THE NEXT DAY it was dark enough by seven, but we gave the night a couple of hours to settle in. I went to Train's place alone. A different guy let me in. I followed him upstairs. Took my seat. Waited.
The door opened and they all walked in. Train was with them. The woman who said I had told the truth came in last, leading a girl by the hand. A short, slender little girl wearing faded jeans with a rip above one knee. A pale green T-shirt with "Zzzzap!" across the chest, plastic strap of an airline bag across one shoulder, denim jacket in one hand.
"Do you know this man?" Train asked the girl. She shook her head no.
The lie detector opened her robe. She was naked beneath it. Took the girl inside, hugging her close, looked over her shoulder at Train. Nodded.
"This is who you asked for," Train said to me.
"If you say so."
"You don't know her?"
"No."
"But you've seen a photograph… had her described to you?"
"Sure."
"And?"
"I can't tell." The girl's yellow cat's eyes watched me.
"Do you want to ask her any questions?"
"No." I lit a cigarette. "If she's not the right girl, I'll bring her back."
His lower lip twisted. Hands went to his temples. The lie detector opened her robe. The girl walked over. Stood in front of me. "Let's go," she said, slipping one arm into her jacket.
I stood up. Nobody moved. She followed me to the door. The new guard stepped aside. We walked down the stairs by ourselves. Opened the front door and stepped outside. She didn't look back.