d on and not Coffey or one of you men。 And speaking of your men； Paul； will they all tell the same story？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 I told him。 〃And they will；〃 I said to Jan； starting in on the soup she brought to the table。 〃I'll see to it。〃
〃You did lie；〃 she said。 〃You lied to Hal。〃
Well； that's a wife for you； isn't it？ Always poking around for moth…holes in your best suit； and finding one more often than not。
〃I guess； if you want to look at it that way。 I didn't tell him anything we both won't be able to live with； though。 Hal's in the clear； I think。 He wasn't even there； after all。 He was home tending his wife until Curtis called him。〃
〃Did he say how Melinda was？〃
〃Not then； there wasn't time； but we spoke again just as Brutal and I were leaving。 Melly doesn't remember much； but she's fine。 Up and walking。 Talking about next year's flower beds。〃
My wife sat watching me eat for some little time。 Then she asked； 〃Does Hal know it's a miracle； Paul？ Does he understand that？〃
〃Yes。 We all do； all of us that were there。〃
〃Part of me wishes I'd been there； too；〃 she said； 〃but I think most of me is glad I wasn't。 If I'd seen the scales fall from Saul's eyes on the road to Damascus。 I probably would have died of a heart attack。〃
〃Naw；〃 I said； tilting my bowl to capture the last spoonful； 〃probably would have cooked him some soup。 This is pretty fine； hon。〃
〃Good。〃 But she wasn't really thinking about soup