boucher book oct28.pdf - Index of

The Compleat Werewolf 25
“This isn’t faculty business. And it’s important.” The young man’s attitude was
affable and casual, but he managed nonetheless to convey a sense of urgency that
piqued Wolf’s curiosity. The all-important letter to Gloria had waited while he took
two classes; it could wait another five minutes.
“Very well, Mr. O’Breen.”
“And alone, if you please.”
Wolf himself hadn’t noticed that Emily was in the room. He now turned to the
secretary and said, “All right. If you don’t mind, Emily—”
Emily shrugged and went out.
“Now, sir. What is this important and secret business?”
“Just a question or two. To start with, how well do you know Gloria Garton?”
Wolf paused. You could hardly say, “Young man, I am about to repropose to her
in view of my becoming a werewolf.” Instead he simply said—the truth, if not the
whole truth— “She was a pupil of mine a few years ago.”
“I said do, not did. How well do you know her now?”
“And why should I bother to answer such a question?”
The young man handed over a card. Wolf read:
FERGUS O’BREEN
Private Inquiry Agent
Licensed by the State of California
Wolf smiled. “And what does this mean? Divorce evidence? Isn’t that the usual
field of private inquiry agents?”
“Miss Garton isn’t married, as you probably know very well. I’m just asking if
you’ve been in touch with her much lately.”
“And I’m simply asking why you should want to know.”
O’Breen rose and began to pace around the office. “We don’t seem to be getting
very far, do we? I’m to take it that you refuse to state the nature of your relations
with Gloria Garton?”
“I see no reason why I should do otherwise.” Wolf was beginning to be annoyed.
To his surprise, the detective relaxed into a broad grin. “OK. Let it ride. Tell me
about your department. How long have the various faculty members been here?”
“Instructors and all?”
“Just the professors.”
“I’ve been here for seven years. All the others at least a good ten, probably more.
If you want exact figures, you can probably get them from the dean, unless, as I
hope”—Wolf smiled cordially—“he throws you out flat on your red pate.”
O’Breen laughed. “Professor, I think we could get on. One more question, and
you can do some pate-tossing yourself. Are you an American citizen?”
“Of course.”
“And the rest of the department?”
“All of them. And now would you have the common decency to give me some
explanation of this fantastic farrago of questions?”
“No,” said O’Breen casually. “Goodbye, professor.” His alert green eyes had
been roaming about the room, sharply noticing everything. Now, as he left, they