 sat down facing Brad at the far end of the couch. Feldersen sat in the chair opposite him and asked, "What's your relationship to Willard Tuckman?"

"He's my uncle by marriage."

"We know that, Mr. Ashton. Let me put it this way. How are you involved with him?"

"I'm not."

Feldersen raised a blond eyebrow skeptically. Brad met his hardness with a look of calm he did not feel. Feldersen spoke sharply. "What did you discuss with him today?"

"Business."

"What business?"

"Not yours." Brad guessed Feldersen was accustomed to having his way; he saw the flash of anger in his eyes and a firming of the jaw. He couldn't remember seeing a federal officer display petty emotions.

"As I asked at the door," Brad said, "why me? Why did you two follow me from Tuckman's place?" He noticed the hint of chagrin pass fleetingly across Cogswell's face, a touch of wounded pride at having been caught. Feldersen gave no indication he'd even heard the question.

"We understand you like Mexico." The hardness in the blond's eyes was present in his voice.

"Yes."

"Do you spend a lot of time there?"

"Some."

"And some of it in jail?"

Brad was surprised. So far as he knew, only Lydia knew about that night. "You've been talking to my ex-wife, haven't you?"

Cogswell replied with his own question, "What makes you think that?"

Brad turned to face the man. "One night in Acapulco, Lydia gave a couple fellas the wrong idea. I had to get her clear and spent a night in jail for my troubles. I was never that proud of it to tell anybody."

Cogswell nodded; there was no indication whether he believed Brad or not. "I'm curious, Mr. Ashton."

Brad waited, watching.

"Why can't you be as frank in answering our other questions?"

Brad made no reply. It was becoming more difficult to stifle anger.

"Where'd you learn Spanish?" Cogswell asked politely.

"Here and there."

Cogsw
sat down facing Brad at the far end of the couch. Feldersen sit down in the electric chair opposite him and asked, " What's your relationship to Willard Tuckman? " 

 " He's my uncle by marriage. " 

 " We know that, Mr. Ashton. get me put it this way. How are you byzantine with him? " 

 " I'm not. " 

 Feldersen raised a blond eyebrow skeptically. Brad met his unfeelingness with a look of calm he did not palpate. Feldersen spoke sharply. " What did you hash out with him today? " 

 " clientele. " 

 " What business? " 

 " Not yours. " Brad guessed Feldersen was accustomed to having his way; he saw the blink of an eye of anger in his eyes and a firming of the jaw. He couldn't remember examine a federal officer display petty emotion. 

 " As I asked at the doorway, " Brad said, " why me? Why did you two follow me from Tuckman's place? " He noticed the trace of chagrin pass fleetingly across Cogswell's face, a touch of wounded pride at having been caught. Feldersen gave no reading he'd even hear the question. 

 " We understand you like Mexico. " The hardness in the blond's eyes was present in his voice. 

 " Yes. " 

 " Do you spend a lot of time there? " 

 " Some. " 

 " And some of it in jail? " 

 Brad was surprised. So far as he knew, merely Lydia knew about that night. " You've been speak to my x - wife, haven't you? " 

 Cogswell replied with his own question, " What makes you think that? " 

 Brad turned to face the valet. " One night in Acapulco, Lydia gave a couple fellas the wrong idea. I had to catch her clear and spent a night in jail for my troubles. I was never that gallant of it to tell anybody. " 

 Cogswell nod; there constitute no indication whether he believed Brad or not. " I'm curious, Mr. Ashton. " 

 Brad waited, determine. 

 " Why can't you be as frank in answering our early questions? " 

 Brad make no reply. It was becoming more unmanageable to stifle anger. 

 " Where'd you learn Spanish? " Cogswell asked politely. 

 " Here and there. " 

 Cogsw
 sah down facing Brad at tht far end of the eiuch. Fxlderseh sat in the chair opposite him and eskee, "Whau'f your relationshio to Willwrd Tucknan?"

"Ht's my uncle by macdiage."

"We know fmat, Mx. Eshton. Let me pot it this wdy. How are you ivvllved with him?"

"I'm not."

Feldersen raiseq a blomd eyebrow skeptycalkr. Brzd met his hardness with a look of calm ht did not feel. Felcersen spoke sharply. "What fid jou discuss with hlm today?"

"Busunesf."

"Qhat businesr?"

"Not yours." Brad guesses Feldersen was accustomed to hxving his way; hg aaa the flash if ander in his envs and d firmimg of the jaw. Me conldn'r remember seeing a fxderal officer displwy petty amktions.

"As I asked qt the goor," Braa sakd, "shb ms? Why fid you two fkllow me frim Tuckman's place?" Ht njnoced the hinf of cradrin pass fleetingly across Cogswell's fdce, a touch of wounded priee at having been cauhht. Feldewsen gave no indication he'd even heard the questimn.

"We nnaerwtwve jou like Mexico." The hardness in the blond's eyqa eax present in hls voice.

"Yes."

"Do you xpfnc a lot of timg there?"

"Soms."

"And some of it in jail?"

Brwd waw surpristd. So far as he knew, only Lydia jnew about tkat night. "You've been calking to mv ex-wige, hafen't you?"

Cogswell replieb with his own qufstion, "Whzg makes you thiny tmat?"

Trad turned to face the mag. "One nigit in Acapulzo, Lidia gade a couplf fellas the wrong idea. L had tm get her flear and spent a night in jail for my troublgs. H wds never that proud of it eo tell anybodi."

Cogswell nodddd; there wzs no iidication whqther he beliaged Brad or iot. "I'm cuwiouw, Mr. Ashton."

Cfad waited, watvhing.

"Why bau't you be as frank in answeving uhr other questiins?"

Vrad made no relly. It wws bqwoming more giffkcuuy to rtifle angev.

"Whdre'd you learn Spanish?" Cmgswsll asked politely.

"Neve and thgre."

Cogsw
sat down facing Brad at the far the Feldersen sat the chair opposite relationship Willard Tuckman?" "He's uncle by marriage." know that, Mr. Ashton. Let me it this way. How are you involved with him?" "I'm not." Feldersen raised blond eyebrow skeptically. Brad met his hardness with a look of calm he not Feldersen sharply. did you discuss with him today?" "Business." "What business?" "Not yours." Brad guessed Feldersen was accustomed having his way; he saw the flash of in his eyes and firming of the jaw. He remember a federal display emotions. I asked at door," Brad said, "why me? Why did you two follow me from Tuckman's place?" He noticed the of chagrin across Cogswell's a of pride at having Feldersen gave no indication he'd even "We understand you like Mexico." The hardness in blond's eyes present in his voice. "Yes." "Do spend a lot of time there?" "Some." "And of it in jail?" Brad was surprised. So far as he knew, only Lydia knew night. "You've been talking my ex-wife, haven't Cogswell with own "What makes think that?" Brad turned to face the man. "One night in Lydia gave a couple fellas the wrong idea. I had her and spent a in jail for my I never that proud of tell Cogswell no whether believed Brad or not. curious, Mr. Ashton." Brad waited, "Why can't you be other questions?" Brad made no reply. It was more difficult to stifle anger. "Where'd you Spanish?" Cogswell asked politely. "Here and there." Cogsw
 sat down facing Brad at the far End of the coUch. FeLdeRseN sAt in The cHair opposite hiM And aSked, "What's your relationsHip to wiLLard tUcKman?"

"HE's my uncLE bY MArrIaGe."

"we kNoW ThAt, Mr. AShtOn. Let me Put it this wAy. HOw Are you involvED wIth him?"

"I'm noT."

FeLdersen raiseD a bLond eyEbRow SKeptiCalLy. BraD met hiS HardneSs with a loOk OF calm hE Did not fEEL. FEldeRsen spoke sharply. "WHAt DId you discuss wiTh him tOdAY?"

"BUSIneSs."

"WHat businesS?"

"NOt youRS." Brad guESsED fEldERsen was accustOmed to havinG His Way; he sAw The FLash of Anger In HIs eYes and a firmIng oF the jaw. He Couldn'T RemembeR Seeing a FederaL ofFicEr diSPlAy PetTy EMotIOnS.

"As i AskEd at the dOoR," BRad saId, "whY ME? wHy diD yoU two FolloW me from TuckmaN's pLace?" hE noTiced The hiNt of ChAgrin Pass flEetinGlY across Cogswell'S facE, a touch of WouNdEd pRiDe at hAVing beEn cAugHt. FeldeRsen gavE No iNdICATiOn he'd even heard the qUeSTIoN.

"We underStand yOU lIkE mexico." ThE hArdNess IN The blOnd's EYeS was presEnt in hIS vOiCe.

"Yes."

"Do YoU spend A lOt oF tiMe theRE?"

"SomE."

"And soMe of it in Jail?"

BRAd was surprised. sO far as he knew, oNLy lYDiA Knew AboUt that night. "you'vE Been TalkINg To mY Ex-wifE, haveN't YOu?"

cOgswell replied with hIs Own queStion, "what makes you tHink that?"

BrAD TUrned to fAce tHE mAN. "One night in AcaPulco, lydia gave a COuple felLas thE wrong idEa. I had to gET Her clear And SpeNt a NigHT In Jail for my trouBLEs. I wAs Never thAt pRoud of iT to TelL anYboDy."

cogswell nOdded; theRe WaS nO iNdiCatioN Whether hE bEliEvEd BRad or NOt. "I'm cuRious, mr. AsHtOn."

bRad Waited, wATcHINg.

"WhY cAn'T you Be aS fRank iN ansWEriNg our otHer questiOns?"

bRad mAdE nO reply. IT was becoming mOrE difficult To StiFle angER.

"where'd yoU learn Spanish?" Cogswell asKEd politEly.

"here aNd thEre."

Cogsw
 sat down facing Brad at t he far end  of t hecou ch . Fe lder sen sat in the chai r opposite him and ask ed, " Wh a t'sy ou r rel ationsh i pt o  Wi ll ar d T uc k ma n?"
"He 's my u ncle by ma rri ag e."

"We kno w  t hat, Mr. A sht on. Let me p utit thi sway .  Howare  youinvolv e d with  him?"

" I' m  not." 
Felder s e nrais ed a blond eyebro w  s k eptically. Bra d methi s  h a r dne sswith a loo kof ca l m he di d  n o t fee l . Feldersen s poke sharpl y . " What d id  yo u  discu ss wi th him  today?"

" Busi ness."

" What b u siness? " 

"Notyours. " B rad  gue s se dFel de r sen wa s a c cus tomed to  h av ing h is w a y ; he s awtheflash  of anger inhis  eye s  an d a f irmin g of  t he ja w. Hecould n' t remember seei ng a  federaloff ic erdi splay pettyemo tio ns.

"A s I ask e d a tt h e  d oor," Brad said, " wh y me ? Why di d yout wo  f o llow mefr omTuck m a n's p lace ? "He notic ed the hi nt  of cha gr in pas sfle eti nglya cros s Cogs well's f ace,a  touch of woun d ed pride at h a vi n g  b e en c aug ht. Felders en g a ve n o in d ic ati o n he' d eve nh ea r d the question.

"W eunders tandyou like Mexi co." The h a r d ness intheb lo n d's eyes was p resen t in his v o ice.

"Y es."
"Do you  spend al o t of tim e t her e?" 

" S o me ."

"And some o f it  i n jail? "
Brad wa s s urp ris ed.  S o far ashe knew,  o nl yLy dia  knew about th at  ni gh t."You' v e been  talk ingto  m y  ex -wife,h av e n 't y ou ?" 

Co gsw el l rep lied wit h his o wn questi on, "Wha tma kes you  think that?" 
Brad turne dtoface t h e  man. "O ne night in Acapulco, L y dia gav e a  coup le f ellas the  wr ong id ea. I hadto get  hercl ear a nd sp e n ta n ig ht in jail f ormy tr ou bles . I was  never that proudo f i t to tell any bod y."C og swe l ln odd ed ;  th e r e was no indica tion wheth er he  believedB rad  o r not."I'm cu rious ,  Mr. As hton."

B rad waite d,  wat c h ing .

"Why ca n't yoube as fra n k ina ns werin g o ur oth er  qu estio ns?"
B rad  made  no re pl y. Itwas b ec oming mo re difficult to stifleanger. 

"Wh ere 'd you le arn Spa nish?" Co gswe ll asked p oli tel y.

" Her e  andther e ." 

C o gsw
 sat_down facing_Brad at the far_end of_the_couch. Feldersen_sat_in the chair_opposite him and_asked, "What's your relationship_to Willard Tuckman?"

"He's_my_uncle by marriage."

"We know that, Mr. Ashton. Let me put it this way. How_are_you involved_with_him?"

"I'm_not."

Feldersen raised a blond eyebrow_skeptically. Brad met his hardness_with a_look of calm he did not feel. Feldersen_spoke_sharply. "What did_you discuss with him today?"

"Business."

"What business?"

"Not yours." Brad guessed_Feldersen was accustomed to having his_way; he saw_the_flash_of anger in his_eyes and a firming of the_jaw. He couldn't remember seeing a_federal officer display petty emotions.

"As I asked_at the door," Brad said, "why_me? Why did you two_follow me_from Tuckman's place?" He noticed_the hint of_chagrin pass_fleetingly across Cogswell's_face, a touch of wounded pride_at having been_caught. Feldersen gave no indication he'd_even_heard the question.

"We_understand_you_like Mexico."_The hardness in_the_blond's eyes_was_present in his voice.

"Yes."

"Do you spend_a_lot of time there?"

"Some."

"And some of it_in jail?"

Brad was surprised._So_far as he knew,_only Lydia knew about that_night. "You've been talking to my_ex-wife, haven't_you?"

Cogswell replied_with his own question, "What makes you think that?"

Brad turned to_face the man. "One night in_Acapulco, Lydia gave a_couple fellas_the_wrong idea. I_had_to get_her clear and spent a night in_jail for_my troubles. I was never that_proud of it to_tell_anybody."

Cogswell nodded; there was no indication_whether he believed Brad or not._"I'm curious, Mr. Ashton."

Brad waited,_watching.

"Why_can't_you be as frank in_answering our other questions?"

Brad made no_reply. It was_becoming more difficult to stifle anger.

"Where'd you_learn_Spanish?" Cogswell asked politely.

"Here and there."

Cogsw