Free Windmills of the Gods by Sidney Sheldon

himself as inconspicuous as possible. Finally he decided that Angel was not going to show up. Maybe I can get some more information out of her tonight, Lantz thought, without fucking her. The idea of having to make love to Neusa again sickened him.
    In the Oval Office at the White House, it was evening. It had been a long day for Paul Ellison. The entire world seemed to be composed of committees and councils and urgent cables and conclaves and sessions and he had not had a moment to himself until now. Well, almost to himself. Stanton Rogers was sitting across from him, and the President found himself relaxing for the first time that day.
    “I’m keeping you from your family, Stan.”
    “That’s all right, Paul.”
    “I wanted to talk to you about the Mary Ashley investigation. How is it coming?”
    “It’s almost completed. We’ll have a final check on her by tomorrow or the next day. So far it looks very good. I’m getting excited about the idea. I think it’s going to work.”
    “We’ll make it work. Would you like another drink?”
    “No, thanks. Unless you need me for anything else, I’m taking Barbara to an opening at the Kennedy Center.”
    “You go ahead,” Paul Ellison said. “Alice and I are due to entertain some relatives of hers.”
    “Please give my love to Alice,” Stanton Rogers said. He rose.
    “And you give mine to Barbara.” He watched Stanton Rogers leave. The President’s thoughts turned to Mary Ashley.
    When Harry Lantz arrived at Neusa’s apartment that evening to take her out to dinner, there was no answer to his knock. He felt a moment of consternation. Had she walked out on him?
    He tried the door, and it was unlocked. Was Angel here to meet him? Perhaps he had decided to discuss the contract face-to-face. Harry assumed a brisk, businesslike manner and walked in.
    The room was empty. “Hello.” Only an echo. He went into the bedroom. Neusa was lying across the bed, drunk.
    “You dumb—” He caught himself. He must not forget that this stupid, drunken broad was his gold mine. He put his hands on her shoulders and tried to rouse her.
    She opened her eyes. “Wha’sa matter?”
    “I’m worried about you,” Lantz said. His voice throbbed with sincerity. “I hate to see you unhappy, and I think you’re drinking because someone is making you unhappy. I’m your friend. You can tell me all about it. It’s Angel, isn’t it?”
    “Angel,” she mumbled.
    “I’m sure he’s a nice man,” Harry Lantz said soothingly. “You two probably just had a little misunderstanding, right?”
    He tried to straighten her out on the bed. It’s like beaching a whale, Lantz thought.
    Lantz sat down beside her. “Tell me about Angel,” Lantz said. “What’s he doing to you?”
    Neusa stared up at him, bleary-eyed, trying to focus on him. “Les fuck.”
    Oh, Jesus! It was going to be a long night. “Sure. Great idea.” Reluctantly, Lantz began to undress.
    When Harry Lantz awakened in the morning alone in bed, memories came flooding into his brain, and he felt sick to his stomach.
    Neusa had awakened him in the middle of the night. “You know wha’ I wan’ you to do to me?” she mumbled. She told him.
    He had listened in disbelief, but he did the things she had asked him to do. He could not afford to antagonize her. She was a sick, wild animal, and Lantz wondered whether Angel had ever done those things for her. The thought of what he had gone through made Lantz want to vomit.
    He heard Neusa singing off-key in the bathroom. He was not sure he could face her. I’ve had enough, Lantz thought. If she doesn’t tell me this morning where Angel is, I’m going to his tailor and shoemaker.
    He threw back the covers and went in to Neusa. She was standing in front of the bathroom mirror. Her hair was in fat curlers, and she looked, if possible, even more unattractive than before.
    “You and I are going to have a talk,” Lantz said firmly.
    “Sure.” Neusa pointed to the bathtub