"Of course, it wasn't. The police didn't even question me. I called the police and they came--two prowl-car men. Then they told Les and me to wait. We waited, and after a while this Brent Taber came in. He told us to go home and keep our mouths shut. Later, we were called downtown and Taber talked to us." "He told you to go home," Rhoda said sarcastically. "You also said the man was killed in your room. Just where is your home, Mr. Corson?" "I came here, Rhoda. I spent that night here." "With a possible murder charge hanging over your head, you came here and didn't say a word!" Frank sprang up from the couch and turned, scowling. "Goddamn it! Don't you believe me? Do you think I'm lying?" "I don't know what to believe. I just feel--betrayed. But something else is more important." "What?" "You acted like a child. Just because some man appeared out of nowhere, you said _Yes, sir_ and _No, sir_ and _Sorry, sir_ and walked away. Frank! I'm ashamed of you!" In quick anger, his hand came back as though to slap her. But he dropped it to his side and strode across the room and picked up his jacket. "And so now you're walking out again. You just can't face up to anything, can you, Doctor Corson." He turned on her, his eyes blazing. "All right. Maybe everything you say is true. Maybe I've seesawed and acted like a kid. If I have, it's because of you. The thing in the Village had nothing to do with me changing my mind about going into research. I did it because I thought you wanted me to." Now Rhoda was on her feet, too, her patrician nostrils flaring. "Well, don't do me any favors." "From now on, I wouldn't dream of it." As he pulled on his jacket, Rhoda sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette. "I'm convinced that if you'd gone along with Les King you would have been on the right road. King wasn't frightened off by a man who said he represented the government. He saw a chance to make some money and is probably going ahead with it right now." "I don't give a damn what Les King is doing!" "Of course not. But there's another little thing you overlooked. Don't you suppose this Brent Taber will toss that murder right back into your lap if it suits his purpose? The body was in your room. You're probably the chief suspect. So you sit back and let Brent Taber play whatever game he's got in mind. And if it goes wrong, Frank Corson gets picked up for murder." "It can't possibly happen that way." "Why not? Who is Brent Taber, really?" "I told you--a government man." "What government? Where can you get in touch with him?" "I don't know. He gave me a phone number in case I ever saw a certain man again." "What man?" "Rhoda! They aren't men at all. They're androids!" Rhoda froze and stared at him in consternation. "You actually _believe_ that fairy tale? Frank, I just don't understand you." "I told you about it before." "But for the life of me I didn't think you took it seriously." "I just didn't care. I'd had it. I wanted out."