Charles Taggart was dead.
Charles Taggart was Charlie. Stardust Charlie.
My heart thudded crazily against my chest. It couldn't be! Not Charlie!
The audiogram had lied!
I pressed the stud again. "... regret to inform you of death of
Charles ..."
I hurled the cylinder at the wall. It thudded, fell, rolled. The broken
voice droned on.