The Second Confesion

“I don't know exactly. About a dozen.” I nodded. “I can see why you wouldn't want them kicking around, no matter how innocent they were. But either he destroyed them or they're some place else. You won't find them here. Mr Panzer and I have been looking for some papers-nothing to do with your sister or you-and we know how to look. We had just finished when you arrived, and you can take it from me that there's no letter from your sister here-let alone a dozen. If you want me to sign a statement on that I'd be glad to.” “You might have missed them,” Jimmy objected, 'You might,” I corrected him. “Not us.” “The papers you were looking for-did you find them?” “No.” “What are they?” “Oh, just something needed for settling his affairs.” “You say they don't concern-my family?” “Nothing to do with your family as far as I know.” I stood up. “So I guess that ends it. You leave empty-handed and so do we. I might add that there will be no point in my reporting this to Mr Sperling, since he's no longer our client and since you seem to think it might disturb him.” “That's very nice of you, Andy,” Mom said appreciatively. She arose to come to inspect me. “I'm so sorry about your face!” “Don't mention it,” I told her. “I shouldn't have startled you. It'll be okay in a couple of months.” I turned. “You don't want that gun, do you, Saul?” Saul took it from his pocket, shook the cartridges into his palm, and went to Jimmy and returned his property.

“I don't see,” Mom said, “why we can't stay and look around some more, just to make sure about those letters.” “Oh, come on,” Jimmy said rudely.

They went.