THE NURSE CALLED for someone to see me out, and another big man showed up, a lobster pink blond with a shaved head wearing a lime green suit over a black T-shirt. I gave Dugger a small salute and walked out of the yellow room.

"Nice day, sir," said my escort, using the same elbow steer to guide me through the black walnut hallway. Gilded niches were filled with statuary, urns brimmed with flowers, monogrammed D's punctuated the blue-and-gold carpeting at twenty-foot intervals.

On the way to the elevator we passed a room whose double doors had been shut when I'd arrived. Now they were spread open, and I caught a glimpse of a ballroom-sized space with zebra-striped walls.

Another hospital bed, the stoic Dr. Maccaferri standing by the headboard, drawing blood through a syringe that he'd jabbed into an IV line.

Another too-small bed. A tiny, bald head barely visible above blue satin covers. Wizened, elfin. Sleeping or approximating slumber. Gaping mouth, toothless. Motionless.

The pressure on my elbow intensified. Mr. Nice Day said, "Please keep moving, sir."

I drove home, knowing the house would be empty.

After that night on the pier, I'd spent hours at St. John's Hospital. Had phoned home twice, gotten the machine. Returned just after two A.M. to find Robin wide awake, in the bedroom, packing a suitcase.

When I tried to hold her, she said, "No."

"Early vacation?" I said. Everything was wrong, and I was talking gibberish.

"By myself," she said.

"Honey—"

She threw clothing into the valise. "I got home at ten, was worried sick until you just happened to call at midnight."

"Honey, I—"

"Alex, I just can't take this anymore. Need time to settle myself down."

"We both do," I said, touching her hair. "Let's stick with the original plan and get away together. I promise—"

"Maybe in a few days," she said, suddenly crying. "You don't know the pictures that filled my head. You . . . again. Then Milo told me what happened—what were you thinking. A date with a bimbo*. Another undercover adventure that nearly got you killed"

"Not an adventure. Anything but. I was trying to help . . . some kids. The last thing I thought would happen was—"<............