Chapter 7 Chapter VII

no big deal.At first I didn't even feel like I was drinking, then I felt a little dizzy, like I was going to throw up. Well, my system is no longer used to alcohol.Haven't had a drink for a week.When was the last time you went an entire week without drinking? I can't remember.Maybe fifteen years ago.Maybe twenty years, or more. I stood there with my forearms on the bar and one foot on the bottom rung of the stool beside me, trying to judge how I felt.I think it's less painful now than it was a few minutes ago, and there's an odd sense of loss.But what is missing? "Another glass?"

I was about to nod, but I controlled myself and shook my head. "Not now," I said, "can I have some dimes instead? I have to make some calls." He helped me change the one yuan into change, and then pointed me to the location of the pay phone.I shut myself in the phone booth, got out my notebook and pen, and started talking. It cost me a couple of coins to find out who was in charge of the Daquinen case, and another two or three to find the man.In the end, I was finally transferred to the office of the Chengbei Sub-bureau. I said I wanted to speak to Detective Durkin, and a voice said, "Wait a minute," and then, "Joe, I'm looking for you."

A moment later, another voice said: "I am Joseph Durkin." I said, "Durkin, my name is Scudder. I wonder if you've caught the Dakinon murderer?" "I didn't catch your name," he said. "I'm Matthew Scudder. I'm not looking for information from you, but I'm giving information. If you haven't caught the pimp yet, I can give you some clues." After a pause, he said, "We haven't caught anyone yet." "She has a pimp." "we know." "Do you know his name?" "Look, Mr. Scudder—"

"Her pimp was named Chance. It might have been a first name, it might have been a last name, or it might have been just a nickname. He's not on the criminal record, at least not by that name." "How did you know about the criminal record?" "I used to be a cop. Look, Durkin, I have a lot of information for you. Let's talk for a while, and you can ask any questions you want." "Okay." - Stick School · E Book Group - I told him everything I knew about Chance.I gave him a detailed description of Chance's physical features and his car, plus the driver's license number.I said he had at least four girls under his control, one of whom was a lady named Sonia Hendrix, probably everyone called Sunny, and I described what she looked like.

"Friday night he dropped Hendrix off at 444 Central Park West. She may live there, but it's also possible she was going to fight for a professional boxer named Kid Bascom There was a celebratory dinner. Chance was interested in Bascom, and maybe there was a party in that building for him." He wanted to cut in, but I kept talking. I said, "Friday night Chance learned that the Duckinen girl wanted to end their relationship. On Saturday afternoon, he visited her at her place on East Thirty-eighth Street and told her he had no objection. He asked She moved out of this apartment at the end of the month. It was his apartment, and he rented the apartment and placed her here."

"Wait a minute," Durkin said, and I heard the rustle of the paper. "The registered lessee is David Goldman. Dakinen's number is also listed in his name." "Have you tracked down David Goldman?" "not yet." "I can't guess. Maybe Goldman is a lawyer or accountant that Chance hired to cover him. That's all I can tell you. Chance doesn't look like David Goldman at all. people." "You said he was black?" "right." "You met him." "That's right. Although he doesn't have a fixed place to go, there are a few places he often goes to."

I listed several places for him. "I can't find out where he lives. I guess he's trying to keep it secret." "No problem," Durkin said. "We can reverse the trace. You gave us his phone number, remember? We can use that number to look up his address." "As far as I know, that's the number of his pick-up station." "Okay, they'll have his number." "Maybe." "You sound suspicious?" "I think he doesn't want to be found easily," I said. "How did you find him? What have you to do with the case, Scudder?"

I want to hang up.I told them what I knew, but didn't want to answer questions.But I'm much easier to find than Chance, and if I hang up on Durkin, he'll have me in for an interview in no time. I said, "I saw him on Friday night. Miss Daquinen asked me to be her intermediary." "Mediate what?" "Tell him she wants to jump out of the fire. She dare not tell him herself." "So you spoke for her." "right." "What, are you a pimp too, Scudder? She jumped from him to yours?" I gripped the microphone tightly. I said, "No, I don't do that business, what, Durkin? Does your mother want a new pimp?"

"What the hell—" "Be careful with your bad mouth, that's all. I told you all the inside information, and I didn't have to call you." He said nothing. I said, "Kim Dakinen is a friend of a friend of mine. If you want to know about me, there used to be a policeman named Gujiko who knew me. Is he still at the North City Precinct?" "Are you Gujiko's friend?" "We don't appreciate each other, but he can tell you I'm honest. I told Chance she wanted to quit and he said he didn't mind. He went to see her the next day and said the same thing to her. As a result, last night someone Killed her. You still think the time of death was midnight?"

"Yes, but only an estimate. It was twelve hours after they found her. You know, the condition of the body almost made the coroner think twice." "Alas." - Stick School · E Book Group - "The most pitiful thing I see is the hotel clerk. She's from Ecuador, I think she's an illegal immigrant, and she barely speaks English, and that's what happened to her." He snorted and said, "Would you like to see Look at the corpse, so you can confirm it for us? I promise you will never forget it." "Are you sure it's her?" "Oh, yes," he said, "we have her fingerprints. She was arrested on Long Island a few years ago. Soliciting. Detained for fifteen days. No arrests since."

"She picked up guests indoors later," I said. Chance put her up in an apartment on Thirty-eighth Street. "A true New York adventure. What else do you know, Scudder? How will we find you if we need you?" I have no other information.I gave him my address and phone number.After exchanging a few more polite words with each other, I hung up the phone, and then the phone rang.My dime was only enough for a three-minute call, and I owe forty-five cents now.I broke another dollar at the bar, put the change in the coin slot, and went back to the bar for another drink.It's still "early years", drink it directly, without ice. This time it tastes better.After drinking, I felt something in my body melt. At parties, they tell you it's the first drink that gets you drunk.Once you have one drink, it's out of control, and before you know it, you'll drink one after another until you're intoxicated.Well, maybe I'm not an alcoholic because my situation is different.I've had a couple of glasses and I'm in a much better mood than before, so of course I don't need to drink any more. However, I gave myself a chance.I stood there for a while, wondering if I should have a third drink. No.Stop drinking, I really don't want to drink anymore.I'm fine with that. I left a dollar on the bar, put the rest of the change away, and went home.When I passed Armstrong's, I didn't want to go in.I certainly had no desire to stop for a drink. At this time, the earlier issue of "News" should have come out.Shall I walk to the corner and buy it? No, fuck it. I stopped at the front desk.No message.Jacob was on duty, lazily humming a ditty and doing crossword puzzles. I said, "Hi Jacob, thank you for your help that night. Make that call for me." "Oh, nothing," he said. "No, it was a great help," I said, "I really appreciate it." I went upstairs to bed.I was exhausted and out of breath.For a moment, just before falling asleep, I experienced that odd sense of loss again.But what am I missing? Seven days, you abstain from alcohol for seven days, and most of the eighth day, and then you lose them. They are gone.