In fact, I’ve asked Dr.

Danvers to stop by Friday for a little wellness check.” Dr.

Danvers, I knew, was the physician whose name was on that fraudulent evaluation.

“That sounds wise, my dear,” I murmured, and closed my eyes.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” The moment she left for her spa at ten, I set down the frail old man like a coat, and picked up the telephone.

I sat for a moment first, with the phone in my hand, and let myself feel the full strangeness of what the last twelve hours had done.