He found what he wanted in the night table on the other side of the bed—a stack of some two dozen letters, all on the same stationery, bound together with a thick rubber band. The top envelope in the pile was addressed to Nora at 721 Silvermine Oval. The return address in the left-hand corner of the envelope read:
Frank Richmond, 80-17-42
Castleview State Penitentiary
Castleview-on-Rawley, 23751
Whatever else Frank Richmond was, he was also a convict. Kling debated putting the letters back into the night-table drawer, decided he wanted to read them, and stuck them instead into the right-hand pocket of his jacket. He closed the drawer, went across the hall to the bathroom, turned off the water tap, and went back into the living room, where Nora had started a decent fire and was pouring the drinks.
“Find it?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered.
14
O n Thursday morning, two days before Christmas, Carella sat at his desk in the squadroom and looked over the transcripts Miscolo’s clerical staff had typed up for him. He had taped five reels the night before, beginning at 4:55, when Fletcher had entered Arlene Orton’s apartment, and ending at 7:30, when they left to go out to dinner. The reel that interested him most was the second one. The conversation on that reel had at one point changed abruptly in tone and content; Carella thought he knew why, but he wanted to confirm his suspicion by carefully reading the typewritten record:
The following is a transcript of a conversation between Gerald Fletcher and Arlene Orton which took place in Miss Orton’s apartment (11D) at 812 Crane Street on Wednesday, December 22. Conversation on this reel took place commencing at approximately 5:21 P.M. and ended at approximately 5:45 P.M. on that date.
Fletcher:
I meant after the holidays.
Miss Orton:
I thought you meant after the trial.
Fletcher:
No, the holidays.
Miss Orton:
I may be able to get away, I’m not sure. I’ll have to check with my shrink.
Fletcher:
What’s he got to do with it?
Miss Orton:
Well, I have to pay whether I’m there or not, you know.
Fletcher:
You mean, oh, I see.
Miss Orton:
Sure.
Fletcher:
It would be best if we could . . .
Miss Orton:
Sure, coordinate it if we can.
Fletcher:
Is he taking a vacation?
Miss Orton:
He went in February last time.
Fletcher:
February, right.
Miss Orton:
Two weeks.
Fletcher:
In February, right, I remember.
Miss Orton:
I’ll ask him.
Fletcher:
Yes, ask him. Because I’d really like to get away.
Miss Orton:
Ummm. When do you think the case [Inaudible]
Fletcher:
In March sometime. No sooner than that. He’s got a new lawyer, you know.
Miss Orton:
Do you want some more of this?
Fletcher:
Just a little.
Miss Orton:
On the cracker or the toast?
Fletcher:
What did I have it on?
Miss Orton:
The cracker.
Fletcher:
Let me try the toast. Mmmm. Did you make this yourself?
Miss Orton:
No, I got it at the deli. What does that mean, a new lawyer?
Fletcher:
Nothing. He’ll be convicted anyway.
Miss Orton:
[Inaudible]
Fletcher:
Well.
Miss Orton:
You making another drink?
Fletcher:
I thought . . .
Miss Orton:
What time is the reservation?
Fletcher:
A quarter to eight.
Miss Orton:
Sure, there’s time.
Fletcher:
Do you want another one?
Miss Orton:
Just some ice. One ice cube.
Fletcher:
Okay: Is there any more [Inaudible]
Miss Orton:
Underneath. Did you look underneath?
Fletcher:
[Inaudible]
Miss Orton:
There should be some.
Fletcher:
Yeah, here it is.
Miss Orton:
Thank you.
Fletcher:
Because the trial’s going to take a lot out of me.
Miss Orton:
Ummmm.
Fletcher:
I’d like to rest up beforehand.
Miss Orton:
I’ll ask him.
Fletcher:
When do you see him again?
Miss Orton:
What’s today?
Fletcher:
Wednesday.
Miss Orton:
Tomorrow. I’ll ask him then.
Fletcher:
Will he know so far in advance?
Miss Orton:
Well, he’ll have some idea.
Fletcher:
Yes, if he can give you at least an approximation . . .
Miss Orton:
Sure, we can plan from there.
Fletcher:
Yes.
Miss Orton:
The trial will be . . . when did you say?
Fletcher:
March. I’m guessing. I think March.
Miss Orton:
How soon after the trial . . .
Fletcher:
I don’t know.
Miss Orton:
She’s dead, Gerry, I don’t see . . .
Fletcher:
Yes, but . . .
Miss Orton:
I don’t see any reason to wait, do you?
Fletcher:
No.
Miss Orton:
Then why don’t we decide?
Fletcher:
After the trial.
Miss Orton:
Decide after the . . . ?
Fletcher:
No, get married after the trial.
Miss Orton:
Yes. But shouldn’t we in the meantime . . .
Fletcher:
Have you read this?
Miss Orton:
What is it?
Fletcher:
This.
Miss Orton:
No. I don’t like his stuff.
Fletcher:
Then why’d you buy it?
Miss Orton:
I didn’t. Maria gave it to me for my birthday. What I was saying, Gerry, is that we ought to set a date now. A provisional date. Depending on when the trial is.
Fletcher:
Mmmm.
Miss Orton:
Allowing ourselves enough time, you know. It’ll probably be a long trial, don’t you think? Gerry?
Fletcher:
Mmmm?
Miss Orton:
Do you think it’ll be a long trial?