The Door to December

get back to Lonnie to hear more details. However, he didn't want to appear eager to depart, because he didn't want Seames to come with him. And if Seames thought that Dan knew where Laura and Melanie were, there would be no hope of leaving alone and unobstructed.
     The FBI agent was staring hard at him.
     Dan said, 'They don't know anything at Paladin.'
     'Is that what he told you?'
     'Yeah.'
     'What else did he tell you?'
     He wanted and needed to trust Seames and the Bureau. He was, after all, a cop by choice, and he believed in authority, in systems of law and enforcement. Ordinarily, he would have given Seames his trust automatically, unthinkingly. But not this time. This was a twisty situation, with stakes so high that the usual rules did not apply.
     'He didn't tell me shit,' Dan said. 'What do you mean?'
     'Something's got you really scared all of a sudden.'
     'Not me.'
     'You just broke into a sweat.'
     Dan felt it on his face, cool and trickling. Thinking fast, he said, 'It's this knock I took on the forehead. It feels okay, and I forget about it, and then all of a sudden the pain starts up again so bad it makes me weak.'
     'Hats?' Seames said.
     'What?'
     'At the Sign of the Pentagram, you told me you'd hurt yourself while trying on hats.'
     'Did I? Well, I was just being smartass.'
     'So ... what really happened?'
     'Well, see, usually I don't think very much or very hard. Not used to it. Big dumb cop, you know. But today I had to think so hard that my head got hot, blistered the skin right off.'
     'I believe you're thinking hard all the time, Haldane. Every minute.'
     'You give me too much credit.'
     'And I want to warn you to think hard about this: You're just a city cop, while I'm a federal agent.'
     'I am acutely aware of your exalted status and the hovering ghost of J. Edgar Hoover.'
     'Though I can't meddle in your jurisdiction on just any excuse, I can find ways to make you wish you'd never crossed me.'
     'I never would, sir. I swear.'
     Seames just stared at him.
     Dan said, 'Well, I guess I'll be going.'
     'Where?'
     'Home, I guess,' Dan lied. 'It's been a long day. You're right: I've been working too much. And this head hurts like hell. Ought to take a few aspirins and make up an ice pack.'
     'All of a sudden you're no longer worried at all about the McCaffreys?'
     'Oh, well, sure, I'm concerned about them,' Dan said, 'but there's nothing more I can do right now. I mean, this mess here, it's sort of on the suspicious side, but it doesn't necessarily indicate foul play, does it? I figure they're safe with Earl Benton. He's a good guy. Besides, Mr. Seames, a homicide cop has to have a pretty thick skin. Can't start identifying with the victims, you know. If we did that, we'd all be basket cases. Right?'
     Seames stared, unblinking.
     Dan yawned. 'Well, time to have a beer and hit the sack.' He crossed to the door.
     He felt hopelessly obvious, transparent. He had no talent for deception.
     Seames spoke to him as he was about to step over the threshold. 'If the McCaffreys are in danger, Lieutenant, and if you really want to help them, you'd be wise to cooperate with me.'
     'Well, like I said, I don't suppose they are in danger right this minute,' Dan said, although he could still feel the sweat trickling down his face and though his heart was racing and though his stomach was again tied in a burning knot.
     'Damn it, why are you being so stubborn? Why aren't you cooperating, Lieutenant?'
     Dan met his eyes. 'Remember when you pretty much accused me of selling out, turning the McCaffreys over to someone?'
     'It's part of my job to be suspicious,' Seames said.
     'Mine too.'
     'You mean ... you suspect me of being opposed to that little girl's best interests?'
     'Mr. Seames, I'm sorry, but though you have the round, unlined face of a cherub, that doesn't mean you're an angel at heart.'
     He left the house, went out to his car, and drove away. They didn't try to follow him, probably because they realized it would be wasted effort.
    * * *
    The first telephone that Dan saw was one of those artifacts whose steady disappearance seemed to symbolize the decline of modern civilization: a