Part 31 (1/2)

In the Paul Revere Medical College, which formed part of Inter-State U - itself an annexe of Houston/Grand Central, Roz Brickman came out of the neurological lab along with the rest of her cla.s.smates to find John Chisum leaning against the wall opposite the door. Because of the heavy workload imposed by the curriculum, Roz had begun to skip some of the regular Sat.u.r.day night javaand-jive sessions hosted by Chisum, but she made a point of visiting the apartment at Santanna Deep at least once a month.

Chisum had a line into some good gra.s.s, and although Roz had cut down on the amount she smoked, the occasional reef still helped to take the pressure off.

Chisum also provided the best in blackjack - illicit music tapes that could earn you a spell in the slammer or, for repeated offenders, drug therapy and worse. And there was always the chance that he might have some news of Steve.

Chisum eased himself off the wall as Roz sidestepped through the milling crowd of white-coats and gave his outstretched palm a friendly slap. 'Hi. What brings you here?”

'Didn't see you last Sat.u.r.day.”

'No.” She grimaced. 'May not be able to make it this week either.”

'Same here.” Chisum checked the activity in the corridor, then laid a hand on her elbow. 'You got a minute?”

'You can walk me to my next lecture. Will that do?”

'Guess it'll have to.” They headed after her cla.s.smates.

'What's the problem?”

'Did I say I had a problem?”

'No but I'm picking up some bad vibrations.”

'You're right,' sighed Chisum. He looked back over his shoulder, then gnawed at his lower lip. 'I'm being leaned on.”

'Who by?”

'This guy.”

'You'd better get to the bottom line soon, John. We're running out of corridor.”

'He didn't give me his name!” hissed Chisum. 'All I know is he's some high-wire from the Black Tower.”

The headquarters of AMEX - the Amtrak Executive.

.Roz eyed him cautiously. 'I've got a feeling I'm going to regret this but. why is he coming down on you?”

Chisum replied with an awkward shrug. 'Somebody must have blown the whistle on me.”

'For s.h.i.+pping gra.s.s? Christopher Columbus!” Chisum motioned her to keep calm. 'It's not as bad as 'it sounds. These guys aren't Provos.

They promised not to press charges if I was prepared to give them certain information.”

Roz felt her stomach turn over. 'About what?”

'About you and Steve.” Chisum saw the look on her face and spread his hands defensively. 'I had to do it. Roz! They got me over a barrel!

It wasn't much, honest.”

'What did you tell them, John? About that night Steve and I were together before he was sent down?”