* * * * *
We arrived at the Slatterson estate about thirty minutes later. There was a stonewall that ran across the edge of the estate and a huge wrought-iron fence that protected the entrance to the red-brick driveway. The house itself was located in the center of about twenty acres of manicured woodland and lawns. It was a huge, two-story affair, with a separate five-car garage and a tennis court/pool complex located in the back.
As we pulled up to the front of the home, we spied Ernie standing outside the front door, smoking a cigarette. He waved at us as we pulled up. We stopped the car and got out. Swinson inquired about the status of the Slattersons.
Ernie shrugged his shoulders.
“I guess they’re okay, all things considered. Mr. Slatterson went inside as soon as we got here. I waited outside and smoked. He came down a few minutes later and said Mrs. Slatterson took the news about Sonny about as well as could be expected. She’s in bed resting now. He went back inside and that’s the last I heard from him. That was a little over an hour ago.”
Swinson nodded his head.
“I’ll go in and get them up to speed as to where we stand. You,” nodding in my direction, “can brief your partner here as to what happened at the hospital while I’m inside.”
Swinson went in the house, and I brought Ernie up to speed on the latest happenings. In ten minutes, Swinson was finished talking to the Slattersons. Together the three of us made our way back to Swinson’s office where Ernie and I had left our cars. It was already dark and I was exhausted.
We agreed to meet Swinson in the morning to discuss our next moves. With that settled, Ernie and I made our way back to my motel, where Ernie also got a room. We went to a local hamburger joint and got some food. Ernie wanted to talk more, but I told him we could discuss it over breakfast because I was about at the end of my rope and needed rest. I showered and went to bed.
I slept soundly, but had no dreams.