Spinning Man Page #6

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- Mm-hmm.

- Inadvertently leaving a strand or two

in the professor's

notoriously unkempt car.

Would that qualify

as getting to know somebody?

No, I don't think it would,

but if I read her diary

and it mentioned an older man

she'd met that summer,

I'd want to have words with every

guy she so much as bumped into.

You read

your daughter's diary?

Every page.

Before I forget,

i found these in your glove box.

I wanted to make sure

you got them back.

What is it?

You tell me.

I suppose you think

i met Joyce bonner

at the Sanders hotel

fountain at 7:
00?

No. The Sanders is in Chicago.

Was, anyway. Closed down

about four years ago.

That would have made Joyce 13,

and I don't think

you're that kind of guy.

I mean, at first,

i thought it was garbage,

but then you bought this car

here about three years ago,

and I know you don't smoke,

so I just figured

you were holding on to them

for sentimental reasons.

Shouldn't this be in one

of your fancy evidence bags?

Should it?

Whose writing is it?

I have no idea.

Is it your wife's?

No, it's not.

It doesn't appear to be.

- Would you slow down?

- It looks feminine,

the way the letters

are all round, almost touching.

You know, when a guy

goes through aa,

he carries a coin

around with him,

reminds him not to drink.

Seems pretty natural,

the way you're

fiddling with those.

Could you stop

the goddamn car?

You have to know

where this is headed.

Would you take me

to my car, please?

Hey, frank!

Here you go.

Three-five-six-seven.

He'll take care of you.

Hey. Sorry I'm late.

The impound may as well have

been across the state line.

Can we not talk about that now?

Mmm.

Mm, peaches.

Perfect peaches.

What?

Just looking at your face.

Why?

Can't one look at another's face

without having an agenda?

One can, but I have the feeling

that one isn't.

I want you

to tell me the truth.

The truth about what?

What was she doing

in your car?

Who?

What? Did you think

i wouldn't find out

that they have evidence

of a missing girl in your car?

I didn't want to worry you

any more than you already were.

So you kept a secret, secret?

- No.

- From your wife?

This is her lip gloss, Evan.

Zelda found it.

What was she doing in your car?

I could explain this to you,

but I have a feeling it may be too

pat for your taste right now.

Oh, don't make this about me.

I think this is about you,

Ellen.

You used to be

so rational, you know?

Things were either

proven or unproven,

and now you're all intuition

and conjecture and paranoia.

Did that cop tell you?

Is that what you were

talking about the other day?

Oh, this is just great. Did he

ask you to wear a wire as well?

I'm trying my hardest

to trust you again.

You don't trust me now?

I haven't trusted you

for five years.

Okay. I'm gonna

save you the anxiety

of having to sleep

next to me tonight.

- Hello?

- They found her.

- What?

- Jesus, Evan,

I've been trying you all morning.

Fisherman found her.

Source inside the police told

me she was floating by the dam.

What does that mean?

It means you don't

say sh*t to anybody,

not without talking to me first.

Autopsy's coming. Then they'll

decide whether to file charges.

I'll be in touch

when I hear more.

Until then, act normal.

Act normal?

Guilty men hide.

Gotta run.

Professor birch.

Professor birch.

Professor birch,

if we could have a moment

of your time, sir.

Professor birch, if we could just

have one moment of your time.

Do you have a statement, sir?

- Dr. birch.

- I have a few questions.

- Professor. Professor.

- Professor birch.

Well, nothing like the hint of a

scandal to bring out an audience.

So many budding philosophers.

We haven't a moment to waste.

Why the hell didn't you tell me

about this?

There was nothing to tell.

I mean,

it seems I was at the lake the

day the girl disappeared,

and the police

have questioned me about it.

Because you might have

seen something?

There may be

other connections, too.

Such as?

Well, she was enrolled

in a summer program here,

and I may or may not have

given her a ride one day

with some other students.

- It was raining.

- Evan, how worried should I be about this?

Why? Did you give her

a ride, too?

You're a member

of this faculty.

Anything that threatens

your reputation

threatens

the university's reputation.

- I know.

- Which means I get to hear about it

- before the goddamn press.

- Okay.

The chronicle called

asking for a quote.

I sounded like an imbecile.

Why? What did you say?

That I had the utmost confidence

in my faculty

and I am certain the police

will rule out Dr. birch

as a suspect in this case.

- Okay, great.

- Evan,

- is that gonna come back and haunt me?

- No, it's not, Bob.

Look, I'm behind you,

but I'm pulling you

from classes immediately.

You... I just gave a lecture

to a standing-room-only crowd.

Listen to yourself. They weren't

there for your lecture.

- You can work out of your office,

- my work, my commitment...

...but no more classes

until further notice.

- ...to this university is second to none.

- Evan!

It's already done.

Adam, can you be

a big ghost, honey,

and buckle yourself in?

Hey, honey, um...

You remember that day

daddy was late to pick you up

from camp?

Do you remember, like,

anything that he said

or why he was late?

Oh, hey, buddy.

You get a costume?

- Yes, it's perfect.

- Ah, look at that.

What about you?

- I didn't want one.

- Oh.

Why didn't you call me?

I would have joined you.

They found her.

Yeah. Paul told me.

Wait. That's all

you have to say?

What do you want me to say?

They're gonna let me know

if they want to charge me

after the autopsy comes in.

Yes.

And you said

that was a gray Volkswagen.

And what time was

that?

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Oh, look

at the skeletons.

Why does that invisible man

wear a band-aid?

Did he get hurt?

Well, it's a bandage,

not a band-aid,

and he wears them

so that he can be seen.

Candy apples!

Could I have this one, daddy?

- Hey, John.

- Hi.

Me under here.

Which one do you want?

One with sprinkles?

Okay. Let's have one

with sprinkles,

- and we'll have two with nuts.

- Okay.

Uh, do you want nuts

on yours, Zelda?

Zelda?

Where'd she go? Zelda?

Zelda?

Zelda!

Adam, will you

stay here with John?

- Will you keep an eye on Adam?

- Sure.

Zelda! Zelda!

Zelda, what are you doing?

Will you stop that girl?

- Hey, whoa, whoa! Where's the fire?

- Watch where you're going!

What the hell are you thinking?

- Just a second, sir.

- This is my daughter.

Is that true?

Is this your father?

No.

Zelda Frances birch!

Settle down, sir.

I will not settle down.

I... this is my daughter.

I am taking her home.

She's in a lot of trouble.

Sir, I need you to step back.

Is that clear?

Zelda?

That's your name?

Okay, Zelda,

I want you to tell me the truth.

Is that your father?

I need to see your ID, sir.

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