going on. It’s about revenge. Revenge and immortality. But it doesn’t matter why he does it, see, because it’s evil, pure and simple. Evil butchery.”

He must have heard the news about the finger. He was rambling, tying together loose random thoughts, reminding me of my Institute patients. Maybe Charlie belonged there. A car drove slowly by. Charlie ducked. “See, people think I’m just a handyman. They think I’m old and slow. Well, I’m old, but not so slow. And I can tell he’s used my tools. Downstairs. Takes my lock-boxes. My tables. The space under the floor, below. He comes and goes, moves my things. And now that he listens to my thoughts— he’ll find out that I know. He’ll find out everything. Not only that I’m onto him but that I’m standing against him. That I’m warning you. I’m protecting you. He’ll come after me now, for sure.”

Charlie stopped for a long, scraping cough. He’d lost it completely, gone over the edge. He was raving. Delusional. He needed help. I wondered if I could get someone to see him at the Institute. Of course, by law, if he wanted treatment there, he’d have to admit himself. But beyond his mental state, Charlie was physically ill. His face glowed, damp with sweat. Red, green. Red. Green.

“You’re sick, Charlie. You must have a fever. Please go in and have something hot. I can get you to a hospital—”

“No, miss. No hospitals. I’m staying right here where I need to be. But if I disappear, you’ll know what’s happened. See, he probes my mind. I feel him in my head like a hot wire. It’s his telepathy. In the day, I can fend him off, see. But when I sleep, I can’t be vigilant. So nights, see, I stay out here, where there’s engines and sirens and radio interference, and he can’t probe.”

“Charlie,” I shivered, “go inside. I’ll bring you some hot tea or coffee. Or how about some cocoa?”

“No, miss. You go inside. Don’t worry. I’m still protecting you and the child. Because otherwise, see, you’d end up in the paper. Or on the posters and milk cartons. ‘Missing.’ They’re not missing. See, they’ve been taken. He takes them. I know. He works there, inside. He takes what he wants and leaves the rest. The coroners and judges, the police—they know, but they won’t say. They don’t dare. He has them under his control, holds their minds. Reads their thoughts, too. It’s part of his plan. Returning the children to the hands of the original Mother, the Virgin—”

His words were lost in another fit of coughing so violent that he bent over, holding his abdomen.

Ice had caked my eyelashes. My jaw was numb now, not just my feet and fingers, and my cheeks burned from the cold. Wind ripped through my coat, slashing my skin.

“Charlie. You might have pneumonia. You have to call your doctor. Or tell me the number and I’ll call.”

I reached for the car door to open it and help him out.

“No!” he shouted. His eyes moved rapidly from side to side, searching the street. “Don’t touch the car. Just go into your house, miss. Go in and pretend you don’t see me.”

He coughed into a rumpled handkerchief.

I was frustrated. “Listen, Charlie. If you want me to go inside, then you have to go, too. I’m not going unless you do.” It was a bluff, but what else could I do? I couldn’t let him freeze.

He thought for a moment. “Okay, miss. I think I can. For a little while, at least until he tunes in to my head again.”

“Will you call a doctor?”

“A doctor? No, ma’am. No doctor—” A hacking cough stopped him.

“Charlie, you need a doctor. You’re sick.”

“No, miss! A doctor could be in disguise. Might make me sick.” His eyes beamed feverishly.

“What if I knew the doctor? What if I took you to a friend—”

“No doctors, miss. I told you.” He was vehement.

I bit my lip. “Let’s go, Charlie.”

“You go first.”

“I’m not leaving until I see you get out of this car.”

“Okay, okay. But don’t you worry, miss. I’m on the job. Just watch the little girl.” He looked around, suddenly alarmed. “Where is she?”

“She’s visiting a friend, Charlie. She’s fine. Now, come on out.”

Slowly, bent and stiff, Charlie climbed out of the car. I took his arm, and together we shuffled across the ice to the steps of his house. His stooped body was sturdier than I’d expected, and he supported me as much