“Sorry, I can’t get into details.”
Surprisingly, no reaction to the refusal. Just the opposite; he created a near-smile. “It’s extremely helpful.”
“It is.”
“Love that love it love that. So I will be called to testify if you apprehend them based on my information and they’re taken to trial rather than settle with a plea.”
“We’re a long way from that, Crispin.”
“I understand that,” he said. “But given those contingencies, will I be called?”
“You want to testify?”
“Very much so. So I will be invited?”
“It’s complicated,” I said. “You’re a minor, your parents would need to—”
“By that time I likely will have reached majority and Haley and him will have nothing to say about it. Will I be allowed?”
“It won’t be up to me, Crispin. Why the desire to testify?”
“It would be interesting and recreational.”
I said, “A lot of people would be worried about testifying.”
“A lot of people are low-functioning automatons who care what other low-functioning automatons think of them. I want to get up in the witness box and be asked to swear on a Bible and refuse in a loud voice because I’m an atheist. Given the quality of my information, after a protracted debate among the lawyers and the judge, I’ll be allowed to affirm my truthfulness the way I see fit. Once that’s settled, I’ll inform everyone in the courtroom what I saw but I will fix my eyes on the two of them. I’m certain to be a star witness. What do you say about that?”
“I’m sure you’ll be convincing.”
“I will be,” he said. “I can make people think things.”
CHAPTER
42
He sprang up again and gave the aquarium another poke, setting off piscine panic. Then he walked to his glass desk, shoved the collection of Rubik’s cubes to the floor, and began working one of his laptops.
Screenful of geometric designs. As he manipulated, he hummed atonally.
“Is there anything else you want to tell me, Crispin?”
“On your way out inform Haley I’m ready for breakfast. I want anchovies.”
—
No sign of his mother. The maid was in the kitchen, wiping counters with something that smelled of vinegar.
I said, “Crispin’s hungry.”
She said, “He’s always hungry,” and kept washing.
—
I saw myself out, sat in the Seville, and phoned Milo.
He said, “One of a kind. Mentioning the Rolls says he’s probably being straight.”
I said, “The woman’s description fits, too.”
