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“I’ve got somebody with me. Is that all right?”
“Sure.”
Milham took a step backward and a woman Matt had never seen before, but who he intuited was the Widow Kellog, appeared in the doorway and started up the stairs.
“I know we’re intruding,” she said as she reached Matt.
“Not at all.”
“I’m Helene Kellog,” she said.
“Matt Payne,” Matt said. “How do you do? Come on in.”
He led her to the kitchen.
“Mrs. Kellog, this is Inspector Wohl.”
“Oh, God,” Helene said.
“How do you do, Mrs. Kellog?” Wohl said politely, standing up.
Milham appeared.
It’s a toss-up, Matt thought, which of them looks unhappier at finding Wohl up here.
“Hello, Wally,” Wohl said. “How are you?”
“Wally, we should leave,” Helene said.
“Not on my account, I hope,” Wohl said.
“Inspector—” Milham began, and then stopped. Wohl looked at him curiously. “Inspector, Mrs. Kellog got a death threat last night.”
“Damn you, Wally,” Helene said.
“Did you really?” Wohl asked. “Please sit down, Mrs. Kellog. Let me get you a cup of coffee.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but…”
“Helene, honey, we just can’t pretend it didn’t happen.”
“Please, sit down,” Wohl repeated.
She reluctantly did so.
“Mrs. Kellog, you’re with friends,” Wohl said.
The door buzzer sounded again. Helene glanced toward the stairway with fright in her eyes.
“That has to be McFadden,” Wohl said. “You want to let him in, Matt?”
It was McFadden, laden with a kraft paper bag.
“I stopped by McDonald’s and got some Egg Mc-Muffins,” he said, handing Matt the bag as he reached the top of the stairs. “I thought maybe you hadn’t eaten.”
“I really want to go,” Helene said, getting up from the table.
“Who’s that?” McFadden asked.
