Part 26 (1/2)

”Oh, my, no,” Kettleman said. ”My goodness, no. All of the Spooks are rather slight, as a matter of fact. They've got _something_, but it isn't strength.”

”My goodness,” Malone said tiredly.

”I doubt if--in the language of my own groups--any one of the Spooks could punch his way out of a paper bag,” Kettleman said. ”It's more than that.”

”Frankly,” Malone said, ”I'm inclined to agree with you. But what is this something that frightens everyone else?”

Kettleman leaned even closer. ”I'm not sure,” he said softly. ”I can't say for certain, Mr. Malone. I've only heard rumors.”

”Well,” Malone said, ”rumors might--”

”Rumors are a very powerful force among my groups, Mr. Malone,”

Kettleman said. ”I've learned, over the years, to keep my ear to the ground, as it were, and pay very close attention to rumors.”

”I'm sure,” Malone said patiently. ”But what did this particular rumor say?”

”Well,” Kettleman said, and stopped. ”Well,” he said again. And at last he gulped and got it out. ”Magicians, Mr. Malone. They say the Spooks are magicians--that they can come and go at will. Make themselves invisible. All sorts of things. Of course, I don't believe that, but--”

”Oh, it's quite true,” Malone said, solemn faced.

”It's what?”

”Perfectly true,” Malone said. ”We know all that.”

”Oh, my,” Kettleman said. His face took on a whitish cast. ”Oh, my goodness,” he said. ”Isn't that--isn't that amazing.” He swallowed hard. ”True all the time,” he said.

”Magicians. I--”

”You see, this information isn't new to us,” Malone said.

”Oh,” Kettleman said. ”No. Of course not. My. It's--rather disconcerting to think about, isn't it?”

”There,” Malone said, ”I agree with you.”

Kettleman fell silent. Malone offered him a cigarette, but the social worker refused with a pale smile, and Malone lit one for himself. He took a couple of puffs in the silence, and then Kettleman said, ”Well, Mr. Malone, Lieutenant Lynch did say that I was to tell you everything I could about these boys.”

”I'm sure we all appreciate that,” Malone said at random, wondering exactly what he meant.

”There is--well, there is one more thing,” Kettleman said.

”Ordinarily, of course, I wouldn't say anything about this to anyone.

In my line of work, Mr. Malone, you learn the need for confidence. For being able to keep one's word.”

”Certainly,” Malone said, wondering what startling new fact was on its way now.

”And we certainly try to keep the confidence of the boys,” Kettleman said maddeningly. ”We wouldn't betray them to the police in any way unless it were absolutely necessary.”

”Betray them? Mr. Kettleman,” Malone said, ”just what are you trying to tell me?”

”It's about their meeting place,” Kettleman said. ”Oh, my. I'm not at all sure I ought to tell you this.” He wrung his pale fat hands together and looked at Malone appealingly.