Then, "You're saying that he's not alive, but that you've made contact with him." It was a statement, not a question. "I'm saying that I've had contact with him. We've spoken. I've seen him, after a fashion." "You're being very cryptic, Mr. Biergarten." "Of necessity. You made it clear how you feel about what I do, Miss Goodlow." "I made it clear how I feel about what you say you do. My threshold of willing suspension of disbelief is quite high." Ryerson smiled. "You understood that, I assume?" Jenny Goodlow asked. "Yes. It's a literary phrase, am I right?" She sighed. "Mr. Biergarten, we appear to be playing games with each other." "If we are, then I wasn't aware of it. I called as a courtesy to say that I've had contact with your brother. I'm willing to elaborate, if you'd like." Silence. He waited for a response from her. After half a minute, he heard the sharp click of the phone being hung up. ~ * ~ Guy Squires realized with grim and fearful fascination that the air in this little apartment was growing very stale and that he would not for long be able to breathe it.
