ull of Hammersmiths。 … Nobody was really equipped to think of it； Coffey's own attorney included。〃
〃But you did；〃 Harry said。 〃Goddam； boys； we're sittin here with Mr。 Sherlock Holmes。〃 He sounded simultaneously joshing and awed。
〃Oh； put a cork in it；〃 I said。 〃I wouldn't have thought of it either； if I hadn't put together what he told Deputy McGee that day with what he said after he cured my infection； and what he said after he healed the mouse。〃
〃What？〃 Dean asked。
〃When I went into his cell； it was like I was hypnotized。 I didn't feel like I could have stopped doing what he wanted； even if I'd tried。〃
〃I don't like the sound of that；〃 Harry said； and shifted uneasily in his seat。
〃I asked him what he wanted； and he said 'Just to help。' I remember that very clearly。 And when it was over and I was better； he knew。 'I helped it；' he said。 'I helped it； didn't I？； 〃
Brutal was nodding。 〃Just like with the mouse。 You said 'You helped it；' and Coffey said it back to you like he was a parrot。 'I helped Del's mouse。' Is that when you knew？ It was； wasn't it？。〃
〃Yeah； I guess so。 I remembered what he said to McGee when McGee asked him what had happened。 It was in every story about the murders； just about。 'I couldn't help it。 I tried to take it back； but it was too late。' A man saying a thing like that with two little dead girls in his arms； them white and blonde； him as big as a house； no wonder they got it wrong。 They heard