Shadow of a Broken Man by George C. Chesbro Page A

wouldn't know anything about that."
    I was sure he was lying, and I wondered why. "Somebody else must have shared Rafferty's knowledge," I said.
    "Why do you say that?"
    "Somebody helped him get out of that locked hospital room," I replied. "If Rafferty had an ally, it seems reasonable to assume that the ally knew what Rafferty knew."
    Lippitt shook his head. "Rafferty worked alone. There's a simple explanation for what happened at the hospital: The officer responsible for guarding Rafferty didn't do his job. The door wasn't bolted properly, and the officer fell asleep."
    "That's your version. He says he was hypnotized."
    "That's rather creative, but it's nonsense. What excuse would you use if you'd been in his place?"
    "He also believes that you kept him from being sacked."
    "Then he's a senile fool."
    "You know, Lippitt, you make it easy to suspect that you and your people have Rafferty and don't want anybody to find out about it."
    "And what if we did?" Lippitt snapped, anger flaring in his voice. "There would be nothing you could do about it! The only thing you'd accomplish would be to bring trouble—maybe death—to innocent people. The first person they might go after could be his widow."
    "Why? Because she knows what Rafferty knew?"
    "Because the others might think that she does, or think that she knows where he is. You could be in great danger as a result of what you're doing, but that doesn't seem to bother you."
    "On the contrary," I said; "you're scaring the hell out of me. I don't want anyone to get hurt, and that includes me. But I don't like to be threatened, either. You're not what I'd call a disinterested party."
    "Why did you go to the U.N.?"
    "If Rafferty is alive, he may have been working there two years ago. He may even be working there now."
    "What are you talking about?" In his voice there was disbelief mixed with concern.
    Lippitt seemed to grow agitated as I showed him the picture of the Nately Museum and gave him a quick rundown of what I'd learned.
    "Impossible," he said when I'd finished.
    "Why?"
    Lippitt's body suddenly convulsed, and for a moment I feared he was having an epileptic seizure. He was shuddering, as if suffering from a bone-cracking cold blowing in from some subterranean region of his mind. I moved toward him, but he held out his hand to keep me away. I watched with horrified fascination as Lippitt struggled to bring his body under control. Gradually, the shuddering abated, his teeth stopped chattering, and blood came back to his face. He leaned hard against the wall, then straightened up.
    "You must excuse me," he said quietly.
    "Can I get you something?"
    "No, thank you. I'll be all right." He took a deep breath. "Have you discussed this matter with anyone at the U.N.?"
    "Maybe," I said after a pause.
    "Then you've made a terrible mistake. I understand that you mistrust me and my motives, and that you think I'm lying. But I want you to consider what your burden of responsibility will be if I'm telling the truth."
    "I'll give it a lot of thought," I replied, meaning it. "One more question: Do you know what it was that Rafferty knew?"
    "That will have to remain a mystery." He turned and walked to the door. He hesitated a moment and I thought he was going to add something, but he didn't. He stared at me for a few seconds, then left. The air in the apartment suddenly felt oppressive and dank, as if Lippitt had left behind some of his private cold.

    9
    Lippitt had done his homework well; although he never said so, I was convinced he knew about my last case. He'd repeatedly warned me about the possibility of people getting hurt, and his words had had their intended effect. I sat on my couch for a long time after he left, thinking, staring into space. Finally I got up and went to the phone.
    There was no answer at Mike Foster's office, so, reluctantly, I called his home. Elizabeth Foster answered in her hollow-sounding voice. I felt strange talking to her, knowing that she probably