Maybe his gun will kill me. Maybe a heart attack. I watch the clock. 2:36 2:37 2:38 Nothing but silence as I stare at the red numbers on the digital c...ock. Shouldn’t I hear screaming by now? Gunshots? The cat scrambling around? Something? ‘Get out of bed and get into the tub NOW!’ I can still hear it ringing in my ears. The voice was loud and deep. Scratchy too. Must be a smoker. Wouldn’t I smell cigarettes if there was a smoker in my apartment? I can smell a smoker a mile away. But our whole. Not a request, more of an order. And I wanted to go.I had to tell Gary all about it now. I couldn't just go for a week-long shag without saying anything.The next morning, I told Gary nearly everything. He wasn't angry and was glad that I had told him. Then he said if I really wanted to go I could, but I had to earn it.I asked him what he meant, and he told me I had to go and pick up a holidaymaker here first while he watched. Bob and Linda had told us about a couple of clubs that we didn't know. I told him it was his ‘show’ and I was there to ensure he enjoyed it – he couldn’t do that properly if he was still dressed, could he. His happy expression returned. I also said that I wasn’t surprised that he had got funny comments from the workmen – but that I admired his ingenuity. At which his smile widened even further for a minute or two – but then that nervous tension reappeared on his face and he asked me, almost shyly, if I would now start to walk about for him, please. So, the ‘show’. A harebrained notion to take a midnight flight and check it out personally. I’d gotten to my hotel in Chicago at about six o’clock. It was a decent hotel right in the center of the Loop.Blessed sleep.I looked at my watch. I’d slept late. It was nine o’clock. Riley would be in the office and getting my note. I’d better get up and prepare for the indignation. Then I realized that it was only 7:00 in Seattle. I had an hour to get ready at least.I dragged myself to the window and looked out. Rain.