He was thin and perfectly dressed. Sordman stopped. God of Infinite Compassion, this is my brother.... "They ought to lock you up," the man said. "They ought to keep you away from decent people. Get out of my head! Leave me alone!" People stared at them. A small crowd gathered. Lee appeared in the door of the coffee house. "It's all right," Sordman told the people. "It's all right." He started to go on. The man stepped in front of him. "Leave me alone, freak. Let me think my own thoughts!" "Citizen, I haven't touched your mind." "I felt it just then!" "It was no more than I could help. I'm sorry if I've hurt you." "Go away!" "I'm trying to." "Murderer! Mind witch!" He was faced with a strong mind that valued its independence. Anything he did would be detected and resented. "Citizens," he said, "this man deserves your respect. No matter what a man does, he's bound to offend someone. This Citizen values his privacy--which is good--and therefore I make him angry. I hope the good my Talent lets me do outweighs the bad. Forgive me, brother." He stepped to one side. "Leave him alone," someone said. "Let the Protector work." "Leave him alone, old man." "_I'm not an old man._" "No, you're not," Sordman said. "I admire your courage." He walked on. Behind him the old man shouted curses. "Are you all right?" Lee said. "Sure. Let's go in and sit down." There were just a few people in the coffee house. Sordman ordered and told them what he had learned. "I wish you could probe everyone in the building," George said. "All we get is gossip." "The husband of this Raven English has a motive," Lee said. "Why don't we visit her?" "I think we should." Sordman drank his coffee. "Citizen English herself might have killed them." "I doubt it," George said. "It all sounds like a lot of talk," Sordman said. "But we have to follow it up. This business is nothing but wearing out your legs running after every lead. If your legs are strong, you can run anybody down." They finished their coffee and cigarettes and trudged out. * * * * * Raven English, one-year wife of Leonard Smith, did not meet them at the door with gracious bows. Instead, a wall panel by the door shot back. They stared at a square of one way glass. "Who are you?" a girl's voice said. "I'm Andrew Sordman, your Protector. I come on lawful business. May we enter?" "No." "Why not?" Lee asked. "Because I don't like witches. Keep out." "We're hunting the killer," Sordman said. "We're on your side. I've taken no drugs and made no preparations. You don't have to be afraid." "I'm not afraid. I just don't want you in my home." "You have to let us in," Lee said. "Our warrant gives us entry into every room in this hotel. If we have to break the door down, we can." "I hope we don't have to break the door down." "You're getting fat," George said. "You need the exercise." "You won't break in," the girl said.