Thin Air by George Simpson, Neal Burger

right. I must have dozed off."
    Jan studied him. "You look terrible," she said. "I'm out of the bathroom. Why don't I make up the couch so you can get some decent sleep?"
    Hammond offered no resistance. He couldn't think anymore. Fifteen minutes later, he slid between the sheets, closed his eyes, listened to Jan moving quietly in the bedroom, and drifted off....
    He picked up the phone on the second ring, rolling off the couch in the darkened living room. It was the night receptionist at NIS headquarters in Alexandria.
    "I'm holding a call for you, sir—a Mrs. Yablonski."
    "Tell her I'll call right back."
    Hammond slammed the phone down and ran into his office. He rummaged for Yablonski's number, glancing at the clock as he dialed. It was just after four a.m.
    "Hello?"
    "This is Hammond, Mrs. Yablonski. What's the trouble?"
    Her voice choked with relief. "Commander, I'm sorry—I know it's late but I just didn't know what to do—"
    "It's all right, ma'am. What's happened?"
    She sobbed into the phone. "It's Cas...just terrible...since midnight—"
    "Why didn't you get in touch with me then?"
    "I couldn't," she said. "He wanted to call Dr. McCarthy—I wouldn't let him."
    "You handled it fine, Mrs. Yablonski. Where is he now?"
    "Taking a walk—around the pond. Sometimes that helps. But I don't know how long it will last. Please! He needs somebody right away!"
    "Now listen. I'm coming up to see him. I'll leave as soon as I finish speaking to you. I'll be bringing two Navy doctors with me. We should be there in four hours, maybe less. Don't worry about anything. Just trust me. The most important thing you can do now is keep your husband quiet. And keep him away from Dr. McCarthy. Understand?"
    "I-I'll try."
    "You've got to do better than that, Mrs. Yablonski.I'llsee you in four hours."
    He hung up and called the headquarters receptionist back. "I need several things. Get hold of Larry Cohen and Tom Slater. Tell them to be at the MATS terminal at Washington National in forty minutes. Call operations. Have them fuel and warm up a Lockheed Jet-Star on my authorization. Then call Otis Air Force Base and make sure they have a car standing by for me. Got all that?"
    Hammond made her repeat the instructions, then hung up. He moved to the bedroom door, careful not to wake Jan. He went to his closet and pulled out a uniform, planning to dress in the kitchen. Then he noticed her sitting up in bed.
    "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you." He grabbed his shoes and headed for the door.       
    "Christ, Hammond. The middle of the night," she said. "You haven't changed."
    Hammond froze in the doorway. Their former life together had been filled with moments like this—with him creeping out in the dead of night to accomplish she knew not what. And how she had hated it But how could he possibly explain to her what was going on tonight? He fought down a quick surge of anger and answered her quietly.       
    "One thing's changed. I don't apologize for it anymore," He closed the bedroom door quickly.
     
     

 
    7
     
    Slater whistled at his first sight of the storybook cottage set in front of huge willow trees only forty yards from the water. Cohen got out of the car and assessed the surroundings.
    "This is a guy who likes to retreat from society," he announced to Hammond.
    "I could have told you that," Hammond said.
    "Yeah, but I've got the degree, so it means more."
    Hammond smiled as Mrs. Yablonski banged through the front screen door and waved anxiously at them. "Hello!" she hollered, and hurried down to meet them. "I'mso glad you came. Commander, I can't tell you..."
    Hammond introduced Cohen and -Slater as doctors and Naval colleagues. She glanced uncertainly at their white t-shirts and slicks. But they put on the charm and in a moment she was convinced.
    "How's your husband this morning, ma'am?" asked Cohen.
    Her'smile fell away. "Not good," she said, glancing at Hammond. "He had a terrible night. You should have heard the things