Strange Highways

called?"
     "Approximately."
     "Tell me." He slumped down in the only easy chair in the room and crossed his legs. He looked as if he had fallen asleep, though he was alert.
     Chase told Wallace everything that he could remember about the strange conversations with Judge. The detective had a few questions that stirred a few additional details from Chase's memory.
     "He sounds like a religious psychotic," Wallace said. "All this stuff about fornication and sin and passing judgments."
     "Maybe. But I wouldn't look for him at tent meetings. I think it's more of a moral excuse to kill than a genuine belief "
     "Maybe," Wallace said. "Then again, we get his sort every once in a while."
     Jim Tuppinger finished his work. He outlined the workings of his listening and recording equipment and further explained the trace equipment that the telephone company would use to seek Judge when he called.
     "Well," Wallace said, "tonight, for once, I intend to go home when my shift ends." Just the thought of eight hours' sleep made his lids droop over his weary, bloodshot eyes.
     "One thing," Chase said.
     "Yeah?"
     "If this leads to something - do you have to tell the press about my part in it?"
     "Why?" Wallace asked.
     "It's just that I'm tired of being a celebrity, of having people bother me at all hours of the day and night."
     "It has to come out in the trial, if we nab him," Wallace said.
     "But not before?"
     "I guess not."
     "I'd appreciate it," Chase said. "In any case, I'll have to appear at the trial, won't I?"
     "Probably."
     "If the press didn't have to know until then, it would cut down on the news coverage by half."
     "You really are modest, aren't you?" Wallace asked. Before Chase could respond to that, the detective smiled, clapped him on the shoulder, and left.
     "Would you like a drink?" Chase asked Tuppinger.
     "Not on duty."
     "Mind if I-?"
     "No. Go ahead."
     Chase noticed that Tuppinger watched him with interest as he got new ice cubes and poured a large dose of whiskey. It wasn't as large as usual. He supposed he'd have to restrain his thirst with the cop around.
     When Chase sat on the bed, Tuppinger said, "I read all about your exploits over there."
     "Oh?"
     "Really something," Tuppinger said.
     "Not really."
     "Oh, yes, really," Tuppinger insisted. He was sitting in the easy chair, which he had moved close to his equipment. "It had to be hard over there, worse than anybody at home could ever know."
     Chase nodded.
     "I'd imagine the medals don't mean much. I mean, considering everything you had to go through to earn them, they must seem kind of insignificant."
     Chase looked up from his drink, surprised at the insight. "You're right. They don't mean anything."
     Tuppinger said, "And it must be hard to come back from a place like that and settle into a normal life. Memories couldn't fade that quickly."
     Chase started to respond, then saw Tuppinger glance meaningfully at the glass of whiskey in his hand. He closed his mouth, bit off his response. Then, hating Tuppinger as badly as he hated Judge, he lifted the drink and took a large swallow.
     He said, "I'll have another, I think. Sure you don't want one?"
     "Positive," Tuppinger said.
     When Chase returned to the bed with another glassful, Tuppinger cautioned him against answering the phone without first waiting for the tape to be started. Then he went into the bathroom, where he remained almost ten minutes.
     When the cop returned, Chase asked, "How late do we have to stay up?"
     "Has he ever called this late - except that first night?"
     "No," Chase said.
     "Then I'll turn in now," Tuppinger said, flopping in the easy chair. "See you in the morning."

     In the morning, the whispers of the dead men woke Chase, but they proved to be nothing more than the sound of water running in the bathroom sink. Having risen first, Tuppinger was shaving.
     When the cop opened the door and came into the main room of the tiny efficiency apartment a few minutes later, he looked refreshed. "All yours!" He seemed remarkably energetic for having spent the night in the armchair.
     Chase took his time bathing and shaving,