「whatlistwouldthatbe?」heinquired.

「thebarred-windowboys.ifigureyoumightknowmyfriendalready.hisname’swade.ifigureyoumighthavehimstashedawaysomewhereinlittlewhiteroom.theguyismissingfromhome.」

「youareanass,」dr.vukanichtoldme.「idon’tgoinforpennyantestufflikefour-dayliquorcures.theycurenothinginanycase.ihavenolittlewhiteroomsandiamnotacquaintedwiththefriendyoumention—evenifheexists.thatwillbetendollars—cash—rightnow.orwouldyourathericalledthepoliceandmakeacomplaintthatyousolicitedmefornarcotics?」

「thatwouldbedandy,」isaid.「let’s.」

「getoutofhere,youcheapgrifter.」

istoodupoffthechair.「iguessimadeamistake,doctor.thelasttimetheguybrokeparoleheholedupwithadoctorwhosenamebeganwithv.itwasstrictlyanundercoveroperation.theyfetchedhimlateatnightandbroughthimbackthesamewaywhenhewasoverthejumps.didn’tevenwaitlongenoughtoseehimgointhehouse.sowhenhehopsthecoopagainanddon’tcomebackforquiteapiece,naturallywecheckoverourfilesforalead.wecomeupwiththreedoctorswhosenamesbeginwithv.」

「interesting,」hesaidwithableaksmile.hewasstillgivingmetime.「whatisthebasisofyourselection?」

istaredathim.hisrighthandwasmovingsoftlyupanddowntheupperpartofhisleftarmontheinsideofit.hisfacewascoveredwithalightsweat.

「sorry,doctor.weoperateveryconfidential.」

「excusemeamoment.ihaveanotherpatientthat—」

helefttherestofithangingintheairandwentout.whilehewasgoneanursepokedherheadthroughthedoorway,lookedatmebrieflyandwithdrew.

thendr.vukanichcamebackinstrollinghappily.hewassmilingandrelaxed.hiseyeswerebright.

「what?areyoustillhere?」helookedverysurprisedorpretendedto.「ithoughtourlittlevisithadbeenbroughttoanend.」

「i’mleaving.ithoughtyouwantedmetowait.」

hechuckled.「youknowsomething,mr.marlowe?weliveinextraordinarytimes.foramerefivehundreddollarsicouldhaveyouputinthehospitalwithseveralbrokenbones.comical,isn’tit?」

「hilarious,」isaid.「shootyourselfinthevein,don’tyou,doc?boy,doyoubrightenup!」

istartedout.「hastaluego,amigo,」hechirped.「don’tforgetmytenbucks.paythenurse.」

hemovedtoanintercomandwasspeakingintoitasileft.inthewaitingroomthesametwelvepeopleortwelvejustlikethemwerebeinguncomfortable.thenursewasrightonthejob.

「thatwillbetendollars,please,mr.marlowe.thisofficerequiresimmediatecashpayment.」

isteppedamongthecrowdedfeettothedoor.sheboundedoutofherchairandranaroundthedesk.ipulledthedooropen.

「whathappenswhenyoudon’tgetit?」iaskedher.

「you’llfindoutwhathappens,」shesaidangrily.

「sure.you’rejustdoingyourjob.soami.takeaganderatthecardileftandyou’llseewhatmyjobis.」

iwentonout.thewaitingpatientslookedatmewithdisapprovingeyes.thatwasnowaytotreatdoctor.