The Naked Face | Page 6

small shock go through him. 'Dead?'
'Someone stuck a knife in his back,' McGreavy said.
Judd stared at him increduously. McGreavy took the coat from Angeli and turned it around so that Judd could see the large, ugly slash in the material. The back of the coat was covered with dull, henna-coloured stains. A feeling of nausea swept over Judd. 'Who would want to kill him?'
'We were hoping that you could tell us, Dr. Stevens,' said Angeli. 'Who'd know better than his psychoanalyst?'
Judd shook his head helplessly. 'When did it happen?'
McGreavy answered. 'Eleven o'clock this morning. On Lexington Avenue, about a block from your office. A few dozen people must have seen him fall, but they were busy going home to get ready to celebrate the birth of Christ, so they let him lie there bleeding to death in the snow.'
Judd squeezed the edge of the table, his knuckles white.
'What time was Hanson here this morning?' asked Angeli.
'Ten o'clock.'
'How long do your sessions last. Doctor?'
'Fifty minutes.'
'Did he leave as soon as it was over?'
'Yes. I had another patient waiting.'
'Did Hanson go out through the reception office?"
'No. My patients come in through the reception office and leave by that door.' He indicated the private door leading to the outside corridor. 'In that way they don't meet each other.'
McGreavy nodded. 'So Hanson was killed within a few minutes of the time he left here. Why was he coming to see you?'
Judd hesitated. 'I'm sorry. I can't discuss a doctor-patient relationship.'
'Someone murdered him.' McGreavy said. 'You might be able to help us find his killer.'
Judd's pipe had gone out. He took his time lighting it again.
"How long had he been coming to you?' This time it was Angeli. Police teamwork.
"Three years.' Judd said.
'What was his problem?'
Judd hesitated. He saw John Hanson as he had looked that morning; excited, smiling, eager to enjoy his new freedom. 'He was a homosexual.'
'This is going to be another one of those beauties.' McGreavy said bitterly.
'Was a homosexual,' Judd said. 'Hanson was cured. I told him this morning that he didn't have to see me any more. He was ready to move back in with his family. He has - had � a wife and two children.'
'A fag with a family?' asked McGreavy.
'It happens often.'
'Maybe one of his homo playmates didn't want to cut him loose. They got in a fight. He lost his temper and slipped a knife in his boyfriend's back'
Judd considered. 'It's possible,' he said thoughtfully, "but I don't believe it.'
'Why not, Dr. Stevens?' asked Angeli.
'Because Hanson hadn't had any homosexual contacts in more than a year. I think it's much more likely that someone tried to mug him. Hanson was the kind of man who would have put up a fight.'
'A brave married fag,' McGreavy said heavily. He took out a cigar and lit it. There's only one thing wrong with the mugger theory. His wallet hadn't been touched. There was over a hundred dollars in it.' He watched Judd's reaction.
Angeli said, 'If we're looking for a nut, it might make it easier.'
'Not necessarily,' Judd objected He walked over to the window. 'Take a look at that crowd down there. One out of twenty is, has been, or will be in a mental hospital.'
'But if a. man's crazy...?'
'He doesn't have to necessarily appear crazy,' Judd explained. 'For every obvious case of insanity there are at least ten cases undiagnosed.'
McGreavy was studying Judd with open interest. 'You know a lot about human nature, don't you. Doctor?'
'There's no such thing as human nature,' Judd said. 'Any more than there's such a thing as animal nature. Try to average out a rabbit and a tiger. Or a squirrel and an elephant.'
'How long you been practising psychoanalysis?' asked McGreavy.
'Twelve years. Why?'
McGreavy shrugged. "You're a good-looking guy. I'll bet a lot of your patients fall in love with you, huh?'
Judd's eyes chilled. 1 don't understand the point of the question.'
'Oh, come on, Doc Sure you do. We're both men of the world. A fag walks in here and finds himself a handsome young doctor to tell bis troubles to.' His tone grew confidential. 'Now do you mean to say that in three years on your couch Hanson didn't get a little hard-on for you?'
Judd looked at him without expression. 'Is that your idea of being a man of the world, Lieutenant?'
McGreavy was unperturbed. 'It could have happened. And I'll tell you what else could have happened. You said you told Hanson you didn't want to see him again. Maybe he didn't like that. He'd grown dependent on you in three years. The two of you had a fight.'
Judd's face darkened with anger.
Angeli broke the tension. 'Can you think of anyone who had reason to hate him, Doctor? Or someone
he might