7

Tom came back the next day with the news that Arden Vass had offered to resign as soon as a suitable replacement could be found. He had expected the mayor to refuse his offer, but Merlin Waterford had immediately announced that he was accepting the resignation of his old friend, albeit with the greatest sorrow, and the Committee for a Just Millhaven would be given a voice in the selection of the new chief. The officer who had killed the teenage boy was under suspension, pending a hearing. Tom stayed for an hour, and when he left, we promised to stay in touch.

John Ransom came in half an hour before the end of visiting hours and told me that he had decided what he wanted to do— buy a farmhouse in the Dordogne where he could work on his book and rent an apartment in Paris for weekends and vacations in the city. "I need a city," he said. "I want a lot of quiet for my work, but I'm no country mouse. Once I'm set up, I want you to come over, spend some time with me. Will you do that?"

"Sure," I said. "It'd be nice. This visit turned out to be a little hectic."

"Hectic? It was a nightmare. I was out of my mind most of the time." John had stayed on his feet during his visit, and he jammed his hands in his pockets and executed a hesitant half-turn, clocking toward the sunny window and then back to me again. "I'll see you tomorrow when you come around to get your things. Ah, I just have to say how much I appreciate everything you did here, Tim. You were great. You were fantastic. I'll never forget it."

"It was quite a ride," I said.

"I want to give you a present. I've been giving this a lot of thought, and while nothing could really repay you for everything you did, I want to give you that painting you liked so much. The Vuillard. Please take it. I want you to have it."

I looked up at him, too stunned to speak.

"I can't look at the thing anymore, anyhow. There's too much of April in it. And I don't want to sell it. So do me a favor and take it, will you?"

"If you really want to give it to me," I said.

"It's yours. I'll take care of the paperwork and have some good art handlers pack it up and ship it to you. Thanks." He fidgeted for a while, having run out of things to say, and then he was gone.