He nodded and smiled back and watched her go in. _Acapulco--Wednesday, September 7, 8_ P.M. (_C.S.T._) “Kutler? Sure.... Hi, Phil, what’s up?” “How private is this wire?” “Hardly at all.” “Well--Did you call my friend?” Kutler’s friend--Johnny? Chris couldn’t think who else it would be. “Tried to. Been trying. Jerk doesn’t answer.” “Figures. He wired. Yesterday, very negative,” Phil said. “Got his information mixed up, I’m afraid.” “Yeah. I can see how that would work. Well, he’ll get the source material Sunday.” “I don’t know. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m not sure about sending it now?” “Oh.” _Damn this open beam anyhow!_ “I don’t see,” he started thoughtfully, and Phil added: “I’m not the only one. In fact, it wasn’t my idea originally.” “Oh?” _Oh!_ The fat was _really_ in now, then? “Well, whatever you think,” he said reluctantly. “Damn, I wish I was up there!” “Yeah. Look, there’s one other thing. That therapist I asked you to get me.... I’ve got an application from--” “Which therap--?” “Good. I hoped you hadn’t done anything yet. I’ve got a hell of a good applicant. _She’s worked with me before._ I just wondered if I could hire on my own, or if it had to be done through Mexcity?” “Wellll--I don’t know--” Then it all fell into place. “Look, Phil, I’ll have to check on that,” he said. “I gather you want a fast answer?” “I’m afraid we might lose this girl if it goes through channels; I don’t know how long she can wait.” “Will she wait till I get back up?” “I’m sure she could do that much.” “Right. I’ll check on it here, and we’ll get it worked out when I get home.” Chris talked a few more minutes with Bourgnese, about routine lab affairs, and switched off. Across the room, Jed was waiting with raised eyebrows. “What was _that_ bit?” “Damn that open beam! I wish I could have had two minutes with Kutler alone. Sounds like Wendt heard the news on his own--or didn’t like her wire--or anything. I gather he flipped, anyhow, and either she doesn’t want to go home, or Phil doesn’t think she should, or Johnny’s threatened something, or--I don’t know. But that bit about the girl who used to work for Phil--that’s how Johnny met Lee. She was doing some kind of dance therapy with a group of Kutler’s. So I assume he’s thinking of using her now. Up there. I don’t know...?” “You _don’t_?” Jed was clearly amused. “Okay, so you were kidding about a job for her up there, but how’s it going to look--?” “You’re slippin’, fella,” the General said. “Think it through, man, think it through.”