The Passenger (The Passenger, #1)(111)

All right.

I’m sorry, Debbie. I dont have anybody else to saddle with this.

It’s all right.

All right.

Dont get in a fight out there.

I wont.

I’ll send Alex out.

Okay.

Can I ask you something?

Of course.

Is that all right with you? To have no one?

Western stared at his hand. Flat on the table. After a while he said: I wasnt asked. I wasnt consulted.

You have no say in your own life.

If all that I loved in the world is gone what difference does it make if I’m free to go to the grocery store?

And this is for always.

Yes.

He looked up at her. Her eyes were brimming.

I’m sorry. I didnt mean to make you sad.

Why dont I just read the letter.

Maybe this is a bad idea.

Why dont I just read it.

All right. Thank you.

He took his drink and went out through the bar and stood in the street. Pretty quiet. Two young chaps sallied past and the taller of them gave him the once-over and then they looked into the bar.

I wouldnt go in there if I were you.

The other one turned at the door. You’re not, he said.

The taller one had already looked inside and he came back out onto the sidewalk. Come on, he said.

What is it?

He turned to Western. Thank you, Sweetheart.

My pleasure.

He went in. Alex was looking for him. What did you say to her?

I didnt say anything to her. Why?

Because she’s crying her eyes out.

Damn. All right. I’m sorry.

He pushed into the room and shut the door. The letter was lying open on the table. She looked at him and looked away again. Oh Bobby.

I’m sorry.

Poor baby. Poor baby.

I’m sorry. I’m just so stupid.

It’s not your fault. I did it to myself. God. I’m just a mess. I have a sister you know. I’m sorry. I’m ruining your letter. She opened her purse and took out a tissue and blotted the letter where a watery streak of mascara had run on the page.

Dont worry about that.

She dabbed at her eyes.

I almost came in to tell you not to do it.

It’s all right. I’m such a baby.

I’m really sorry.

The waiter opened the door and looked in. Are you all right?

It’s okay, Alex. Thank you. It’s just some bad news in a letter. We’ll be okay.

He looked doubtful but he pulled the door shut.

I must be a mess. Do you really want me to keep the letters? How many are there?

Not a lot. I dont want you to do it if it will make you uncomfortable.

But I wouldnt have to read any more of them.

No.

All right.

Go ahead.

The violin is at the shop where she bought it. I hope you know where that is because she doesnt say.

I didnt know she bought it in a shop. I thought she bought it at auction.

Is it worth a lot of money? I’m guessing it is.

I think so. She bought it with the inheritance from her grandmother. I thought it was a bit extravagant to spend her inheritance on a fiddle. The money was supposed to go for her education but she said that somebody else would pay for that. And of course she was right. And she said that whatever you paid for an Amati violin it would still be pennies on the dollar in a very few years.

Where did she go to school?

The University of Chicago.

And she was what? Twelve?

She was thirteen.

How did she know what violin to buy?

She was pretty much a world authority on Cremona violins. She knew the history of a hundred of them. She used to get letters from museums asking for advice on pieces in their collection. She made mathematical models of their acoustics. Sine-wave patterns of the plates. She finally worked out a topological model that would tell you how to make the perfect violin. The Amatis were just sort of loosely glued together and she finally took it completely apart. She worked with a woman in New Jersey named Hutchins. A guy named Burgess in Ann Arbor. People are still trying to find her. She really didnt need a lot of help in picking out a violin. That Amati was a pretty rare find. I dont think it had been sold in years.

She folded the letter and put it back into the envelope.

I’m really sorry, Debbie. I didnt have anyone else to ask.

It’s all right.

She opened her compact and looked at her face in the mirror. God, she said.

Should we go?

I need to go to the loo. Try and repair some of the damage.

All right. I’ll get the check.

There wont be a check. Just leave a tip.

A five?

How about a ten.

All right. Thank you, Debbie.

They walked out through the bar but the troops by now seemed too inebriated to pay them much attention. Someone did call out to her to ditch that poof but that was about it. Western hailed a cab. They went up Dumaine Street to her apartment and he walked her to the gate.

I feel like I’ve encroached on your friendship.

It’s just there, Bobby. It always was. No erasing. No encroaching.

All right.

Clara is going to be here in two weeks. I want you to meet her. You’ll fall in love.

Are you excited?

Very.

She leaned and kissed him on both cheeks.

Do you want me to see you in?