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"Dr. Payne, sir," Washington said. "A psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania. She's been helpful before. Her brother is a detective, Matt Payne."
"Oh," Toner said.
"The FBI says that this guy is probably a 'sexual deviate,'"^: Malone quoted, "Dr. Payne says he's 'asexual.' What's the difference?"
"Not much," Washington replied. "'Celibacy is the most unusual of all the perversions,' Oscar Wilde."
Larkin and Wohl chuckled. Toner and Malone looked confused.
"And anyway," Washington went on, "Jack and I went through the files in Sex Crimes too. Same result, zero."
"Who's Oscar Wilde?" Malone asked.
"An English gentleman of exquisite grace," Washington said. " Deceased."
"Oh."
"Sergeant Washington," Larkin said. "Would you mind if I called you 'Jason'?"
"No, sir."
"Jason, I'd like to hear your wild hairs," Larkin said. "I think we all would."
"Yeah," Wohl agreed.
"This chap is going to be hard to find," Washington said. "He's the classic face in the crowd. Law abiding. Respectable. Few, if any, outward signs of his mental problems."
"We know that," Wohl said, a touch of impatience in his voice.
"Possibly a rude question: How wide have we thrown the net?" Washington asked.
"Meaning?" Toner asked.
"Wilmington, New Jersey, even Baltimore. For that matter, Doylestown, Allentown? Is there a record that matches the profile right over the city border in Cheltenham?"
"Our people, Sergeant," Toner said, somewhat coldly, "have taken care of that. Plus seeking cooperation from other federal agencies, making that profile available to them."
"It was a question worth asking, Jason," Wohl said, flashing Toner an icy look.
"Please ask whatever pops into your mind," Larkin said.
"What about the Army? For that matter, the Navy, the Marines? Coal companies, whatever? Have there been any reports of stolen explosives?"
"Not according to Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms," Larkin said. "Or the State Board of Mines, in Harrisburg."
Washington shrugged.
"I don't even have any more wild hairs," he said.
"In that case, there is obviously only one thing to do," Larkin said, and waited until the others were all looking at him. "Consult with John Barleycorn. It would not be the first time in recorded history that a good idea was born in a saloon."
Supervisory Special Agent Toner, Wohl thought, looks shocked at the suggestion. But Larkin means that, and Christ, he may be right.
"I'll drink to that," Wohl said, and pushed himself up off the couch.
****
"We don't have any luggage," Matt said as he drove up the curving road to the Oaks and Pines Lodge Resort. "That's going to look funny."
