Then I hung up to stop a lot of senseless gab. I turned to Florence, who was just beginning to understand what I had said and what it meant to both her and her father. She stood there with shocked eyes regarding me, and with one hand pressed back against her teeth. She said, "I don't believe it," in a barely audible voice. "It's true, and I'm sorry it's true," I told her. "It can't be true." "That's what you'd like to believe," I said softly. "But the fact remains that your father is a killer." "I'd rather die." "Florence, the choice between death and dishonor is not yours to make. Whether you live or die is up to your father, who is guilty of placing you in this awkward position by turning his talents to evil." She stared at me. "But--how could you--?" "There was no other way but to bait this trap emotionally." "So cold and cruel--" I nodded. "So were the pioneers who saved one last bullet for their wives." How could I tell this hurt girl that I had looked time and again into the minds of killers and found them far worse than the deeds they committed? When the official record states that upon such and such a date, so and so was punished for his crime, how is he punished for the harm he did to those who placed their trust in him? I hate them because they force me to reveal them for what they are, making me an agent of their betrayal. The phone rang again. "Yeah, Chief?" "Schnell, Wood's just arrived. What shall I tell him?" "Don't bother. He knows it all." "Schnell, granting that you are right, why should he show his hand when he knows--or could easily find out--that the time-lock setting mechanism is on your side of that vault door?" "Sure it is," I replied. "But it's covered by a sheet of five-ply safety glass." "Use your revolver!" "Chief, reprimand me for a violation of regulations if you must, but let me point out that only an idiot would wear a gun when he's pitting himself against a Psi-man." "Got everything figured out, haven't you, Schnell?" "Chief," I said, "this affair started in a sealed room, and now it's going to end in one." I yanked on the telephone and pulled it out of its connection block, snapping that link of communication. Then, to satisfy Edward Hazlett Wood, I hurled the instrument as hard as I could against the safety glass. The telephone bounced as if I had thrown it against six solid feet of battleship plate armor. * * * * * I thought: "_Psi-man, you are trapped!_" He thought: "_I've killed before, Schnell. Why shouldn't I profess helplessness and innocence, and accuse you and the whole Police Department of the stupid and wanton death of my beloved daughter?_" "_Because you've erred, Psi-man Wood._" "_Ah, now I have proof! You're a Psi-man, too!_" "_Who--me?_" I thought without a visible change in my expression for Florence Wood to see. "_You're the one who erred, Wood. You neglected the rules._" "_Bah--the law! Stupid law_--"