."

"On the phone? Interesting. I wonder if Stella got an earful and maybe even Oliver."

"Maybe you should be the one watching his back. If your theory is right, Williams will be the hammer in that group."

Ray studied his new friend and weighed the advice against his goal. There was still no real connection between Adelaide and the rest of them, certainly nothing that would get her killed. But he was making connections that could possibly get somebody else killed.

"I need something solid that puts Adelaide in the middle of this and I can't imagine what it would be."

"Well you know from the police report she wasn't taking drugs-a lot of booze-but no drugs, nothing major anyway. You think somebody got her drunk on purpose? I don't mean the college kid stuff." He waved a hand in explanation. "Somebody with a motive."

"Possible, but what motive...? Ray stared off into the dining room without focusing.

"What? What are you thinking?"

"Hersch." The name brought an abrupt silence to the table.

"You think...?"

"It's a possibility. The kids said he was acting improperly when they made their visits to the party. Adelaide was a pretty girl and she wasn't with anyone in particular."

"But that makes it unrelated to the others. Williams wouldn't have killed him for something he was always doing anyway."

"You might be right. All this other stuff could be coincidental."

"I think maybe you've run out your string, my friend." Duffy picked up the dessert menu and glanced at the offerings.

Ray sighed and tapped his fork on the cloth irritably. "Yeah."

Irene returned and began clearing the table. She saw the frown on Ray's face and looked to Duffy who just gave his head a slight shake. She piled up the dishes and took Duffy's dessert order then left without a word.

"Look on the bright side. You've saved a deserving young woman from the clutches of the evil banker and you've opened a lid that might lead to the breakup of a drug scandal."

"The great white knight, huh?"

"Consider what things would be like if you hadn't come here. I'd be wastin' away in my office writin' about cats in trees and county fair bake-offs."

Ray smiled and dug some money out his pocket. "This should cover my share, I'm going to lie down for a while. I want to be a little sharper when I meet Irene later."

"Wink, wink, nudge, nudge." Duffy laughed.

"Stick to cats and bake-offs, Duff."