The Naked Face by Sidney Sheldon

you're looking at the most incompetent psychoanalyst who ever lived' He looked up and saw Moody studying him. 'I always say first things firs.' Moody said cheerfully. 'The first thing we've gotta do is find out whether someone's trying to knock you off, or whether you're nuts. Right, Doc?' He broke into a broad smile, taking the offence out of his words. 'How?' Judd asked. 'Simple,' Moody said. 'Your problem is, you're standin' at home plate strikin' at curve balls, an' you don't know if anyone's pitchin'. First we're gonna find out if there's a ball-game goin' on; then we're gonna find out who the players are. You got a car?' 'Yes.' Judd had forgotten about walking out and finding another private detective. He sensed now behind Moody's bland, innocent face and his homespun maxims a quiet, intelligent capability. 'I think your nerves are shot,' Moody said. 'I want you to take a little vacation.' 'When?' 'Tomorrow morning.' 'That's impossible,' Judd protested. 'I have patients scheduled.. .' Moody brushed it aside. 'Cancel them.' 'But what good�' 'Do I tell you how to run your business?' Moody asked. 'When you leave here, I want you to go straight to a travel agency. Have them get you a reservation at" - he thought a moment - 'Grossinger's. That's a pretty drive up through the Catskills... Is there a garage in the apartment building where you live?' 'OK. Tell them to service your car for the trip. You don't want to have any breakdowns on the road' 'Couldn't I do this next week? Tomorrow is a full�' 'After you make your reservation, you're going back to your office and call all your patients. Tell them you've had an emergency and you'll be back in a week.' 'I really can't,' Judd said. If s out of the�' 'You'd better call Angeli, too.' Moody continued. 1 don't want the police hunting for you while you're gone.' 'Why am I doing this?' Judd asked. 'To protect your fifty dollars. That reminds me. Fm gonna need another two hundred for a retainer. Plus fifty a day for expenses.' Moody hauled his large bulk up out of the big rocker. 'I can get up there before dark. Can you leave about seven in the morning?'
    'I... I suppose so. What will I find when I get up there?' 'With a little luck, a scorecard.' Five minutes later Judd was thoughtfully getting into his car. He had told Moody that he could not go away and leave his patients on such short notice. But he knew that he was going to. He was literally putting his life into the hands of the Falstaff of the private detective world. As he started to drive away, his eye caught Moody's sign in the window. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED He'd better be right, Judd thought grimly. The plan for the trip went smoothly. Judd stopped at a travel agency on Madison Avenue. They reserved a room for him at Grossinger's and provided him with a road map and a variety of colour brochures on the Catskills. Next he telephoned his answering service and arranged for them to call his patients and cancel all his appointments until further notice. He phoned the Nineteenth Precinct and asked for Detective Angeli. 'Angeli's home sick,' said an impersonal voice. 'Do you want his home number?' 'Yes.' A few moments later he was talking to Angeli. From the sound of Angeli's voice, he had a heavy cold. 'I've decided I need to get out of town for a few days,' Judd said. 'I'm leaving in the morning. I wanted to check it with you.' There was a silence while Angeli thought it over. 'It might not be a bad idea. Where will you go?' 'I thought I'd drive up to Grossinger's.' 'All right,' Angeli said. 'Don't worry. I'll clear it with McGreavy.' He hesitated. 'I heard what happened at your office last night.' 'You mean you heard McGreavy's version,' Judd said. 'Did you get a look at the men who tried to kill you?' So Angeli, at least, believed him. 'No.' 'Nothing at all that could help us find them? Colour, age, height?' 'I'm sorry,' Judd said. 'It was dark.' Angeli sniffed. 'OK. I'll keep looking. Maybe I'll have some good news