"Some doctors believe that a long period of peace and quiet under
conditions where only the mildest of stimuli are available may bring
the addict back. I am of the opinion that such a place does not
exist. They fasten onto hate as an emotion that cuts through their
burned-out emotions and if you should place them among completely
bland surroundings they would find it possible to hate those that
incarcerated them. It becomes almost paranoiac; anything you do is
wrong."
"So I've discovered. But what do I do with Miss Hannon?"
"At the time of Miss Hannon's disappearance, her family offered a
reward of five thousand dollars for her return."
"I'd be happy to deliver her FOB her own front porch," said Farradyne.
"Can I hand her over to you and let you take it from there?"
"She would put up quite a ruckus," said Lawson. "I doubt that she will
go home willingly. It is my opinion that Miss Hannon's response to
Walton's lovemaking was extremely high, so that the result was a quick
blunting of her normal capability for feelings. After this, anger and
shame would cause her--a proud woman of education and breeding--to
hide where she could not be known, where she could possibly get
the hellflower she needed for her next desire to enjoy the lift
of emotions. This would not be in the home of her parents. So she
would not go home willingly--and the alternative is an appeal to the
authorities." Lawson smiled. "I heard your offer to deliver her free to
her home."
"But--"
"You've depended upon us and you will be helped. We will have an
operative collect Miss Hannon at the Denver Spaceport. All you have
to do is live with this trouble for about fifty hours more. We have
done quite a bit of work on this case already, and we are willing to
do more. For delivering your information and for taking Miss Hannon to
Denver, we will be happy to divide the reward."
"I'll deliver Miss Hannon to Denver," said Farradyne, thinking that for
twenty-five hundred he could stick cotton in his ears and sweat it out
at about fifty dollars an hour.
"Good, Mr. Farradyne. I'll make arrangements to have our Mr. Kingman
meet you at Denver."
Lawson handed Farradyne a few pages of dossier on the case and then
showed him out of the office. Farradyne took a deep breath and decided
that what he wanted was a drink to his good fortune. He could look
forward to getting rid of Norma Hannon. He made the street, glanced
around, and headed for a small bar, to relax and think.