Page 41 of The Paradox Club

“We have a message,” said Montag 5.

“Why didn’t you say so?”

“Just came in. The board lit up.”

“Who called it in?”

“Valentine 6 was on duty,” said Montag 5, “not that it matters.”

“Where?”

“Not far from here. Buckle up.” Montag 5 started the car and pulled away from the curb.

“Anything happen at the house?”

“Lady in her bathrobe came outside for a smoke about twenty minutes ago. Then a man in a bathrobe came out and she went inside with him.”

“A man. Really?”

“Does that surprise you?”

“Not particularly. I just didn’t know Marie Maxwell had a man. Last I heard she was still pretty angry about Harry’s death.”

“When was the last you heard?” asked Montag 5.

This guy thinks he can interrogate me, thought Nemo 7.

“I don’t know, years ago, I guess. Even that was only secondhand.”

“Secondhand from whom?”

“I don’t even remember. Just gossip in the club lounge. Glad she’s found somebody, though.”

“You were a friend of Harry’s, weren’t you?” said Montag 5.

“I wouldn’t say that,” said Nemo 7. “I knew him, but then everyone at the club knew him. You couldn’t help it. But we weren’t close. Not sure I ever even had a conversation with him.” There was a slight chance that Montag 5 would know this was a lie, but Harry had died ten years ago. Nemo 7 could always claim forgetfulness. “Where are we headed?”

“About five miles from here—125 Vilas Avenue,” said Montag 5.

Nemo 7 felt his face flush and his stomach harden. He knew exactly who lived at 125 Vilas Avenue and if the big board had given an alert for that address, it couldn’t be good news. He turned to look out the window, keeping his face away from Montag 5, so as not to betray his unease.

“Why don’t you see what you can find on the address?” said Montag 5. “I’m sure Pilgrim 3 is working on it, too, but I’d like to know where we’re going.”

There was no point in delaying, thought Nemo 7. Pilgrim 3 would find out soon enough who lived there, and he didn’t want to look like he was dragging his feet. As they sat at a red light, he pulled up the information on his phone.

“House is owned by a Vivian Harbottle,” he said. “No one else living at the address according to the most recent records.”

“Vivian Harbottle,” said Montag 5. “Why do I know that name?”

Why did Montag 5 know that name? Doubtless from a private conversation with Pilgrim 3, who was privy to all sorts of information and who also obtained all sorts of information to which she was not privy.

“No idea,” said Nemo 7. “Says here she’s single, fifty-two years old, teaches at the university, not much else on her.”

“Social media accounts?”

“I’m checking, but I don’t see anything.”

“I swear I know that name from someplace.”