"Why not?"
"I--I didn't think I was hurt at the time. But today I had a painful
rib and I thought I'd better make sure--"
"You thought maybe you might be able to collect a little something, eh
Professor?"
I began to get angry. "Maybe I did--but that isn't what you came here
to ask me about, Sergeant. If you've got something on your mind let's
have it. Otherwise--"
"Don't get smart, Professor!" The sergeant rose abruptly. One jerky
stride brought him close to me. The heavy face looked mean and
dangerous as he thrust it in front of mine. "I'll ask the questions the
way I want to ask them. And you'll listen and you'll answer, just like
one of your students in the classroom, nice and polite!"
I held my tongue but I could feel the skin tighten across my
cheek-bones.
"Now!" he snarled. "You were in the Dugout asking for the girl between
six and seven tonight. That right?"
"I left about seven-thirty."
"Yeah. And you said you'd be back later. You acted like you had a date
with her."
"That's not true!"
"But you were going back."
I glanced at Laurie. There was a bright spark in her eyes as she waited
for me to answer.
"Yes. I was going back."
"But instead you went to see her, didn't you, Professor?"