Chapter 28: Death and Company

Death and Company The Old Man introduced me to the other man in his office—his name was Chappell—and said: “Sit down.” I sat down. Chappell was a man of forty-five or so, solidly built and dark-complexioned, but shaky and washed out by worry or grief or fear. His eyes were red-rimmed and their lower lids sagged, as did his lower lip. His hand, when I shook it, had been flabby and damp. The Old Man picked up a piece of paper from his desk and held it out to me. I took it. It was a l…