Free Dover Beach by Richard Bowker Page A

Robert Cornwall may have been scooped by the British—apparently they took some of our scientists while they were here. My client is even willing to go to England to track Cornwall down—and he'll take me with him—but we need some evidence that Cornwall was one of the ones taken. He's given me three days."
    "How the hell can he afford to go to England?"
    "I don't know. But he says he can, and I believe him."
    "And you get to go with him?"
    "That's what he said, Bobby."
    "Jesus. So waddaya want me to do?"
    "Well, you've got a lot of contacts in the government. I thought maybe you could ask around, see if anybody knows what happened back then. Ideally, I could use something in writing—a list, you know, or something like that."
    "What about Stretch?"
    "I asked him, too, but I'm not sure how much he'll help. I'm worried that he thinks it'll be for my own good if he doesn't find out anything. If I screw up my first case, maybe I'll come to my senses."
    "Will you?" Bobby asked.
    "Not planning to," I said.
    "You know, that offer about working for me still stands."
    "Yeah, well, my refusal still stands, too, I guess."
    Bobby gazed at President Kennedy, or maybe the Celtics. He seemed to have that faraway look I had seen on Hemphill's face the day before—although, with Bobby's bad eyesight, it was tough to be sure. "Such a strange world, Wally," he murmured. "Who'd've thought we'd get a government that promised to ditch all its weapons and ban computers and get people making babies again? Jesus Christ, make love, not war. Who'd've thought a bright young guy with the world to conquer would pick the one most dead-end job around—except maybe for director of civil defense? Who'd've thought—well, a lot of things."
    I was getting awfully tired of this. First Jesus Christ, then Stretch, and now Bobby. I stood up. "If you're not going to help me, Bobby, just say so and let me get on with—with my investigation."
    "Now take it easy, Wally," Bobby said. "I'm just musing here. A guy's got a right to muse, don't he? Of course I'm gonna help you."
    I sat down. "Thanks," I said.
    Bobby smiled. "What are friends for?" But he still didn't look happy; the faraway look hadn't disappeared. "If you go to England, are you coming back?"
    "Oh, I don't know, I haven't really—"
    "Don't bullshit me, Wally. You've always wanted to get out, and this is your chance. Right?"
    "Well, what of it?" I asked defensively.
    "I just like to know what's going on, that's all. You sure you want to go live with those Limey bastards?"
    "I could move to Ireland once I'm over there, if it'll make you happier. The trick is to get over there." I thought about it. "You know, with this connection you've got going with Fitch, you could probably afford to leave before very long too."
    Bobby looked uncomfortable. "Yeah, well, I dunno, maybe I'm used to things around here."
    "Shit, the inmates get used to the asylum." I went back to the original subject. This one was making me uncomfortable too. "Anyway, will you help me? I've got two days left to come up with something, and then my client is going home, so we've gotta act fast."
    "Okay, Wally. I'll see what I can do."
    "You're a good guy, Bobby."
    "Ah, bullshit."
    He went back to staring at President Kennedy, and I left the room. Brutus just missed my ankle as I went downstairs. Outside, Doctor J was still squatting in the snow, and my bicycle was untouched.

 
     
     
    Chapter 10

     
    It was my turn to cook supper: pea soup with hard biscuits. I bought the biscuits, but I had to make the soup. I'm no chef. Linc sat at the kitchen table and watched me stirring the disgusting stuff. Every day he seemed to look a little paler, a little more feverish. I wished I could send him off somewhere away from the cold and the slush and the ceaseless struggle—to Florida, to California, even to England. But that wasn't the way life was; and anyway, it was too late.
    He started whistling one of the Beatles' songs Gwen had played: