It didn't take long, actually, not once you had your subject located. Tom hadn't really been a hard case; his juvenile delinquency, Gloria was quite sure, was a thing of the past. He'd be back in school as soon as the details could be worked out between Mrs. Francis and the Board of Education, and that would take care of that. With a satisfied smile, she put the doll away in her drawer. She'd mash it back into clay later in the afternoon; that would enable her to use the same piece over and over again. Clay cost money, and a case worker's salary wasn't large. Gloria could not see how she could put the cost of the clay down on a special requisition, anyhow; she had to pay for it herself, and so she was very careful and saving with it. After she'd put the Tom doll away with the Rudi doll, making a mental note to take care of both of them before she left for the day, she fished out her beret and put it on and went out for a quick lunch. * * * * * It was just after two o'clock when Mr. Gerne came in. The others were used to his periodic arrivals, of course, and Gloria had never felt any fear of the director. He didn't work in the same office, but elsewhere in the building, and once a week he made a habit of touring the various social-work agencies under his direction. It kept the workers on their toes, Gloria imagined: the actual sight of the boss' boss would do that. Mr. Gerne never smiled; he was a small, thin-lipped man with white skin and very little hair. He stood in the outer office, peering round, for a few minutes, and then, nodding his head slowly, he went on and knocked at Mr. Fredericksohn's door. "Who's there?" Mr. Fredericksohn called from inside. "Mr. Gerne," said Mr. Gerne. There was a little pause, and then Mr. Fredericksohn said: "Ah. Come in." The door opened and shut and Mr. Gerne was invisible. Gloria picked up a folder and pretended to concentrate on it. Of course, she could hear what was happening in the private office perfectly well. She remembered studying medieval witchcraft and thought suddenly of astral bodies. But that had been a guess some distance from the truth. The projection of the sense of hearing was such a simple thing, really; why did people have to complicate it with all this talk about witches and the soul--she was reminded of Mrs. Wladek but put the woman out of her mind. Mr. Gerne was talking. "... For instance, the new girl--what's her name?" "Gloria Scott," Mr. Fredericksohn's voice said. "Yes?" "What's she like?" Mr. Gerne's voice said. "I don't know her personally--of course I've seen her there in the office, and she seems like a friendly, pretty girl. But you deal with her every day--" "Very nice," Mr. Fredericksohn said. "Pleasant and easy to work with. A good type. Now, you take her record--" "That's what I meant," Mr. Gerne said. "A record like that--it's just not possible. There isn't any chance she's faking it?"