The nightclerk got killed. About as bad a piece of luck as you could have, I reckon. Caught a
stray round.
Where'd he catch it?
Right between the eyes.
They walked into the lobby and stood. Somebody had thrown a couple of towels over the
blood in the carpet behind the desk but the blood had soaked through the towels. He wasnt
shot, Bell said.
Who wasnt shot.
The nightclerk.
He wasnt shot?
No sir.
What makes you say that?
You get the lab report and you'll see.
What are you sayin Ed Tom? That they drilled his brains out with a Black and Decker?
That's pretty close. I'll let you think about it.

Part 5