"I didn't have to see his face to know who it was." Duffy sat in a large armchair with his leg cast resting on a pair of cushions. His face was purple all down one side and still moderately swollen. Two ribs had been cracked and he had suffered some mild kidney damage. The fact that he was out of hospital was due to his constant badgering and whining about his newspaper responsibilities. Customers had paid for ads and deliveries and he couldn't be lying around in some hospital bed wasting their money. The doctor had agreed and would have agreed anyway... anything to get rid of the old pest.

"That won't carry much weight in court, Duff." Ray said. They sat in Irene's little house discussing the steps they might take to support Duffy's charge. Irene carried a plate of sandwiches from the kitchen and sat beside Ray.

"Have something to eat, Duffy," she said and then gave a short curse.

"What?"

"I forgot the sauce. You want to get it for me, please. You know where it is." Ray jumped up and left the room.

"He knows where it is?" Duffy said with a sly glance at Irene. She smiled embarrassedly. "Sounds like I missed something in my time away, and it was only two weeks."

"What did you miss?" Ray came back and handed her the sauce bottle.

"He thinks he's uncovered a big secret about us." Irene said.

"Ho, ho-o-o... don't play coy with this old newshound. I can smell a story a mile away."

"Yeah, and look at the results." Ray said.

"Ouch."

"Kidding aside, friend, this is getting too dangerous for all of us. Maybe I should just back off for a while and see what happens." Irene gave him a curious glance and Duffy scoffed.

"You mean give up?"

"No. I mean let things relax a bit. This beating you took was a warning, in case you missed it. Next time might be fatal."

"Crap! I'm tellin' you Williams wouldn't dare do something like that in a town this size."

"Wake up, Duffy. Hersch? Adelaide? If it is all about drugs it's too big for them to risk having it wrecked by a pair of amateurs."

"He's right, Duffy," Irene said.

"Well I have to print something. How the hell would it look if the town's newspaper editor gets beaten up and there's no mention? I'd look like a fool."

"Write it. Make it as dramatic as you want, just don't point any fingers."

Stella sat across from the pitiful figure that was once Elwood Peters. The disgust on her face made him all the more nervous and ill.

"I told you before, Elwood, forget about Simmons, he can't prove anything." She lit a cigarette and puffed impatiently. "And without proof he wouldn't dare make a charge. Besides, Garth is the one he'd have to deal with so that avenue is closed."

"That's another thing. Garth came here and threatened me and now I see that Wiltshire was beaten up in his office. Was that Williams too?"

"Why would Garth do that? You are such a pitiful wimp, Elwood."

"He could go to Howard," Elwood mewled.

"Who?"

"Wiltshire."

"With what!? Jesus, Elwood will you listen!" She smashed the cigarette in the ashtray on the desk and stood, yanking at her skirt. "The next delivery will be double the amount and it had better come through with the same ease as all the others or your picture will be on the web faster than you can say, ooh, Stella."

"I just want out. I don't want anything to do with this anymore. It's ruining my life and I'm not getting anything out of it but misery."

"Is that what this is about? You want a cut?" Stella shifted her shoulder bag and jammed a hand into her hip. "That's not on, Elwood, but I tell you what I'll do. As soon as it's dark tonight I'll meet you at your car in the parking lot and I'll give you something to take into your dreams."

"You think that's all I'm after?" He challenged.

She leaned closer. "That's all you're going to get, Elwood, and it's a darn sight better than what Duffy got. Just be in your car after dark and wait for me." She left the office with a brisk stride and Elwood cringed at the echo of her words.

Garth Williams monitored the hospital all the time Duffy was there, recording the visitors and the times. Irene Paget and Ray Simmons were the only ones that caught his attention, particularly Irene. He couldn't quite figure out what she was doing with Simmons but the guy was becoming a nuisance and if she was involved then she was a nuisance as well. He pondered his options in dealing with them and decided that he might sound out Irene at the hotel. Maybe a lunch there and a friendly chat would pay off.

When Irene saw Garth Williams come into the hotel she felt her skin grow hot and she backed into the kitchen, unsure of what to do. Why was he here? He never ate at the hotel. Should she call Ray? What good would that do, Garth hadn't done anything? She peeked out the door and saw him choosing a table in the corner near a front window. He picked up the menu and then looked out to the street.

"What're you doin', girl?" Ada peeked over Irene's shoulder. "Oh my goodness! This is a first, eh?"

"I don't like it."

"What? What's the matter with you? Get out there and encourage a new customer." She gave Irene a push through the door and Garth looked up as she stood there clutching her apron. She heard Ada hiss behind her and she made her way across the room to his table.

"Welcome to the Thompson Bay Hotel, officer." Her words shook as they left her mouth.

"Why thanks... Irene isn't it?" She nodded. "All my years in the Bay and I've never eaten here before. Thought I'd give it a try. What do you recommend?"

Irene pointed out a few items with a nervous finger and waited until he decided then she poured some water for him and left smartly. Garth smiled to himself; this was going to be fun, he thought.

Ada pestered her in the kitchen until she almost in tears and when she finally had to take his food out her eyes were red and puffy.

"Somethin' wrong, Irene?" he asked.

"Onions. They always do this to me." She placed his dish in front of him and refilled his glass. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Beer." He stared at her, smiling. "You nervous about somethin', Irene?"

"No... no I'm not..."

"How's your friend, Duffy doin'?"

"What! Oh- oh he's coming along... I guess." She started away.

"And Ray Simmons?" Irene froze on the spot. She knew now why he was here. "Mr. Simmons is a guest here."

"I know what he is... Irene..." The innuendo wasn't lost and she felt her heart flip in her chest. "You three seem awfully chummy, eh?"

"I- I don't know what you mean..."

He beckoned her closer and she obeyed automatically. "Tell your new friends that if they get in the way of my business, what Duffy got will look like puppy play." His eyes drilled her with a cold malice.

Irene went pale and quickly backed away, hurrying into the kitchen and tossing her apron on the counter.

"What's this...?" Ada said angrily.

"I have to leave. I'm sorry, Ada. I'll make it up." She ran out the back door of the kitchen, chased by a string of complaints from a flustered Ada.

"He actually said that? He threatened you? Where are you now?"

"I'm at home. I'm frightened, Ray. I've never felt like this before."

"Just stay there and keep your door locked."

"What are you going to do? You can't say anything, Ray."

"I don't know what I'm going to do but this has gone a little too far. I must have stepped hard on their toes to prompt this reaction."

"Please don't get in trouble. I'm so scared."

"Just keep calm and stay at home. I'll call Duffy and he can get over there and stay with you."

"Why? Why do I need Duffy?" her voice was getting shrill and Ray knew she was close to emotional collapse.

"It's just for company. Somebody to help you talk this through. I'll be there as soon as I can after I think of some way to handle this mess."