Third man out - Stevenson Richard. Страница 44

"Good," I said. "I heard it on the car radio. Father Morgan is out?"

"Insufficient evidence. Plus, his hospital-visit-and-shopping alibi for Wednesday night holds up. Lots of people saw him in the bishop's room-I think I might have seen him there myself-and at the Colonie Mall and four or five other places."

"What about McFee? Is he still sentient but incommunicado?"

"He's under guard, but his reputation in the diocese has fallen even further."

"That's an accomplishment. How did he manage that?"

"There was a lot of irrational concern growing around town about how the bishop might have spread AIDS-at church suppers he ate at and so on."

"That's dumb."

"But Ronnie Linkletter heard about it and knew that a lot of people were taking it very seriously and were scared, and he did what he perceived to be his duty as a member of the Hometown Folks news team."

"What was that?"

"Ronnie came forward and told a group of reporters that nobody had to worry, because the bishop was always careful and he-he always wore a condom."

I said, "No, he didn't."

And Timmy said, "Yes, he did."

And I knew I was back in Albany.