enovel Investigation Of A Rape Hal Kantor [Future Story Codes]

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Investigation Of A Rape ....(61k)    by Hal Kantor

PROLOGUE

An item taken from a local newspaper:

Robert Phaelan, age 29, was picked up for questioning by police last night on the complaint of Ruth Stone, age 23, who claimed she was the victim of a sexual assault. Witnesses Gail Carme, Mimi Towers, Phil Swanton, and Mike Bixby, none of whom saw the actual assault, all verify Miss Stone's story. Police investigation revealed that the alleged assault took place at a party involving all six of the above named at Miss Stone's home during the absence of her parents. Though details of the gathering have been withheld from the press, interviews with neighbors indicate that it easily could have been labeled "a wild party."

Mr. Phaelan, though protesting his innocence, has been in trouble with the authorities before. According to interviews, he had a reputation of being a "ladies' man", and has been named as corespondent in two recent divorce cases. There have also been rumors regarding his association with a recent suicide-A Miss Stella Hoag, age 21, who took her own life over despondency caused by pregnancy.

Authorities have released Air. Phaelan on bond while awaiting the outcome of their investigation. Miss Stone, recovering from the ordeal, is at County General Hospital where doctors say her condition is "still critical."

A messy incident? Yes. Then why the interest? For several reasons. One: we've often wondered just what constituted rape. The legal definition says it is the illicit carnal knowledge of a woman without her consent. And in cases where the woman had been rendered unconscious, this is acceptable. But what about where she is fully conscious? And where she has not been threatened with bodily injury? It would then seem that rape would be impossible ... unless of course, the act of intercourse was performed with her full acquiescence. And then it could hardly be classified as rape, could it?

Only recently, the wife of the famous Joe Louis, famous in her own right for her legal abilities, proved in a case in Los Angeles that it was impossible for a man to commit rape upon a woman ... without her consent ... even without her help! She did this by the simple method of moving the open end of a bottle in front of a man and having him attempt to insert his finger into the bottle under these conditions. The simile is obvious....

And the second reason for our interest in the Phaelan-Stone story is the presence of the four witnesses. None of whom actually saw what happened, yet all testifying to the fact that a sexual assault did take place on the body of Ruth Stone.

That Miss Stone was assaulted there can be no doubt. Medical evidence attests to this fact. But how? And under what conditions? And could it be classified as rape? For this is a serious charge-and a young man ... no matter what his past....could be ruined if such a charge were proven.

It is known that a given number of people all seeing the same incident, will describe it differently. How many times have we read about several eyewitnesses being unable to agree on a physical description? The, how, under the circumstances as reported, could four people so positively assert that Robert Phaelan was guilty? How could they all agree as to what happened when none of them actually saw the event?

It is not our purpose to find out the guilt or innocence of Rboert Phaelan. Our purpose is to determine what actually happened. And equally as important, why it happened. The resulting document is that story.

The narrative you will read is taken from discussions with each of the principals involved. Some of it is word for word while the rest has been put together based on the events as portrayed to us. Our method was simple-we went along with the investigator and listened and observed while he interviewed ... and then we drew out conclusions.

His method was surprising ... he uncovered the story by having each person discuss the events from their own point of view ... and in this manner, we determined not so much what happened but rather why it happened....

FIRST INTERVIEW THE VICTIM: Ruth Stone

We settled into the chair in the comer of the room and turned on the tape recorder as Detective Ben Mayfield edged himself closer to her bed. The doctor's warning about not exciting Miss Stone seemed to have a settling effect on the atmosphere-as if a smothering blanket had been spread over the room so as not to disturb anything. The girl, sitting up in bed, nodded at us after the intruductions and then focused her full attention on the detective. While he leafed through some notes in his lap, we studied the girl....Ruth Stone....

Dark. Intense. With wide brown eyes. Her hair was neatly combed around her face, framing it in an auburn set of parenthesis. Her lips were full and lush and, though dressed in a hospital gown, there was no doubt as to the voluptuousness of her body. Her young breasts were ripe and full-shoving hard against the material that clothed her. First impression: though only 23, Ruth Stone physically was a ripe and mature woman....

Though she showed outward signs of nervousness, this was normal. Under these conditions anyone would be nervous. Her smile was a little too quick and the detective's delay at getting to his business only served to heighten her apprehension. Outwardly though, to our untrained eye, she showed no signs of the ordeal she had been through. There were no indications of hysteria ... fear ... fright. Either she was a damn good actress or she had already buried the horror in some dark recess of her mind....

Finally, she couldn't contain her impatience any longer.

RUTH: C'mon, let's get on with it-I haven't got all day!

Mayfield looked up from his notes with surprise. We could feel his embarrassment at her remark from where we sat. He nodded and then, after rearranging his papers, turned to the girl. His attitude was completely impersonal. There was nothing emotional about what he was doing ... it was just another interview to him.

MAYFIELD: "Miss Stone, I'd like to hear exactly what happened.

She seemed disgusted by his request. As if she expected something more. Or maybe it was because she felt he was wasting her time.

RUTH: "But we've already been through that.

I told the story to the man who came to the house right after I called for help. And to the doctor who examined me."

Mayfield looked temporarily baffled. As if her answer was die correct one and that there was no way around it. But he tried again ... patiently.

MAYFIELD: "I'm sorry, Miss Stone, but since I've been assigned to the case I want to hear the story first hand. You understand, don't you?"

Clever response. Not much she could do but comply.

And so she told her story. Goaded and guided by his quiet interruptions and his pointed questions, she filled in all the details. And the newspapers had beai right ... it had been a "wild party"....

We'd heard the story before....six young people with nothing to do. Bored. Looking for excitement. And turning to each other to find it. It wasn't new-and it would happen again-possibly with the same results....

RUTH: "It was late in the afternoon and we were sitting around the house trying to figure out what to do that night. Nobody had an idea that was agreeable to everybody until...."

He interrupted after studying his notes.

MAYFIELD: "Who's we", Miss Stone? All six of you?"

RUTH: "No-just the three girls. Myself, Gail Carmel, and Mimi Towers."

MAYFIELD: "Goon."

RUTH: "I-I think it was my idea about having the party. But nobody had anything better to offer so when I said let's have a party tonight there were no objections. As a matter-of-fact, they thought it was a pretty good idea."

MAYFIELD: "What were you doing while you were talking about it?"

She didn't want to answer. It was obvious that she didn't expect that question. Her head snapped up and a hint of anger squinted into her eyes. But the question had been asked and she couldn't avoid it....

RUTH: "Does it make any difference?"

MAYFIELD: "It might have a bearing ... why, do you have anything to hide?"

That angered her. Her answer was almost ehement-like she was spitting the words at him.

"RUTH: "NO! If you must know, we were drinking."

For some reason, die words sounded condemning. The scene imaged itself in our minds ... three young women sitting around an empty house with nothing to do ... probably feeling the loss of inhibition because of too much alcohol. And discussing whatever young women discuss under those circumstances. Men.

MAYFIELD: "Were you drunk?" She laughed.

RUTH: "Naaw ... let's say we were all feeling pretty good though. I guess that's why we decided to have a party. We needed company."

MAYFIELD: "How come you picked your house?"

She looked at him as if he were stupid.

RUTH: "Because nobody was home, that's why! The folks were away-wouldn't be back until the following weekend."

MAYFIELD: "In other words, you felt free to do whatever you wanted knowing that there wasn't anybody around to stop you?"

Once again he had angered her.

RUTH: "Look, Mister, I'm not on trial here-you wanted the truth and that's what I'm telling you. We didn't do anything wrong-maybe you don't like what you're hearing, but you don't have to hear the rest if you don't want to!"

He never batted an eye. It was almost as if he had deliberately goaded her to this point. Like he knew that if he kept needling her, in defiance she would tell him everything ... not just gloss over the facts, but would tell him all the details. Like he sensed that she had to tell him everything just to prove her superiority-or to shock him....

MAYFIELD: "I want to hear everything, Mss Stone ... every thing. Don't leave anything out."

And because he had touched the raw nerve-ending of her ego, she let go. Like she had to tell it all so that he would be disgusted....

RUTH: "We decided we wanted to have a party that night. We didn't want to go out and if we could invite the right fellas, they'd bring over some food and liquor. And who knew what else might happen-the way we felt we were ready for anything."

MAYFIELD: "Anything? What do you mean by that?"

Her annoyance showed in the disgusted expression that washed across her face.

RUTH: "Oh come on, Mister, you're a big boy now ... you know what I mean by anything!"

II he felt anything by the confession, he didn't show it. He went right on as if what she had said was the most normal thing in the world.

MAYFIELD: "And your friends ... Gail and Minii ... they agreed?"

RUTH: "Agreed! Hell, they were as eager as I was ... maybe more so. It had been a long time for all of us!"

He played it dumb even though the innuendo was obvious.

MAYFIELD: "What had been a long time for all three of you?"

She looked at him as if he was stupid.

RUTH: "HAD A MAN! C'mon, you know what I'm talking about. And don't look at me like that-there's no law against shacking up with some guy. What do you think, that only men have the right to want it ... to get hard up? Women feel the same way at times ... and if it isn't wrong for a man, why should it be wrong for a woman!"

She paused triumphantly, as if she had made a point that he couldn't contest. But he had no reaction-he merely continued to scrawl in the small notebook. When he was finished writing, he looked up at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue.

RUTH: "So that was the way it was ... three hard up females....slightly tipsy ... hungry ... with an empty house and nothing to do. That's when we were all agreed that we ought to have a party."

MAYFIELD: "How did you decide who to invite?"

RUTH: "Well, Gail invited Phil Swanton because he happened to be at Mike's apartment. And Mimi called Mike because she hadn't been dating anybody else at the time."

MAYFIELD: "And who's idea was it to invite Robert Phaelan?"

We all edged forward while we waited for her answer. She thought about it for a while and, with a smile, finally gave her answer.

RUTH: "Guess it was everybody's idea. I had called several fellas but they were all either busy or not home. That left me without a man. That's when Bob Phaelan's name was mentioned."

MAYFIELD: "And that was the first time you had ever heard of him?"

RUTH: "Oh no, I had heard of him before. I knew who he was."

MAYFIELD: "But you had never gone out with him?"

RUTH: "No. Though our paths had crossed, somehow we kept missing each other. Besides, from what I knew about him-what I'd heard around-I didn't particularly want to go out with him."

MAYFIELD: "What exactly had you heard about Bob Phaelan?"

RUTH: "That he thought he was God's gift to women! That he had a reputation as a ladies' man and that he worked at it. It was like a business to him ... seeing how many woman he could have."

MAYFIELD: "And you didn't like that?"

RUTH: "No, what woman would?"

MAYFIELD: "Then how come you invited him?"

RUTH: "I think maybe it was because of his reputation-and the fact that I had had too much to drink. Made me think it might be a good idea-fun. You know, bring him down a peg or two."

MAYFIELD: "I'm afraid I don't understand that."

She looked at him like he couldn't be serious-like she was tired of having to explain simple things. Things that even a child should understand.

RUTH: "Sure ... I had in mind that I would pay him back for what he had done to some of my friends."

He seemed interested in her comment-like most of what he had heard previously was old hat to him ... he had heard it all before. Rut she had just said something that had revived his interest and eagerly he asked the next question.

MAYFIELD: "What friends are you talking about ... Gail and Mimi? And what had he done to them that made you feel you had to pay him back?"

Once again she was on the defensive. As if she had sensed she had already said too much.

RUTH: "I'm not saying yes and I'm not saying no ... you'll have to ask diem about Bob Phaelan."

He seemed disappointed in her answer, nodding as he made some more notes.

MAYFIELD: "Okay. Now tell me just how you planned to get even with him ... to ... as you put it ... pay him back?"

She smiled a secret smile. A smile that made her look forty-three instead of twenty-three.

RUTH: "Easy ... I was just going to do to him what he had done ... and then when he was ripe-primed-I was going to cut him off."

She said it proudly, not caring or even noting our reactions.

MAYFIELD: "Tell me about the party, Miss Stone."

She shrugged and settled back on the cushions, pausing to light a cigarette. It wasn't until she felt that she had our complete attention that she went on....

RUTH: "Phil and Mike showed up together. We waited a while for Bob-and then decided to go on without him."

MAYFIELD: "How come?"

RUTH: "We were all out for kicks....there was no sense in waiting for one guy. Besides, I figured it was all part of his act ... you know, deliberately being late so he could make a big entrance."

MAYFIELD: "Goon."

She kept on talking-almost as if she were relating the incidents for her own benefit-refreshing them in her mind. And the more she talked, the angrier she became....

RUTH: " ... and wouldn't you know, when he showed up he walked in like he owned the place-and acted like we were little kids who couldn't wait for the party to begin!"

MAYFIELD: "What were you doing?"

RUTH: "I was acting as hostess ... making sure that everybody had enough to drink....that they were all happy ... you know, that things didn't get boring."

MAYFIELD:' 'And what happened after Phaelan showed up?"

RUTH: "He sort of took over ... started acting like he was the host ... making the drinks ... joking ... telling stories ... you know, a regular life of the party."

MAYFIELD: "And you didn't like that?"

RUTH: "It was my party! He had his nerve taking over like that ... didn't do a very good job of it though."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean?"

RUTH: "After a while things quieted down. It was like we were all waiting for something to happen. Like the lid was ready to blow off at any minute."

MAYFIELD: "I don't understand that."

RUTH: "Everybody was waiting for something wild to happen-we were all primed for it."

Mayfield; "Phaelan, too?"

RUTH: "I think so ... how should I know! I wasn't paying any attention to him!"

MAYFIELD: "Weren't you two together? I mean-I thought you were waiting for him to show up so he could sort of be your date."

She got angry at that. As if the mere linking of herself with Phaelan would contaminate her.

RUTH: "NO! I wasn't with him ... we were there together, but I wasn't with him!"

MAYFIELD: "All right ... go on, please."

RUTH: "Like I said ... we were all waiting for something wild to happen ... and I guess when I suggested that we play a little strip poker, that was what everybody needed."

Mayfield; "You suggested it?

RUTH: "Sure, why not? It wasn't anything new-we had all done it before. Maybe not together, but at some party or other we had all played. I was positive of that."

He consulted his notes then shook his head as if confusion-like though all the facts were there, they just didn't add up.

MAYFIELD: "I don't understand, Miss Stone ... you say you didn't like Bob Phaelan ... say you wanted to show him up ... and yet you were willing to play strip poker with him ... that doesn't make sense."

Her laughter had a-dirty sound to it-almost obscene.

RUTH: "If you mean wasn't I embarrassed about the possibility of having to undress in front of him, the answer is no! Why should I be....he's seen naked girls before. And I've seen naked men. Besides, that wasn't my real reason for doing it....or wanting to play the game with him."

MAYFIELD: "What was the real reason then?"

RUTH: "Like I said before....I wanted to show him up ... to take him down a peg or two....and I figured that strip poker would help me do it."

MAYFIELD: "How?"

She pretended coyness before she answered and then, to our surprise, brushed her hands down over her breasts and belly.

RUTH: "I haven't got a bad figure, you know. As ;i matter-of-fact, I've been told my body is one of the best around since Marilyn Monroe. I figured if I could let Phaelan see just enough of it, I might get him going-get him steamed up. Remember, that's what I wanted to do to him ... and then, when I was ready, I'd turn him off. So now do you understand why I wanted to play strip poker?"

Though he wasn't there to condemn it took all of the investigator's will power not to show his true feelings. To hide them, he busied himself with his notebook, not looking up until he was ready.

MAYFIELD: "you mean you wanted to lose the game so you could take off your clothes?"

RUTH: "I was going to make sure that I lost! Only after we played a little bit, I found out it wasn't necessary."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean by that?"

RUTH: "All the girls had the same idea. It was like we were playing against eacli other trying to lose. And then the other two stopped playing-Gail and Mimi just stripped! Bang, it was easy as that!"

MAYFIELD: "Do you know why they-they took off the rest of their clothes?"

She shook her head and the brown hair bounced in undulating waves around her oval face. It was obvious she had given thought to the question even before it had been asked....and it was just as obvious that she hadn't come to with an answer.

RUTH: "No ... I couldn't figure that out. It was like both of them were trying to prove something. "

MAYFIELD: "To who ... to you?"

RUTH: "No, not me. Either to themselves-or to-to Bob Phaelan."

"MAYFIELD: "What do you think they would try to prove to him?"

RUTH: "I don't know-you'll have to ask the girls....or Phaelan."

He made some additional notes, turning back several pages to verify them. Then he nodded in agreement to himself and resumed the questioning.

MAYFIELD: "In other words, the other two girls were naked ... you were partially naked ... and the men? How dressed were they?"

She giggled as an image erupted in her mind.

Still laughing, she answered.

RUTH: "Well, after Gail and Mimi got down to their birthday suits, you can imagine the excitement! And nothing else would do but that their dates-Phil and Mike do the same. At first they didn't want to....never knew men were so shy about undressing ... but how long can you fight off a girl when she's trying to take off your clothes?"

MAYFIELD: "You mean the other girls undressed their dates!"

RUTH: "That's right! And right down to the all-together! Never saw so much manliness flopping around at one time!"

We watched the muscles on Mayfield's back clench and tighten and held our breath while we waited for the explosion. But it didn't come. We didn't know how he did it-but somehow he again assumed his identity of investigator....just a collector of facts and information....

MAYFIELD: "What happened then?" Suddenly she was coy with him-like now was the time for modesty.

RUTH: "Are you sure you want to know, Inspector?"

When he answered we shivered because of the hint of anger in his voice.

MAYFIELD: "Yes, Miss Stone, I want to know."

All of the coyness and the sophistication went out of her-like she had gone too far. And all that was left was embarrassment....

RUTH: "Well, you know....."

But he was insistent. He had taken the bait and he wouldn't let go.

MAYFIELD: "No, Miss Stone, I don't know. Why don't you tell me? Everything."

Something in his voice told her that he wasn't going to be denied. He wasn't going to stop until he had heard the story. She had opened Pandora's Box....he wanted to see the contents.....

RUTH: "Well, the fellas started fooling around after that."

MAYFIELD: "Fooling around? What do you mean by that?"

Aware that there was no way out, she suddenly let go. Her false bravado covered up her shyness and she said the words so as to shock rather than to reveal.

RUTH: "Fooling around ... you know. Well, what would you do with a naked girl on your lap who was more than eager ... who was also willing? And who started doing things to show you just how eager she was! That's what Gail and Mimi were doing to Phil and Mike!"

MAYFIELD: "In front of you and Phaelan?"

RUTH: "Sure, why not! There was no question as to what was going to happen next ... it was only a matter of time."

MAYFIELD: "Were you used to having your girlfriends do things like that in front of you?"

She had to think about that, it was something that hadn't occurred to her before.

RUTH: "Noooo....that's what was so odd about it at the time. Gail is usually shy around men. Not so with Mimi-but she had never done anything like that before."

MAYFIELD: "Any idea why they acted as they did?"

RUTH: "It-it was like they were trying to prove something."

MAYFIELD: "To who ... you or Phaelan?" RUTH: "I don't know ... maybe to both. Or maybe it was to themselves. I don't know."

Once again his head ducked as he scribbled in the ever-present notebook. She waited, holding her breath. It was almost as if she were afraid of the next question....

MAYFIELD: "What makes you say that?"

RUTH: "I don't know ... just a feeling I had. Never saw either one of them so-so eager for a man before. Not that they were virgins or anything like that....it's just that they could take it or leave it. I know how they felt....we used to talk about it all the time. But you could tell that they couldn't wait."

MAYFIELD: "What was Phaelan doing while this was going on? And how was he dressed? I mean how much was he wearing because of the poker game?"

RUTH: "He was down to his pants and socks. And he sort of liked what was going on ... I could see that he was getting ideas. And since he and I were the only ones left, he had to be getting ideas about me."

MAYFIELD: "That's what you wanted, wasn't it?"

RUTH: "Yeah ... but I didn't like the way things were turning out."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean?"

RUTH: "Well, I was getting ideas too!" He gave her a look and she lashed back at him.

RUTH: "Look, Mister, I'm only human! How do you think I'm gonna react watching four naked people touching and feeling each other!"

MAYFIELD: "You mean they went that far right in front of you and Phaelan!"

RUGH: "That's right! And though I didn't admire their techniques ... never saw hands moving over skin so fast before....it sure got results. All four of them were only too willing to take my offer...."

MAYFIELD: "Offer? What offer?" RUTH: "To use the bedroom."

MAYFIELD: "Are you trying to tell me that they all went into the same bedroom?"

RUTH: "That's right-it's only a two bedroom house....mine and the folks'."

MAYFIELD: "And to the best of your knowledge, what happened in your parents' bedroom?"

RUTH: "What do you think I am, a peeping Tom!"

MAYFIELD: "Oil, come now. Miss Stone ... surely you can tell me what happened in there?""

RUTH: "Well, there were two beds there ... so I guess they didn't have an orgy ... but from the noises, you'd have thought anything was happening. "

MAYFIELD: ".Noises? What kind of noises?'"

RUTH: "The kind of noises men and women make when they're making love. It was kind of easy to figure out what was going on-and who was doing what to who."

MAYFIELD: "And you and Phaelan stayed in the other room listening to all of this?"

RUTH: "That's right."

MAYFIELD: "How were you dressed? After all, you said earlier that it had been your idea to lose at strip poker so you could tease Phaelan."

RUTH: "I was wearing a bra and panties."

May field; "that's all?"

RUTH: "That's all."

They stopped fencing for a moment and studied each other. If there was anv embarrassment by either of them, it wasn't obvious. All that was obvious was the image of the semi-naked girl and the half-clad boy listening to the sounds of love-making coming from the other room.

MAYFIELD: "Did he make any comments about what was going on?"

RUTH: "I think he said ... it sounds interesting, doesn't it?"

MAYFIELD: "Did you take that as an invitation?"

RUTH: "Of course not!"

MAYFIELD: "How did you take it?"

RUTH: "I didn't take it any way. It was just a comment, that's all. Except...."

MAYFIELD: "Except what?"

RUTH: "Except that it started me thinking."

MAYFIELD: "About what?"

RUTH: "About what was going on in the other room. What Gail and Phil and Mimi and Mike were doing."

MAYFIELD: "And how did that make you feel?"

RUTH: 'HOW DO YOU THINK IT MADE ME FEEL! Hot, that's how!"

There was a pause while we waited for the girl to regain her composure. She turned away from us, busying herself with lighting another cigarette. From here we were sitting we could see the deep tide-like rise and fall of her breasts-as if the thought and the memory had been too much for her. Finally she was ready again....

MAYFIELD: "What did you do?"

RUTH: "I did the only thing I could-I left him standing there in the living room and went into the bedroom."

MAYFIELD: "Did you close the door behind you?"

RUTH: "Yes."

MAYFIELD: "Did he say anything to you as you left?"

RUTH: "No. But he didn't have to."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean?"

RUTH: "I could tell what he was thinking by the look on his face. I could tell that he knew what had happened to me ... what I was feeling."

MAYFIELD: "He didn't touch you, did he?"

RUTH: "No, not then."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean ... not then?"

RUTH: "Look, let me tell this in my own way, will you!"

MAYFIELD: "Of course, Miss Stone. I'm sorry." , , She leaned back against the pillows and took a deep drag on the cigarette. Eyes closed, she let a cloud of smoke seep out of her nostrils. And in that position, she told the rest of the story....

RUTH: "I went into my bedroom-which was right off the living room where he was-and closed the door behind me. I-I was so jumpy that I couldn't sit still....I kept walking up and down....up and down....waiting for something to happen. I knew what I was waiting for ... for Bob Phaelan to come into my room. And at that moment, it would have been all right ... that's how hungry I was for him then. But he didn't come into my room. I don't know what he was doing ... I went over to the door and listened, but I couldn't hear a sound. That made me mad....real mad. There I was all ripe and ready and he was turning me off. That's when I made up my mind....I'd show him ... oh, would I show him! I was so excited, that I didn't even remember what I did....but die next thing I knew he was in the room, standing in the door and I was sitting on the bed...."

MAYFIELD: "Did he do anything to you? Say anything?"

RUTH: "Nope. Just stood in the doorway, his arms folded across his chest, and looked at me."

MAYFIELD: "And what did you do?"

RUTH: "I looked back, that's what I did. I didn't say anything-I didn't do anything-I just looked at him."

MAYFIELD: "How did you look? Can you remember that?"

RUTH: "Of course not! I just looked, that's all....nothing special!"

MAYFIELD: "What did Phaelan do then?"

RUTH: "He came to the bed. Slowly. The way he walked toward me hypnotized me. I couldn't take my eyes off him. It seemed to take forever for him to reach me."

MAYFIELD: "And then?"

RUTH: "And then he bent down and kissed me.

MAYFIELD: "Did you resist?"

RUTH: "Not at first. At first I wanted him to kiss me. And the way I was feeling made me want even more."

MAYFIELD: "When did you resist?"

RUTH: "When I felt his hands on-on my breasts. On my body. I opened my eyes when I felt his tugging at the hooks to my brassiere and at die elastic band on my panties."

MAYFIELD: "Why did you stop him then?"

RUTH: "Because then I knew I had him ... then I remembered what I had in my mind of him ... how I was going to set him up and then turn him off. And it had worked ... maybe not the way I had planned....I certainly didn't plan on being completely naked....but just the touch of his fingers and hands on my flesh snapped me back to awareness. It was like turning off a faucet....I didn't want him....not then....not ever....I just wanted him to stop....to leave me alone."

MAYFIELD: "And did he stop?"

RUTH: "No. Maybe he thought I was kid ding, I don't know. But when I started to fight with him, he knew the truth. When I yelled at him to leave me alone . ... to stop what he was doing to me, he knew that I meant it."

MAYFIELD: "What did he do? What did he say?"

RUTH: "I-I don't really know ... that's when he....when he hit me."

There it was ... the damning piece of evidence. The violence. The illicit carnal knowledge of a woman without her permission....

She took a breath then-a deep sigh-and it was the only sound in the room. It was as if we all sensed that anything else she might relate would be anticlimactic and so we waited for her to indicate that she was ready to resume....

MAYFIELD: "And you're sure that you struggled with him?

RUTH: "Of course I'm sure! You saw his face, didn't you? Who do you think put those scratches there ... he didn't get them shaving!"

MAYFIELD: "And you were unconscious all the time he ... he took advantage of you?"

RUTH: "If not unconscious, so close to it that it didn't matter....there was nothing I could do to stop him."

MAYFIELD: "Try to remember-what was the very last thing you recall happening?"

She thought about it, her face set in stone-like concentration. She relaxed only when memory blossomed.

RUTH: "I remember him forcing me back onto the bed....funny how you think of strange things at a time like that ... I remember thinking about his fingers digging into my shoulders and what kind of marks they would leave....then I remember seeing his face over mine....I think he was trying to kiss me but I kept twisting my head from side to side so he couldn't do it.....and screaming something...."

MAYFIELD: "Do you remember what you were screaming ... the exact words?"

RUTH: "No. Not at a time like that. Probably something about stop ping ... letting me go ... sure, it had to be something like that."

MAYFIELD: "Go on. What do you remember after that?"

RUTH: "Do-do I have to tell you?"

We all sensed her embarrassment, sympathizing with her. Even the investigator seemed to soften a little....

MAYFIELD: "I'm sorry, Miss Stone-I don't mean to embarrass you. But anything you might recall will help."

She was a different girl when she started talking. She spoke low and in a tense voice. Almost as if she hoped nobody would hear her....

RUTH: "Just before I passed out, I-I remember the ... remember the pain. I know I screamed again....my throat still hurts from it....and even though I was on the verge of unconsciousness, I was aware enough to know what had happened....to know what he had done....and-and I hated him for it. At that moment I hated him more than I had ever hated anything in my life ... more than I thought I was capable of hating."

Mayfield nodded as if he understood and agreed with her reactions and waited for her to regain her composure. When she was ready, he resumed his questioning. Somehow he seemed more business-like now....less emotionally moved by what he was hearing....

MAYFIELD: "And after you recovered consciousness? What happened then?"

RUTH: "I-I wanted to kill him. If he had still been there, I don't know what I would have done to him. But he was gone. The others brought me around....I don't know exactly who it was, but one of the others did it ... and they told me the rest."

MAYFIELD: "Can you tell me which one of them told you what had happened after you passed out?"

RUTH: "No, they were all talking at once. But they all seemed to agree on their story so I have to assume they were telling the truth."

MAYFIELD: "And just what did they tell you?"

RUTH: "That they were all back in the living room when they heard the sounds of my screams."

MAYFIELD: "In other words, they had ... they had finished their ... their escapade?"

RUTH: "Yes, I suppose so."

MAYFIELD: "Were they dressed when you came to?"

RUTH: "Not completely ... the girls had on bras and panties and the fellas were in their shorts."

MAYFIELD: "What did they tell you had happened?"

RUTH: "That after my last scream there was a long silence. Then Phaelan came out of the room, closing the door behind him. Though nobody asked him he said, 'I did it! I did it!' They all agreed that it sounded like he was confessing. At the time though, nobody thought anything of it-it wasn't until after he had gone that it became important."

MAYFIELD: "Why?"

RUTH: "Because I was still out even after he had left. The rest of them were sitting around the living room waiting for me and finally, because it was so quiet in my bedroom, they decided to investigate. That's when they found me unconscious and brought me around."

MAYFIELD: "What was your first reaction when you regained consciousness?"

RUTH: "To stop the bleeding."

MAYFIELD: "The bleeding?"

RUTH: "Yes, he had hit me on the mouth and I was bleeding. It was all over me. I wanted to stop it. And after I did, I wanted to know where Phaelan was. They told me he had left about ten minutes before. They said that he had said he had to get away ... that he had stayed too long as it was."

MAYFIELD: "And what did you say about that?"

RUTH: "I remember my exact words....T bet he had to get away....the bastard just raped me!'" Mayfield nodded and began to study his notes. He took a long time for he seemed to be hunting for a particular item. She watched him, aware that the questioning was almost over. The look on her face was one of satisfaction-at last the full story had been told to the right person. Finally Mayfield finished with his notebook and tucked it carefully into his inside jacket pocket. Though he had a few more-questions, they obviously, from his attitude, weren't that important that he needed to make notes about them.

MAYFIELD: "Doesn't it strike you as strange, Miss Stone, that a man would commit rape with all those witnesses? Especially a man with Phaelan's reputation?"

She shook her head quickly. She had obviously thought about that and had a ready answer....

RUTH: "I don't think he had time to thin! about it. I don't even think he wanted to. I just think that he got too worked up and he lost control of himself when I tried to turn him down. And especially a guy with his reputation ... he wasn't going to let me get away with it so he did the only thing he could ... he raped me!"

Mayfield studied her. There was no way of telling from his reaction whether he believed her or not. And his next question indicated that he had only been interested in her opinion and that it would have no influence on his own....

MAYFIELD: "All right ... then what did you do? You were recovered-you had accused Robert Phaelan of raping you-then what did you do?"

RUTH: "I called the police."

MAYFIELD: "Weren't you afraid of the resulting publicity? After all, even if you were a victim, you must have known what would have happened as soon as the story came out. I mean newspaper stories . ... interviews . ... most people want to keep a scandal quiet."

RUTH: "Mr. Mayfield, I had one thought in mind....that I wasn't going to let Bob Phaelan get away with it. He was going to pay-no matter what it cost me in terms of pride and shame, he was going to pay for what he had done to me!"

The anger is her voice silenced the room. She made us think of vigilantees riding in the night. But, as we sat there, watching her, we wondered what we would have done if we had been in her place.

What would you have done?

Mayfield stood up then and thanked her for her time and patience. He hoped he hadn't put her through too much of an ordeal and that she understood the need for the detailed questioning. Her only comment was that if he doubted her story he could verify it with any of the others.

He assured her that that was what he was going to do.

And as we left the room, the single question stayed with us....

What would you have done in Ruth Stone's place....?

SECOND INTERVIEW THE BEST FRIEND: Gail Carmel

It was obvious from the start that Gail Carmel didn't really want to be interviewed. A small girl, her hands nervously fluttered to her face like the wings of a bird. She was petite-daintily feminine, reminding one of lace and petit point. Somehow it was difficult to imagine her in the role of party-girl....especially as described by Ruth Stone.

The interview took place in the small one bedroom apartment where she lived. Without parents or relatives, one had to admire the spunk of the girl in her struggle for acceptance and independence. Especially since she travelled in the well-heeled world of Ruth Stone....

Mayfield, after a cursory examination of the premises, pulled his chair closer to the sofa so that he was but an arm's length away. Once again we were in a hidden comer ... observers more than part of the group.

The girl was dressed simply in a sweater and a skirt which made her look even younger than her age. She nibbled on her lower lip while Mayfield leafed through the familiar notebook, organizing his thoughts. But, to our surprise, she asked the first question....

GAIL "Do-do we have to do this, Mr. Mayfield? Can't you just take Ruth's word for what happened? I'll verify everything that she told you....I-I know she wouldn't lie."

MAYFIELD: "It isn't as simple as that, Miss Carmel. Besides, I'm not interested in what happened that night."

GAIL: "You're not!"

Mayfield shook his head, smiling at her confusion. He had taken her completely off base....

MAYFIELD: "No, there's no need to go over that again-I'm sure that Miss Stone's version of what happened is substantially correct and accurate. "

GAIL: "Then-then what do you want to know from me? What-what else can I have to tell you."

MAYFIELD: "I want to know about Robert Phaelan."

The name caused her to pale and she anxiously dropped her eyes so as not to look at the interrogator. It was only the continuation of his questioning that caused her to look up at him....

MAYFIELD: "I want to know more about him....what kind of a man he is ... how people feel about him....things like that. Will you help me?"

GAIL: "If-if I can."

MAYFIELD: "Good. Now ... did you know Bob Phaelan....I mean before the party....had you met him?"

GAIL: "Yes."

Her answer was a whisper-almost as if she were ashamed of knowing Phaelan. But her admission-and the way she said it-caused Mayfield to probe deeper.

MAYFIELD: "How well did you know him? Were you good friends or just acquaintances?"

GAIL "I knew him."

Her evasiveness was embarrassing and from the tight set of her lips it was apparent that she didn't want to admit any more than that she knew him. But Mayfield pulled the rest out of her....

MAYFIELD: "Miss Carmel, I'll ask you again....how well did you know Robert Phaelan? This isn't a game we're playing, Miss Carmel ... a very serious charge has been made....the future of a man's life is to be decided ... now, will you answer my questions?"

Her response was in a low whisper.

GAIL: "I once was in love with Robert Phaelan."

We all seemed to let out a breath at the admission. As if we all had sensed something but only the girl's admission would make it believable....

MAYFIELD: "How long ago was that, Miss Carmel?"

GAIL "Last summer ... maybe six months ago."

MAYFIELD: "I gather that your relationship ended then. Is that correct?"

GAIL: "Yes."

MAYFIELD: "On who's instigation? I mean ... who broke it off, you or Phaelan?"

She thought about that, shaking her head when she was unable to find a suitable answer....

GAIL "I guess we both agreed to disagree. He said that nothing was going to come of it and that it would be unfair of him to tie me down."

MAYFIELD: "Did you believe him?" GAIL "Yes, I had no reason not to."

MAYFIELD: "And you agreed with him?"

GAIL: "Certainly. He had no reason to lie about it. It was true. I was turning down other dates because of my being his so-called girl."

MAYFIELD: "But you were in love with him. How could you do something like that so easily?"

GAIL: "Who said it was easy! I-I didn't want to, but I had no other choice. That's what he wanted and there was nothing I could do to change his mind. And so when he suggested that we stop seeing each other, I agreed. A girl has to save some face, doesn't she?"

We could all feel the hurt in her. The hurt that was still there. For some people six months isn't enough time to get over a hurt....

MAYFIELD: "Miss Carmel, may I ask you a personal question?"

She hesitated, not sure of what to answer. Finally, she gave him the only response she could think of....

GAIL: "If you think it's necessary."

MAYFIELD: "Your answer may have some bearing on the case."

GAIL: "Then, under the circumstances, I can't very well refuse to answer, can I?"

MAYFIELD: "Thank you. Miss Carmel, have you ever been intimate with Robert Phaelan?"

The silence exploded into the room, muffling itself with embarrassment. She flushed, the bird-like hands and fingers fluttering to her face. And, because of her reactions, it wasn't really necessary for her to answer....

GAIL: "Yes."

We sat quietly, waiting for her to regain her composure. Finally she had control of herself again, her body stiff and rigid as she sat quietly on the edge of the sofa....

GAIL: "Mr. Mayfield, why did you ask me that? What possible relation could my answer have to your investigation?"

MAYFIELD: "I wanted to know what kind of a girl you really were ... how ... how loose. How free with your morals. I'm afraid I don't know any girls who would do what you did at a par This time there was more than embarrassment in her face....there was hurt and disillusionment.

She obviously had no idea that Ruth Simon had discussed what had happened prior to the incident. with Robert Phaelan. Her defense came in a soft whisper....

GAIL: "I'm not that kind of a girl, Mr. Mayfield."

MAYFIELD: "But Miss Carmel, I know what happened....I know what you did."

GAIL: "I was drunk."

MAYFIELD: "So drunk that you couldn't control what you were doing? And didn't you want it to happen....didn't you know how everything would turn out? Didn't you care about that?"

She still was whispering her answers.

GAIL: "It wouldn't have happened if he hadn't shown up."

MAYFIELD: "I don't understand. You mean it was all Phaelan's idea that you play strip poker? It was his idea that you go on from there with the boy you were with? I don't understand that."

GAIL: "No, it wasn't his idea. But if he hadn't shown up, I know I wouldn't have done the things I did....I-I wouldn't have wanted to do than."

MAYFIELD: "I still don't understand, Miss Carmel."

GAIL: "I-I did diem because-because I wanted to show him up."

Mayfield looked over his shoulder at us as if seeking an explanation but all we could do was to shrug, indicating our ignorance. It didn't make sense to us either....

MAYFIELD: "Why should you want to do that?"

GAIL: "Robert Phaelan was-was the first man who ever made love to me. I-I was a virgin until I met him."

She said the words so innocently that even Mayfield couldn't look at her. It was like we were all guilty just because we were men....

GAIL: "I met him and fell in love with him. And when I thought I was losing him, I went to bed with him. Right here....in this apartment....I I thought it was the only way I could keep him.

MAYFIELD: "Miss Carmel, I know how painful this must be for you....you don't have to explain if you don't want to."

GAIL: "I must explain ... maybe-maybe then you'll understand why I acted that way at die party."

MAYFIELD: "All right-if you feel you must."

GAIL: "I do. I must. I-I had saved myself for the right man and he was die right man. I knew it the first time I ever saw him. He was the one that I-I wanted to ... to ... well, you know. Up to then I had thought about it a lot ... sex ... a man touching me ... doing things to me. And that only made it worse for me ... especially listening to my friends talk....they were doing what I wanted to do only I didn't have the nerve. Not even after meeting Bob. Thinking about it was one thing, but actually taking off my clothes and getting into bed with him was another. I was so afraid....so afraid....."

MAYFIELD: "How soon after you met him did ... did you go to bed with him?"

GAIL "Maybe two-three months."

MAYFIELD: "Didn't he try anything before?

I mean didn't you neck with him....pet? Didn't he try to get you to go all the way with him?"

GAIL: "Oh sure. But I didn't mind that at all. As a matter-of-fact, I used to look forward to that. I liked the feel of his hands on me ... the way he touched me ... did things to me. But I still couldn't let him do more than that. Even after I let him ... let him take off all my clodies....I still couldn't let him do anything else to me...."

MAYFIELD: "What made you finally give in to him? Did he threaten you ... anything like that?"

GAIL "Oh no, nothing like that! I gave in because I sensed that he was-was losing interest in me. I had heard that he had gone out with Mimi Towers once....and a man like Bob Phaelan only goes out with a girl like Mimi for one thing....because he knows how they'll end up. And I was so lonely-I hadn't seen him for almost a week-and so scared that he had left me that I decided if I ever got the chance with him again, that no matter how I felt, I would do what he wanted."

MAYFIELD: "And obviously you got that chance?"

GAIL "Yes. And though I was frightened-though I wanted to run and hide-I forced myself not to stop him. To let him ... let him do it. I-I kept telling myself while it was happening ... through all the pain and the sensations and the feelings....that I loved him....that he loved me ... and that there was nothing wrong with it ... I was a woman doing something that a woman does with a man. And when it was finally over, I was glad that it had happened. It was-was wonderful....beautiful. ... he had made it that way for me. I-I think I loved him even more after that...."

MAYFIELD: "Yet you said you broke up. Why did you?"

GAIL: "Because-because I wasn't enough for him."

MAYFIELD: "Will you explain that, Miss Carmel? I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean by 'not being enough for him.'"

GAIL: "I'll have to go back a ways....before we broke up. After that first time, there was no stopping us. That's all we did. Make love. He'd come over and we'd go out and eat and then come back to my apartment. Sometimes he'd stay all night. Once he even stayed over a weekend. Not that I objected ... I wanted him as much as he wanted me. I-I was always ready for him....always eager to take off my clothes and make love. But after a while that wasn't enough for Bob. Even though I was wilder than I had ever been with a man ... letting go all the wav--.it still wasn't enough. He-he wanted to do things to me that I-I didn't think he should....wanted me to-to do things to him that I couldn't make myself do. I-I tried, but I just couldn't do them ... and eventually I guess he just got bored with me ... that's when he finally said that since nothing was going to really happen between us that we might as well end it. And-and like I told you before, to save that little pride I had left, I agreed."

She tugged at her ear after she had finished, eyes darting from Mayfield to where we sat in order to see our reaction to her confession. Mayfield gave no indication of his thoughts and surprisingly enough, our own were not about Gail Carmel, but about Bob Phaelan. We couldn't help but wonder what kind of a man he really was. We had two stories now ... the image was getting a little clearer....

GAIL: "And that's why I did what I did at the party. I-I mean take off all my clothes....do the things I did to Phil Swanton ... let him do the things he did to me....right out in public. Because-because I had to show Bob Phaelan that he was wrong about me...."

MAYFIELD: "Wrong about you? What do you mean?"

GAIL: "That-that he didn't really know me ... that I could do the thing ... the things he wanted me to do ... that I was-was as exciting in bed as he needed me to be. That's why I did those things ... because he was there. Because I had to show him! But he laughed at me! I-I could tell that from his expression. He was laughing at me! It had all been for nothing ... I had-had made a fool of myself ... ruined myself and my reputation ... and-and what did he do? He raped my best girlfriend!"

MAYFIELD: "Are you sure of that? Are you sure that he raped her?"

The timidness and die fright were gone now. In her face there was a blush of excitement. Her eyes seemed to flash and her voice became even more animated and alive. If she had seemed hesitant before, that was gone now ... for now she was certain....

GAIL: "Of course I'm sure! It couldn't have been anything else!"

MAYFIELD: "But how can you be so sure? You didn't see anything. You didn't hear what went on in Ruth Stone's bedroom. You were in another room, so how can you be so sure of it?"

She didn't even bother to refute his logic. It was as if she hadn't even heard what he had said. Like she was talking to herself....

GAIL: "There I was in bed with another man and what was he doing? Raping Ruth! There I was, letting someone else use me....do whatever he wanted to do me and-and Bob didn't even care! It was like-like what had happened between us had no meaning to him! I lay there on that bed-aware of what Phil was doing to me ... knowing what I was doing to him ... hearing the sound of Mimi and Mike from the next bed ... even turning my head so I could see them....feeling all the things that a man's hands can make a woman feel....and all-all the time thinking of Bob. Not really knowing what he was doing on the other side of that door. Praying that he was-was jealous....that maybe-maybe he would change his mind about-about us...."

She began to sob then ... quietly but deeply. Mayfield said nothing he merely sat back and watched her. He waited until she had regained control and then resumed his own questioning....

MAYFIELD: "Let's get back to the main point, Miss Carmel. You didn't see or hear what actually happened between Robert Phaelan and Ruth Stone, did you?"

She answered in a whisper, struggling to maintain her self-control. The emotional confession was over now and she did her best to be as objective as possible....

GAIL: "No, not really. When-when we were finished in the other bedroom, we all went back into the living room but nobody was there. I-I could hear some noises from Ruth's room and...."

He interrupted urgently.

MAYFIELD: "What kind of noises? It's very important that you try to remember."

She screwed her forehead into wrinkles of concentration as she tried to remember.

GAIL: "Well, you know ... the kind of-of noises two people make when they're-they're...."

It was obvious that she couldn't finish and Mayfield completed the thought for her.

MAYFIELD: "When they're making love?"

GAIL "Yes-when they're making love."

MAYFIELD: "Then it's possible that he wasn't attacking her....that she wasn't really Struggling?"

Her answer was quick and vehement-as if she had already thought of that possibility and rejected it.

GAIL: "NO! NO! Not Ruth, she wasn't going to give in to him! I know that!"

MAYFIELD: "How do you know that?"

GAIL: "She told me that. After he was invited she told me what she was going to do. Lead him on-get him all excited-tempt him-but she wasn't going to surrender to him-give in to him."

MAYFIELD: "Why should she want to do that?"

GAIL: "To get even with him."

MAYFIELD: "Get even with him? She didn't even know him-had never met him before. What did she have to get even about?"

She couldn't look at die investigator when she finally answered. Lowering her eyes, she spoke to her hands folded in her lap.

GAIL: "It-it was because of me....I-I had told her what he had done to me ... made me do ... and then how he had broken off with me. Besides, she knew about his reputation. She-she was going to take him down a few pegs....show him up ... prove to him that he couldn't have-have every woman he wanted."

MAYFIELD: "And that's why you're positive he raped her? Took her by force?"

GAIL "Yes ... why else would he say what he did when he left her bedroom....I did it! I did it! And why would she be unconscious even after he had left unless it was because he had knocked her out? If you don't believe me, ask any of the others. They'll tell you the same thing-they tell you what happened! That Bob Phaelan raped her! Just ask them! They'll tell you the same thing!"

MAYFIELD: "I intend to ask them, Miss Carmel. And now, just one last question please."

She looked at him suspiciously, tensing while she waited.

MAYFIELD: "Miss Carmel, in spite of everything he's done....the way he treated you ... what he forced you to do ... his raping Miss Stone ... would you, if you had the chance, would you go back to Robert Phaelan.....?"

We waited for her answer-the only sound in the room was die whirring of the tape recorder. Moments ticked by and still she remained silent, her face set like stone. Then she gave her answer. Mayfield turned and nodded at us over his shoulder and we packed up the equipment and prepared to leave. Even as we closed the door behind us we could still hear Gail Carmel's response to his last question....

The soft wail of misery as she cried her heart out.....

INTERVIEW THREE THE ROOMMATE: Mike Bixby

MAYFIELD: "Bob Phaelan was your roommate at one time, wasn't he, Mr. Bixby?"

Mike Bixby clasped his knees with his hands and leaned back on the barstool as he weighted his answer. We were in his apartment-luxurious, well appointed-obviously done by a decorator. Somewhere we had seen the apartment before, and we had to smile as recollection finally came. It was an exact duplicate of a plan in Playboy Magazine. So was Mike Bixby for that matter-the too-casual cut of his clodies-the studied air of grace as he sat on the stool in front of the small bar-the way he looked at us after we knocked on his door ... as if he were willing to submit to the interview only because it would be something interesting to relate to his circle of friends.

Tall and dark, a constant slouch gave him the impression of being much smaller than he was. And his face didn't quite match the rest of him-it was too round and plump to go with the lean body....

And only time would tell if his air of casualness and confidence was a natural thing or whether it was an act....

MIKE: "That's right, he lived with me for. ... lemme see....a little over three months."

MAYFIELD: "What caused him to leave? Did you have an argument....a disagreement....or was it by mutual consent?"

He shrugged with annoyance. And just a little bit of the casualness deserted him.

MIKE: "Naw ... nothing like that. I finally realized he was sponging off me."

Mayfield thumbed through the familiar notebook and when he looked up, there was an expression of surprise on his face.

MAYFIELD: "Sponging? That's strange. I've found out a lot about Bob Phaelan-some of it isn't very nice. But one quality that everybody agrees on is that he's generous. Now just what do you mean by sponging?"

MIKE: "Well, maybe that's the wrong word. Guess I figured that since he was living here he shouldn't object to paying for some of the furniture."

They studied each other for a while and it was obvious that they were fencing.

MAYFIELD: "Let's begin all over, Mr. Bixby. Just why did you invite him to be your roommate?"

A little more of the casualness disappeared.

MIKE: "I figured it would be a good deal for both of us."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean?"

MIKE: "Well, he couldn't afford a place like mine and....and...."

MAYFIELD: "Yes? Go on."

MIKE: "....And ... and I figured that I'd benefit because of his reputation."

MAYFIELD: "I'm afraid I don't follow that."

MIKE: "Surely you must have heard about his reputation with women."

MAYFIELD: "Yes. I've heard about it."

"MIKE: "I figured I could learn from him. Besides, if I ever wanted to have a party or something like that, Bob would supply the girls."

There was genuine admiration in his voice. And a trace of wistfulness. Also of envy. Out of the comer of his eye, Mayfield glanced at us as to confirm his own suspicions-and disbelief at what he had just heard....

MAYFIELD: "Are you trying to say, Mr. Bixby, that you invited Bob Phaelan to share this apartment in the hopes that it might enhance your position with girls?"

MIKE: "Well, I wouldn't put it quite that way."

MAYFIELD: "But you yourself said that you hoped to learn from him. Just what was it that you hoped he could teach you? And why Bob Phaelan?"

MIKE: "I knew Bob all the way through school. Even when he was younger he kept saying that he had never met a girl he couldn't make. And damn it, he was always right! He could look at a girl and tell you just what it would take to make her-and then go out and prove it!"

Mayfield shook his head as if hoping he wasn't hearing right. The disbelief was in his voice as he went on with the questioning....

MAYFIELD: "Mr. Bixby, are you inferring that you wanted Phaelan's help in a problem in bedding down a particular girl!"

MIKE: "Yeah ... there's nothing wrong with that! If you have trouble with your teeth you go to a guy who's an expert at fixing them, don't you? Or with your car? Well, Bob Phaelan is an expert with a woman....why shouldn't I ask his advice?"

There was a silence while May field digested what he had just heard. If he had any comment to make, he chose to swallow it ... or to bury it for die time being....

MAYFIELD: "And did Phaelan's advice help you?"

The question was like a slap in the face. Like Mayfield had asked something he shouldn't have asked. And the rest of the casualness was gone....

MIKE: "I'd rather not talk about it."

MAYFIELD: "You brought it up, Mr. Bixby, not I!"

He twisted on the bar-stood as if he were trapped. The look on his face implied that there was no escape. That he wished he had never agreed to submit to the interview....

MIKE: "He-he said I was wasting my time with my girl. That-that she'd never go to bed with me."

Mayfield waited for the boy to regain his composure. Nobody likes to confess to weakness. Nobody likes to admit that perhaps they might be wrong. The fact that he had done so caused our estimation of Mike Bixby to go up a few points....

MIKE: "Not only that, he kept warning me about her."

MAYFIELD: "Warning you? What kind of a warning?"

MIKE: "That-that she was no good. That she was only using me....going around with me because-because I had a lot of money. And that-that was one of the reasons she'd never go to bed with me. Because as long as she didn't, I'd stay interested in her....I'd keep going out with her....keep spending money on her. Butdiat if she ever became available to me ... made it easy for me to make her....that it would all be over ... I'd lose interest."

MAYFIELD: "And what did you say about it?"

MIKE: "I-I told him he was wrong about her ... that maybe he knew about women, but he sure didn't know anything about my girl."

MAYFIELD: "And how did he react to that?"

MIKE: "He laughed. And then he said that he'd prove it to me."

MAYFIELD: "And did he prove it to you?" MIKE: "Yes."

MAYFIELD: "How?"

MIKE: "By letting me walk in on the two of them-him and my girl-shacking up in my bed!"

What kind of a comment can you make after a statement like that? What can you say to a boy after a hurt like that? That he was looking for trouble? That he should have taken Pahelan's warning about the girl? That Phaelan was a no-good bastard? No, there's not much you can say because however you put it, it's not going to sound right. And so you don't say anything and you let Mike Bixby suffer in his own hurt and when he's ready, he'll tell you all about it....

MIKE: "I'll never forget it as long as I live. I was coming home from visiting my folks-they live way over on the other side of town-and I was feeling great ... had a date for that night with her and I figured that tonight was the night...."

Mayfield interrupted.

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean 'that to night was the night?' I'm afraid I don't understand. "

MIKE: "Things were going pretty good between us....I mean-mean I had come awful close to-to scoring just a few night's earlier....and though she had put me off, it didn't really seem like she meant it....I mean that if I had kept on trying, I think she would have-would have given in to me. And all the way home from my folk's place, I kept thinking about it-I mean how I wasn't going to give up so easy this time. That's why I had her meet me at the apartment....I had it planned that we'd stay in....maybe have a few drinks....you know, set her up for it so she couldn't resist forever...."

MAYFIELD: "Did Phaelan know about it? That she was to meet you at die apartment?"

MIKE: "I guess so-I didn't give it much thought either way. I was too busy filling my mind with what was going to happen later that night."

MAYFIELD: "I understand. Go on, please."

MIKE: "I had deliberately stayed at my folk's place later than I had told her ... I wanted her to be at the apartment when I got there, she had a key, so I knew she could let herself in....and when I climbed up the stairs, I could hear music coming from the hi-fi, so I figured she was there. But when I opened the door, the living room. ... that's this room here, was empty. The music was on, but she wasn't here....

MAYFIELD: "What did you think?"

MIKE: "Lots of things ... maybe she had gotten tired of waiting and had left ... or that she hadn't shown up yet and that Phaelan had left the music on ... things like that."

MAYFIELD: "What did you do then?"

MIKE: My first impulse was to leave....to get out of there so that if she came back she'd still have to wait for me. I was almost at die door ready to go when I heard it....."

MAYFIELD: "Heard what?"

MIKE: "Then."

MAYFIELD: "Them? Who?"

MIKE: "The two of them-Bob Phaelan and-and my girl."

MAYFIELD: "Where were they? In the kitchen?"

MIKE: "N-no ... the bedroom!"

Though we didn't need any picture of elaboration-though we knew without explanation what had happened-Mayfield wouldn't let it go at that....

MAYFIELD: "How did you know it was them?"

MIKE: "I could hear their voices through the door."

MAYFIELD: "What were they doing, talking?"

MIKE: "Mister, are you kidding! It was obvious what they were doing!"

MAYFIELD: "Why, did you open the door?"

MIKE: "No, I couldn't make myself do that. I didn't want to see them together....doing-doing what I wanted to do. But I didn't have to open the door to know the truth."

MAYFIELD: "Why not? Didn't you want to make sure? Weren't you willing to give your girl the benefit of the doubt or were you willing to condemn her without evidence?"

MIKE: "I didn't want to, but I couldn't help myself. I-I went to the door and put my ear against it so I could hear better."

MAYFIELD: "Exactly what did you hear?"

MIKE: "The-the sounds that two people make when they're-when they're making love. Not at first....at first she was telling him how long she had-had waited to find him alone in the apartment....that-that she knew what would happen if they-they could ever get rid of me!"

MAYFIELD: "What did Phaelan say about that?"

MIKE: "Not much....just that he knew all along that she was thinking....that he could tell she had....she had hot pants!"

MAYFIELD: "Goon."

MIKE: "She laughed about it ... said it was true ... and that she would prove it to him."

MAYFIELD: "Prove it to him?"

MIKE: "Yeah, prove it to him. She told him all the things she was going to do to him now that they were in bed together."

MAYFIELD: "What happened then?"

MIKE: "She proved it ... she did all the things she said she would."

He fell silent then and we couldn't look at him. We all knew what he was doing ... reliving the memory of the images on the other side of that bedroom door. And for that matter, so were we. Finally he had enough and continued....

MIKE: "I-I could hear what they were doing....every noise....every sound....every giggle ... every moan and whimper....I-I never knew she was so wild.....it-it was like she couldn't get enough of him ... she kept at him ... over and over again ... wanting more ... giving and doing more ... and even though I wanted to, I couldn't move away from that door. It was like I was riveted there-listening to everything that was going on. Imagining everything that was happening. Hating both of them for what they were doing...."

MAYFIELD: "Why didn't you break in on them?"

MIKE: "I-I thought about doing it but-but I knew I couldn't face them. Not after seeing them together......"

MAYFIELD: "Seeing them? I thought you were just listening at the door?"

MIKE: "I was, until I heard them....heard them....well, you know....then I-I looked through the keyhole to see why they were suddenly so quiet...."

MAYFIELD: "And?"

MIKE: "They-they were on their sides, facing each other. I-I could tell from the looks on their faces that-that they had just finished. But-but even then it-it wasn't really over. She was-was holding-holding on to him and he had had one hand on her breasts and the other-the other on her buttocks. I-I couldn't stand to look after a while....I-I wanted it to be me!"

MAYFIELD: "You mean you weren't angry? Weren't Mad? After all, it was your girl and your roommate that you found in bed together."

MIKE: "No, not at first. At first all I could think of was how I wanted to be in his place. ... that's all. I wanted my hands to be where his were....I wanted her to be doing to me what she was doing to him ... that's all I could think of."

MAYFIELD: "When did you change your mind? What caused it?"

MIKE: "When Bob winked at me!"

MAYFIELD: "Winked at you! I thought you said...."

The boy interrupted him-as if he didn't want to be reminded of what he had seen ... of what he had witnessed....

MIKE: "I know ... at first I thought the same thing ... that they weren't aware of my being there. But I knew that he knew when he lifted his head and looked right at the key hole. ... and then winked at me. He knew I had been there all along. And that's when I realized what he had done."

MAYFIELD: "What do you think he had done?"

MIKE: "He had set the whole deal up just to prove he was right. He had done it to show me just what kind of a girl she was....the truth about her. He knew I wouldn't listen to him. ... that I wouldn't believe just words....so to prove it, he had waited until the right time and then had gotten her into bed with him. And-and, of course, he was right. Damn it, he was right about her!"

MAYFIELD: "I know it's hard to take, but shouldn't you have been grateful to him for showing you the truth about your girl?"

MIKE: "Have you ever been in love, Mr. Mayfield?"

The interrogator didn't answer. He sat back quietly and waited for the boy to go on....

MIKE: "Well, maybe when you're in love-real gone over somebody-almost like it was a disease-you don't want to know the truth about them. Sure, I knew that Phaelan was trying to help me, but there are some things that you don't want help about....loving a girl is one of those things. That's why I was mad at him ... I knew if I stayed there, I might do something to him ... even-even kill him. And besides, I didn't want her to know what I had seen....so I left."

MAYFIELD: "Did she ever find out what you had seen?"

He shook his head quickly and nibbled on a lower lip. If confession is really good for one's soul, it didn't seem that way at that moment....

MAYFIELD: "How did it all end?"

MIKE: "Oh, I stayed away from the apartment for a few days hoping he'd be gone when I came back. I didn't want to have to face him knowing that he knew that I knew...."

MAYFIELD: "And was he gone when you got back?"

MIKE: "No. He was still there. I walked in and we looked at each other and we didn't have to say a word....we both knew the truth. That's when I said I thought he'd better move....find himself another pad."

MAYFIELD: "How did he take that?"

MIKE: "Whatdya mean?"

MAYFIELD: "I mean was he mad? Do you think he was sore at you for throwing him out?"

MIKE: "Naw, not really. Guess that made me even more sore at him for what he did. He didn't say anything-just gave me that damn knowing look of his-the one that says that you don't have to explain, he knows-and then went and packed his stuff. In less than an hour he was gone."

MAYFIELD: "Were you still friends after that?"

MIKE: "No, not really. We weren't enemies, but we didn't see much of each other."

MAYFIELD: "What about the girl?"

MIKE: "What about her?"

MAYFIELD: "That's what I want to know what about her?"

MIKE: "She's-she's still my girl."

MAYFIELD: "In spite of everything?"

MIKE: "In spite of everything."

There was a pause, Mayfield not knowing what to comment about it. Finally, as if forced to make an explanation, the boy continued....

MIKE: "Like I said-when you're in love with someone, sometimes you overlook things."

MAYFIELD: "I guess so."

MIKE: "Don't judge me, Mr. Mayfield."

MAYFIELD: "I'm not here for that-just for information. Let's get on with it."

MIKE: "Good."

MAYFIELD: "Let's forget about your girl and what happened with Phaelan....tell me about die party."

MIKE: "I'm-I'm afraid you can't separate the two."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean?"

MIKE: "The girl was at die party."

MAYFIELD: "You mean-you mean Mimi Towers was the girl!"

MIKE: "That's right."

His answer was soft and low and when he was finished he bowed his head. That's why he didn't see the expression of disbelief on Mayfield's face. It was gone when Bixby finally looked up....

MAYFIELD: "Let's see if I understand you-Miss Towers, the other girl at the party-was your girl friend-the one you found in bed with Bob Phaelan....the one he tried to convince you about-the one who wouldn't go to bed with you?"

MIKE: "Yes."

Mayfield: "she called you from Ruth Stones' house and invited you over?"

MIKE: "That's right."

MAYFIELD: "Did you know Bob Phaelan would be there?"

MIKE: "Yes."

MAYFIELD: "Is that die reason you went because you were afraid that the same thing would happen again ... that he'd shack up with your girl?"

MIKE: "No, that wasn't the reason I agreed to go."

MAYFIELD: "What was the reason ... after all, you knew he'd be there ... you knew what had happened between "them once before ... weren't you afraid it might happen again?"

MIKE: "Not that night. I went over to Ruth's house because-because of what Mimi told me over the phone."

MAYFIELD: "What was that?"

MIKE: "Do I have to answer that?"

MAYFIELD: "No, you don't have to answer that. You don't have to answer anything. You agreed to my questioning because of one reason so I could find out exactly what happened to Ruth Stone. And why it happened. And anything you might tell me might help give me the answers, that's all."

MIKE: "All right....I'll tell you, but on one condition."

MAYFIELD: "What's that?"

MIKE: "That nothing I say will be repeated publicly....I-I don't think I could take the embarrassment."

MAYFIELD: "I understand. And you have my word."

MIKE: "Thank you."

MAYFIELD: "Now, will you tell me what it was that Mimi Towers told you over the phone? Whatever it was had to be something important enough to enable you to go to that party knowing Bob Phaelan would be there."

MIKE: "It was that important. Especially to me....it was what I had bear waiting to hear from Mimi ever since I had met her...."

MAYFIELD: "Just what did she tell you?"

MIKE: "That I was finally going to-going to have my way with her. That if I came over to Ruth's house that night, she would make love with me."

MAYFIELD: "Do you mean to tell me that even after Phaelan left your apartment-even though everything he had said about Miss Towers was true-that you still hadn't gone to bed with her?"

His silence was his answer. He didn't have to speak-the look of anguish on his face spoke volumes. Told of the many months of frustration....and of hunger....and of need. And of how, in spite of the blow to his pride and ego, he was willing to pay the price just for the taste of her long-promised flesh....

MAYFIELD: "How did you know she wasn't lying to you? Maybe telling you that just to make sure you'd come."

MIKE: "It had nothing to do with what she was telling me....after she said what she had to say-and the fact that I knew Phaelan would be there-I knew that no matter what she did, I was going to take her that night."

MAYFIELD: "Even if you had to rape her?"

MIKE: "Even if I had to rape her."

The tape spun on while they eyed each other. Both of them fencing for time and for something to say. Something that would relieve the tension that now split die living room of the apartment. Finally, the boy got off the barstool and went into the bathroom. We could hear the sound of running water as he rinsed his face. When he returned, his hair was freshly combed and he seemed calmer. Some of the confidence was back in his attitude as he reseated himself on the barstool......

MAYFIELD: "We'll forget what you just said, Mr. Bixby. Let's get on with it."

MIKE: "Good."

MAYFIELD: "To recapitulate ... you went to the party knowing that, according to Miss Towers, the two of you would probably wind up in bed. What did you find when you arrived?"

MIKE: "Everybody was there except Bob Phaelan. We didn't do much until he got there ... just sat around drinking and kidding around."

MAYFIELD: "And after he arrived?"

MIKE: "Things livened up then....we started to play strip poker."

MAYFIELD: "Was it his idea?"

MIKE: "No, I don't think so. Let me think about it....oh yea, I remember now ... it was Ruth's idea....said that things were getting dull...."

MAYFIELD: "How did you feel about that ... I mean playing something like that?"

MIKE: "By that time I had so much to drink that I would have done anything ... we all did."

MAYFIELD: "Even Phaelan?"

MIKE: "He doesn't drink."

MAYFIELD: "I didn't know that. Okay, please continue."

MIKE: "We played strip poker."

MAYFIELD: "From what I heard, it was quite a game."

He looked at the interrogator suspiciously.

MIKE: "You know what happened?"

MAYFIELD: "Yes, but I want to hear your version of it."

MIKE: "Sure. Why not? After a while, there wasn't any need for the game ... the girls just got up and took off their clothes."

MAYFIELD: "All of the girls....all three of them?"

MIKE: "Yeah ... all of them. No, wait a minute, now that I think about it, Ruth didn't go all the way. She did it first-r-for just a few minutes and then she put her brassiere and panties back on."

MAYFIELD: "Do you know why she did that? If what you say is true, at one point she was naked. Then why should she go to all the trouble of putting something on? After all, everybody there had seen her nude, hadn't they?"

MIKE: "Yeah....she made a point of showing herself to everybody ... especially to Bob Phaelan. Oh yeah, now I remember. That's when she put those things back on....after she made sure he got a good look at her."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean.....'a good look at her?'"

MIKE: "Well, you know ... something suggestive. ... something that left no doubt as to what she had in mind. And when she was finished, that's when she put her bra and panties back on."

MAYFIELD: "What happened then? After all, there were two girls naked ... one girl almost naked

....and I imagine die three fellas had some of their clothes off, didn't they?"

MIKE: "Yeah....I guess it was the dance that really clinched it."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean?"

MIKE: "Well, up to then there was just a lot of talk and innuendoes about what we were there for-what we were going to end up doing-but after that there was no doubt about it. That's when the fellas took off the rest of their clothes."

MAYFIELD: "Are you are about that? Did Bob Phaelan strip also?"

He thought about it, finally shaking his head when the answer didn't come....

MIKE: "No, I can't be sure about Bob. I remember seeing him in his pants....no shirt....but-but then I kind of lost interest in anybody else...."

MAYFIELD: "I don't understand-you were still all in the living room, weren't you?"

MIKE: "I suppose so."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean you suppose so? Don't you know?"

MIKE: "Look at this way, Mr. Mayfield. I was naked....so was Mimi....the first time I had ever really seen her stripped....and she was on my lap....doing things to me that I had always thought about her some day doing.....and I was doing things to her-for the first time she wasn't stopping me....as a matter-of-fact, she was encouraging me....helping me. Now can you understand why I didn't pay much attention to anything else that was going in that room ... or to anyone else?"

Mayfield looked at him, his expression undefinable. For a moment, the investigator seemed to lose his objectiveness. He seemed to be struggling with himself in an effort to control something. And though he won the conflict, the disgust was obvious in his voice....

MAYFIELD: "Okay, Mr. Bixby ... I-I get the picture. What happened after that?"

MIKE: "We-we went into the bedroom."

MAYFIELD: "Just the two of you ... just you and your girl?"

MIKE: "No. The other couple came in with us."

MAYFIELD: "And you didn't object to that! Your first time with your girl and you didn't want to be alone!"

MIKE: "Look, Mr. Mayfield, I don't care what you think! It doesn't matter. All I could think of at die time was that I finally was going to make love with Mimi-that's all that mattered-the fact that the other couple were as hot and bothered as we were didn't enter into it. There was just one place we could go....and nobody was willing to wait....so what if it meant we had company! Besides, they were too busy with each other to pay any attention to Mimi and me! Can you understand that?"

MAYFIELD: "Yes, Mr. Bixby, I suppose I can understand that. Does that make you feel any better about it?"

MIKE: "I don't give a damn what you think! You're being paid to find out facts, Mr. Investigator-not to judge me!"

MAYFIELD: "I'm not judging you, Mr. Bixby....I'm just trying to find out how all you people think, that's all. Sometimes it's hard to understand that."

They seemed to glare at each other across the space of the room-as if each were trying to bend the other to their way of thinking. Finally they gave up the contest and the tension between them lessened....

MAYFIELD: "How long would you say you were in the bedroom?"

MIKE: "I don't know-maybe an hour. Who keeps track of time at a moment like that?"

MAYFIELD: "And you never left the room?"

MIKE: "No ... even-even if I was capable of it, I didn't want to."

MAYFIELD: "And none of the others left either?"

MIKE: "I don't think so. At least I'm sure that neither Mimi nor I did."

MAYFIELD: "Then you would have no way of knowing what went on the other room between Ruth Stone and Bob Phaelan?"

MIKE: "No-not really."

MAYFIELD: "And you all four of you agree that he raped her. How could you all be so sure? What about yourself, Mr. Bixby? You didn't see anything-hear anything-yet you were positive that Phaelan raped Miss Stone."

MIKE: "I said I didn't see or hear anything while I was in the bedroom with Mimi and the others. Don't forget, when we went back to the living room, Bob and Ruth were gone."

MAYFIELD: "Goon."

MIKE: "I could hear them then."

MAYFIELD: "Just what did you hear?"

MIKE: "Sounds like she was struggling with him ... trying to fight him off."

MAYFIELD: "Did it sound like she was being threatened?"

MIKE: "Could have been that."

MAYFIELD: "Then why didn't you break in on than? Try to stop him?"

MIKE: "Are you kidding-me break in on a guy and a girl in bed! Besides, Ruth Stone has a reputation of being able to take care of herself. No, I wasn't about to break in on them! Nor was anybody else."

MAYFIELD: "In spite of the fact that you were all convinced he was trying to rape ha?"

MIKE: "Well, maybe we weren't convinced of that at die time. It wasn't until later that we really thought about it."

MAYFIELD: "Later? What do you mean?"

MIKE: "After he came out of the bedroom."

MAYFIELD: "Yes, tell me about that. I'm very interested in those details. How did he look? What did he say? And why were you all so sure that he had just raped a girl?"

MIKE: "First, there was the look on his face

....he didn't have the usual expression a man has after he has just made love....it was different ... smug....no, more than that....almost wide-eyed with satisfaction-like he had just accomplished something that he had been thinking about for a long time. And then there were those scratches on his face....he was still bleeding....it was obvious that Ruthie had struggled with him....and then he more or less admitted it by what he said....T did it! I did it!' All of that convinced us of what he had done. Especially after we found Ruth...."

MAYFIELD: "Tell me about that....your finding Miss Stone....I'm not certain of the details."

MIKE: "Well, we were all in the living room

....except Ruth....but we didn't think anything of that ... just figured she was fixing herself up after ... well, you know ... but then Bob said he had to leave....that was about five minutes after he came out of the bedroom....thought it was kind of funny him leaving like that....but we really tied it together when someone-I don't remember who-wondered what was keeping Ruth....she still hadn't come out her bedroom. One of the girls....I think it was Mimi went to the door and called to her, but she didn't answer. That's when we were all convinced that something was really wrong. Anyway, we broke into the room and found her...."

MAYFIELD: "I want you to describe her and the room exactly as you found them....it's very important."

The boy reconstructed the scene in his own mind and when he was convinced of the details, he related them....

MIKE: "She was sprawled face-up across the bed....naked. Her legs hung over the side of the bed and her arms were outstretched. Even though she was unconscious, we could tell that she was okay because of the way she was breathing ... deep and heavy. Like she had just been through some heavy exertion. Her lip was swollen and bleeding....we found out later from her that's where Phaelan had hit her when she began to struggle. Her whole upper body-especially around her breasts and belly....was all bruised and scratched. She looked like she had really been through a fight......"

MAYFIELD: "And the room? Any signs of a struggle?"

MIKE: "No, not really. Except around the bed. The blankets were all over the floor and the sheets were pulled off die mattress. Oh yeah ... and the lamp on the nightstand was knocked over and broken. But you could tell there had been a fight all right."

Mayfield made some hurried notes in his little black book and we waited until he was finished.

There was an expression of satsifaction on his face when he finally looked up and then he nodded at the young man to continue....

MIKE: "We brought her around and the first thing she said was....'He did it! He raped me!

The bastard raped me!' Of course, all the pieces fell into place then....it all fit."

MAYFIELD: "Yes, it seems to all fit. But there's one thing that bothers me...."

MIKE: "What's that? Did I leave anything out?"

MAYFIELD: "No....nothing like that-your story confirms the others. But I'd like your opinion about something."

MIKE: "Sure ... go ahead....shoot."

MAYFIELD: "Why would a man like Bob Phaelan have to resort to rape? You knew him ... he roomed with you....you knew his reputation with women ... he convinced you personally of his ability to have any girl he wanted....so why should he have to rape Ruth Stone?"

He answered quickly-almost too quickly. He obviously had thought about it before ... the same question had bothered him, too. And he had an answer....

MIKE: "Maybe because she wouldn't give in to him. Maybe she was the first woman who ever did that to him ... you know, kept egging him on ... teasing him the way she did....and then when-when she wouldn't go all the way, he lost control of himself and he-and he raped her!"

MAYFIELD: "If you were in Bob Phaelan's situation, Mr. Bixby, would you do what he did ... would you rape a girl who led you on-teased you-and then wouldn't go all the way....?"

Though it was posed as a hypothetical question, the inference was obvious. The boy flushed in anger and embarrassment, and then quickly got up from the barstool and went to die front door. He opened it and turned to face us....

MIKE: "I've told you everything-answered all your questions. There's nothing else I can tell you....now I think it's time you got out ... time you left....!"

With a sigh, Mayfield collected his things from the coffee table in front of him and then, after nodding at us, wearily went to the door. He had one last thing to say....

MAYFIELD: "You're right, Mr. Bixby. You've told me everything ... there's nothing else I can learn from you. Nothing...."

INTERVIEW FOUR THE GIRL FRIEND: Mimi Towers

She eyed us suspiciously as she paced back and forth. Unlike the others, Mimi Towers couldn't sit still. It wasn't as if she were afraid of the interrogation, it was more because she seemed charged with nervous energy. She had to be on the go constantly. Every movement-the quick shake of her head causing the long blonde hair to bounce around the frame of her face-the constant movements of her hands and fingers-die way she walked-all of these indicated the constant state of go-go-go. She wasn't a beautiful girl....her lips were too full....her mouth too large. As a matter-of-fact, everything about Mimi Towers was more than ample....her hips....her breasts ... her buttocks. All severely out-lined in the tight stretch pants she was wearing. But in spite of her obvious lack of beauty, there was something compelling about her.....something sensuous....the way she walked ... thrusting her hips forward....the way she talked-deep and throaty....the look with her eyes....

She smelled of sex.

It was in every movement. Every gesture.

Every look. It was as if she were sizing you up as a prospective lover. As if she were trying to measure you as to how you would be as her lover.

And though she wasn't really aware of what she was doing, she made no effort to conceal her thoughts.

We conducted the interview in an apartment she shared with a girlfriend. A girlfriend who was out of town. The place was small, but it served the purpose for someone who obviously wasn't home too much. It was just a place to live, that's all. There were no personal touches....no attempt had been made to change the atmosphere of the furnished apartment to one of hominess. And somehow it was better that way....Mimi Towers seemed to belong to this environment of no roots....of lack of permanence. Something about her instinctively told you that here was a girl that had no intention of staying put.....if the mood struck her she'd leave tomorrow....

MIMI: "Well, Mr. Mayfield, though I don't see what I can tell you that will help, fire away."

He smiled at her friendliness, watching her as she moved nervously about the room.

MAYFIELD: "Good. We'll get to what hap pened at die party in a little while. First I want to know about you."

MIMI: "What about me?"

MAYFIELD: "You knew Bob Phaelan before, didn't you?"

Her eyes squinted a little as she studied him. It was obvious she was trying to determine exactly how much the investigator knew about her relationship with Bob Phaelan. Her answer was noncommittal-as if she were fencing for time....

MIMI: "Yes, I knew Bob before the party."

MAYFIELD: "Miss Towers, I want you to know that I've talked with Mike Bixby."

I wondered why he had told her that. The look on her face suggested her awareness of what Mayfield might have found out from her boyfriend....

MIMI: "Okay, Mr. Detective ... let's start all over again....Like I said, I knew Bob Phaelan."

They laughed and it was obvious that their estimation of each other had gone up....

MIMI: "Do you want me to tell you about me and Bob or me and Mike?"

MAYFIELD: "you and Bob. I know about you and Mike."

MIMI: "How much do you know?" MAYFIELD: "Everything."

MIMI: "Oh." How you met. What happened between you. Why you ... why you...."

She saw that he was having trouble phrasing the question and interrupted....

MIMI: "Why I went to bed with him and not with Mike?"

MAYFIELD: "That's right....why you went to bed with your boyfriend's roommate and not with your boyfriend."

MIMI: "It's a long story."

MAYFIELD: "I've got plenty of time."

MIMI: "Let's see ... I really don't know where to begin...."'

MAYFIELD' "Anyplace. How about the first time you ever met him."

MIMI: "It was before he moved in to Mike's apartment. A couple of months before. It was at a party."

MAYFIELD: "What kind of a party?" She laughed.

MIMI: "Not the kind you're thinking of-it was an engagement party for a girlfriend of mine. Bob also knew her ... leave it to Bob ... he probably knows every girl in town...!"

MIMI: "No ... I had heard about him ... but I had never met him. And from what I had heard, I was looking forward to meeting him."

MAYFIELD: "Just what had you heard about Bob Phaelan?"

MIMI: "His way with women."

MAYFIELD; "And that made you eager to meet him? I'm afraid I don't understand."

MIMI: "That's because you're not a woman, Mr. Mayfield."

Once again they laughed and it was obvious that he was enjoying her honesty and frankness.

MIMI: "It had been a long time since I'd met a man."

MAYFIELD. "But what about your boyfriend ... Mike Bixby?"

MIMI: "I said a man, Mr. Mayfield. Mike's okay-better than most, as a matter-of-fact. But I'd hardly call him a man."

MAYFIELD: "I think I know what you mean."

MIMI: "Good. Like I was saying ... it had been a long time since I'd been with a man ... and I like being with one makes me feel-well, feel like a woman. That's something Mike has never made me feel. So I went to that party, hoping Bob Phaelan would be there-and determined to meet him, if he was."

MAYFIELD: "Just how did you go about it?"

MIMI: "With a man you don't have to play any games-you don't have to pretend. Once the ice was broken between us, I let him know what I wanted."

MAYFIELD; "and what was that?"

MIMI: "To go to bed with him."

May field; "just like that?"

MIMI "Just like that. I told you, with a man you don't have to kid around-you can get right to the point-it was obvious after we met that there was something between us ... magnetism....he wanted me and I wanted him."

MAYFIELD: "You're not trying to tell me that it was love at first sight, are you?"

MIMI: "Who said anything about love! Why is that everybody gets love and sex mixed up?

Just because a man and a woman wind up in the sack, doesn't have to have anything to do With love! We were attracted to each other-physically-it was as simple as that! And that's all there was to it! Now do you understand?"

MAYFIELD: "I'm trying to, but sometimes I find it hard to understand you people."

MIMI: "Times have changed, Mr. Mayfield. In spite of all the laws and the condemnations and the way your generation looks down on mine as being wild and without morals, times still have changed. Maybe you don't like it, but that has nothing to do with conditions-they still have changed."

MAYFIELD:: "I suppose you're right about that, Mimi. But I'm not here to discuss philosophy with you. I'm here to try and determine exactly what happened at Ruth Stone's house-and why."

MIMI: "Maybe if you took the time to discuss some philosophy with my generation you'd understand what happened. And why it happened."

MAYFIELD: "Miss Towers, lets just get on with the conversation. All right?"

MIMI: "Anything you say ... Dad."

The pleasantness suddenly was gone from between them because of her remark. Now he was her antagonist. The sparring began again....

MAYFIELD. "So there was a mutual attraction between you and Bob Phaelan ... a physical attraction ... but from what I've heard, it wasn't so easily consumated. Why?"

MIMI: "Because I was his friend's girlfriend, that's why."

MAYFIELD: "I gather then that Bob Phaelan, in spite of his reputation, had a code of ethics."

MIMI: "Ethics-slimethics-what do I know about that! All I know is that as long as he was living with Mike, he wouldn't touch me. Or as long as I was Mike's girl."

MAYFIELD. "Then why didn't you stop being Mike's girl. I gather you really didn't care that much about him."

MIMI: "That's where you're wrong, Mr. Detective. In my own way I love Mike Bixby. Not like in books or in the movies-you know, hearts and flowers and all that crap ... nothing romantic about the way I feel about him. But when I'm ready to get married, it'll be to Mike Bixby. And I'll make him a good wife....you don't believe that but I will. I know what he needs-what he wants-I can give him that. And I'll get what I want in return."

We all looked at her like she was a visitor from another planet. She had spelled out for us what was happenings to her generation-the ideals and the beliefs that were so strange and alien. And there was no doubt as to her sincerity....she was telling the truth. And the strange part of it, she was probably right....she would make Mike Bixby a good wife....

MAYFIELD: "I find it difficult to follow all of this, Miss Towers. In view of everything, how did you finally get Bob Phaelan to make love widi you?"

MIMI: "The bastard! The no-good, rotten bastard!"

MAYFIELD. "Miss Towers!"

MIMI: "Sorry, Dad....was just remembering, that's all. He didn't play it fair with me."

MAYFIELD: "Just what do you mean by that?"

MIMI: "It wasn't until later that I found out why he shacked up with me. And all along I thought it was because we had a thing about each other. But it wasn't that at all....it was just to show Mike what kind of a girl he thought I was-and that's the only reason he took me to bed."

MAYFIELD. "Wouldn't you say he was being true to his friend by doing it?"

MIMI: "With a friend like Bob Phaelan, who needs enemies!"

MAYFIELD: "All right then-let's say he tricked you. But you were still Mike's girl in his apartment waiting for him to pick you up-and yet you went to bed with Bob Phaelan. What did he do, seduce you?"

MIMI: "Let me tell you something, Mr. Mayfield-a man can't seduce a woman unless she wants him to."

MAYFIELD: "Then you're suggesting that it was a mutual thing. He wanted you and you wanted him and that's all there was to it?"

MIMI: "Hell no! I practically had to force him!"

MAYFIELD: "Force Bob Phaelan to go to bed widi you! That doesn't sound at all like the man I'm investigating."

MIMI: "Well, what would you call it after you've done all die suggesting and hinting until the only thing left for you is to say to him ... 'C'mon, we're dying to get into the sack with each other-what are we waiting for?' "

Mayfield; "Is that what you did!"

MIMI: "Mister, I tried everything with that man. Soft music ... dancing like I was Salome ... dirty stories ... everything but take off my clothes and lay down for him. But he never reacted. Not once. Until finally I did the only thing I could think of...."

MAYFIELD: "What was that?"

MIMI: "I went into the bedroom and stripped. Then I came out and let him have a good look at the merchandise ... and then I told him what I just told you....that we were hot for each other so let's get on with it-let's stop fooling around!"

MAYFIELD: "And I take it that approach was successful?"

MIMI: "Do I have to draw you a picture of what happened?"

MAYFIELD: "No, not really. But I'd like to know exactly how he reacted. What was his at titude? That is, if you can remember."

MIMI: "Mister, that's one roll in the hay I'll never forget!"

MAYFIELD: "Because-because Bob Phaelan lived up to his reputation?"

MIMI: "Hell no! Because I never had to work so hard at it! Because for the first time I had to convince a man that he was really getting something special! Because-and I don't like to admit this but I got nothing to hide-because for the first time I wanted to make sure the guy got his money's worth. It was like I had to match his reputation in bed! I had to prove to him that I was good enough to be with him! Can you imagine that!"

MAYFIELD: "Frankly, no."

MIMI: "Well, Buster, that's the way it was. Whether you believe it or not!"

Mayfield's reaction caused the girl's attitude to change. It wasn't gradual-it was a sudden thing....like walking from day into night without a twilight in between. Where previously she had been friendly-almost blase about what had happened, now she was antagonistic, you could see the hatred and the anger in her face as she continued....

MIMI: "The bastard! The no-good bastard! Doing that to me! By the time I get finished talking, he'll have wished he'd never heard of Mimi Towers!"

MAYFIELD: "Miss Towers, I want you to be as objective about this as possible."

MIMI: "Do you want to hear my story or don't you!"

MAYFIELD: "Of course I do, but...."

MIMI: "No buts, Mister! I tell it in my way or you don't get anything out of me!"

MAYFIELD: "You're not leaving me much choice, are you?"

MIMI: "Take it or leave it."

He leaned back and watched the pacing girl. Obviously he was trying to think of a way of calming her down and it was just as obvious that there was no way of doing it. She was going to get her licks in and nothing was going to stop her. With a shrug of his shoulders, he motioned for her to continue....

MIMI: "He came into the bedroom with me. And I waited for him to do something....kiss me

... touch me....anything. But all he did was look at me with that damned know-it-all expression on his face and a sad smile. I didn't know what he was up to, but by that time I was so worked up for him that it didn't matter. I went over to the bed, since I was about to do anything right then, and waited for him. But all he did was look at me. I never saw a man look at me like that ... like he was memorizing every part of me. I remember asking him if he liked what he saw and that's when I got my first response."

MAYFIELD: "What did he do?"

MIMI: "Nothing! But at least he spoke to me....that was an improvement."

MAYFIELD: "Do you remember what he said?"

MIMI: "Do I! I'll never forget it! He looked down at me and smiled. And then he said, 'Wonder if the performance is as good as the merchandise! Can you imagine the nerve of the guy-asking me something like that!"

MAYFIELD: "I take it you reacted to his comment."

MIMI: "React! I almost threw a lamp at him! And that's when I decided to show him!

That's what really made me flip! I was going to give him a roll in the hay that he'd never forget!"

MAYFIELD: "And did you?"

MIMI: "Don't rush me, Mister-I'll tell this in my way."

MAYFIELD: "Sorry."

MIMI: "Now where was I....oh yeah....he had just made the crack and I was seething ... he laughed when I said, 'Why don't you try and find out!' Then he took off his clothes-but even the way he did that was designed to make me sore ... like he had forgotten all about me waiting for him....he had to fold everything carefully....even lined up his shoes under the chair....by the time he got into bed, I was ready to explode!"

MAYFIELD: "Do you think he was doing it deliberately?"

MIMI: "I don't know why he was doing it, I only knew I wasn't going to let him get away with it!"

MAYFIELD: "Just trying to determine what kind of a man he is, that's all."

MIMI: "I already told you what kind of a man Bob Phaelan is ... a no-good bastard!"

She was so angry that she was having trouble breathing. Her face was flushed and she was walking blindly from one end of the room to the other. And the more she thought about-and remembered-what had happened in that bedroom, the angrier she became....

MIMI: "I had never felt like I did when he got into bed....usually it's the man who starts things. But this time I couldn't wait. As soon as he settled down I was on him ... I was going to show him just how good I was....I was going to do things to him that he'd never forget. If anybody had seen me and the way I was they'd have been sure that it must have been twenty years since I'd had a man. I-I was like an animal ... all over him ... using everything....doing everything. And you know what the bastard did?"

She looked at May field, her eyes wild with anger and frustration. She didn't even wait for him to ask the question, but went right on....

MIMI: "He just settled back, his fingers laced behind his neck, and watched me! With that damned smile on his face! Like he was laughing at me! I think that's what made me the way I was-the fact that I was sure he was laughing at me. B-but maybe he had a right to laugh...."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean by that?" Her voice was a husky whisper as she finally answered.

MIMI: "B-because no matter what I did to him, I-I couldn't get him to....to respond! And Mister, I did everything. You name it, I did it to him. But nothing happened-not a damned thing!"

She was fuming now , her nostrils flaring and pinching because of her rage. We sat back, unable to say anything because there was nothing to say. And while we watched her, we couldn't prevent the scene from imaging itself across our consciousness....

The two of them in bed.

Naked.

The man sprawled out-relaxed. His fingers laced behind his neck. The sardonic smile on his lips as he watched....

The girl.

On her knees at his side. Her hands and her fingers touching ... probing ... exploring. Her mouth working. Looking up at him expectantly. Her eyes widening as she poured the sensations into him and through him. Her breathing heavy from the exertion. Her flesh showing the oil of perspiration-coating her belly-her thighs-her breasts....

And then her anger.

Because nothing was happening to him. Her voice cracked the image and she brought us back to the present as she went on....

MIMI: "That's when he started to laugh. I don't know if it was at me or the situation-but I didn't care. It was a dirty laugh-designed to hurt ... and what's what it did. Oh, how it hurt. I sat up and looked at him, biting my lips because I didn't know what to say....and all the time he watched me-never took his eyes from me. Then he asked, 'Had enough?' I think I could have killed him then if I had a chance."

She paused and Mayfield waited while she struggled to regain control of herself....

MAYFIELD: "You don't have to continue if you don't want to, Miss Towers."

MIMI: "I'm all right now. Thanks. I've told you this much, I might as well tell you the rest."

MAYFIELD: "There's more?"

MIMI: "Oh yes, lots more."

MAYFIELD: "Whenever you're ready then."

MIMI: "I'm fine now. Lemme see, where was I....oh yeah, I remember ... well, we just looked at each other, not saying anything and that's when he reached for me. I struggled at first-I didn't want him to even touch me-but-but first he kissed me....I'd never been kissed like that ... all mouth and lips and tongue....the way a woman wants to be kissed. I could feel myself slipping ... and even though I struggled, I knew that i was only a question of time before I'd let go completely. It happened when he touched my breasts."

We sat there entranced, listening to the story of her experience with Bob Phaelan as if it were happening right in front of us. There was no shame or embarrassment in her as she told us about it-if anything, we were more embarrassed by listening....

MIMI: "Then he really went to work on me. All over-every part of me. He made me-made me come alive, the way he used me....aroused me....excited me. He did things to me that I'd always wanted a man to do and yet never had the nerve to let happen....but with him it was different-I'd have screamed if he didn't do them! I remember falling back onto the bed, every nerve ending crying out for release from his touch....and yet still wanting more-much more! He never let up-there wasn't a part of me that he didn't touch-caress-arouse. I was a twisting, writhing, pleading female who had finally been awakened by a man! And it was wonderful ... God, it was wonderful! Then suddenly, he stopped. I couldn't believe it. I opened my eyes and looked at him-he seemed to be listening to something. 'What's the matter?' I asked, almost pleading with him for nothing to be wrong. He whispered his answer. 'I think I hear your boyfriend. Maybe we'd better stop.' But I couldn't bear him to stop. Not then anyway. I remember saying something like, '....not when I've got you in bed, or maybe something like 'We've wanted each other for a long time-I don't want to stop now."

MAYFIELD: "In other words, it was your idea that you go on, not Phaelan's?"

MIMI: "I don't know whose idea it was, I only knew that I wasn't going to la him get away then. Not after what he had been doing to me-not after the way he had made me feel."

MAYFIELD: "But what about your boyfriend? What about Mike Bixby?"

MIMI: "Like I told you before, don't mix love up with sex. I don't care what anybody says, T was In love with Mike Bixby-but J didn't want to go to bed with him ... that would have been the surest way of losing him. As for sex, I've had my share of men, Mr. Detective, but none of them ever made me feel like Bob Phaelan-none of diem ever did the things to me that he did and make me like them ... make me want more. Can you understand that?"

MAYFIELD: "I think so. All right then, what happened after he told you he thought Mike Bixby was in the apartment? I mean after he asked you if you wanted to go on and you agreed?"

MIMI: "We went on, that's what happened. I didn't know it at the time-I found that out later-but all he had been waiting for was Mike's return. Up to then, he had just been getting me ready-arousing me. And brother, I was ready! Then he gave it to me! God, I couldn't live through another session like that! We all have images and dreams of what the perfect sexual relationship should be like-how we'll react and what will happen to us....know what I mean? Well, this was better than anything I ever dreamed up-anything I ever desired! Man, could that boy make love! And he didn't let up until I was ready to pass out! I didn't know a man was capable of a performance like his-physically, I mean. But I gave in before he did ... finally I had to plead with him ... beg him ... to stop ... to let up ... I just couldn't take anymore...."

Her lips were dry and her hands were shaking now that she had finished. We were still silent because there was still nothing that should be said. Finally she seemed to calm down and, after licking her lips and lighting a cigarette to steady her shaking hands, she continued....

MIMI: "And that's when I discovered what it was all about."

MAYFIELD: "I don't follow that."

MIMI: "When it was all over, I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was laughing. Not loud or because something was funny ... but a deadly low laughter. And he was shaking his head. 'What's so funny?' I asked him, wondering what it was all about, 'your boyfriend,' he answered. 'What about Mike?' I remember the way he looked at me before he answered-like I was dirt or something. 'He wouldn't believe me when I told him that any guy could make you ... any guy but him. I guess he knows it now.' And that's when I realized what he had been up to ... the only reason he had gone to bed with me was to prove something to Mike-the whole thing had been an act-he had merely pretended to want me-that's why he couldn't respond-and that's why he finally had made love to me the way he did ... so Mike would know what he had done ... but that wasn't the end of it-he still had one last low blow to hit me with...."

MAYFIELD: "You mean he did more to you?

MIMI: "No, he didn't do anything to me, was what he said when he got out of the bed."

MAYFIELD: "What did he say?"

She was reliving the moment again. We could tell that from the hard set of her mouth and the way she pounded out the cigarette before going on....

MIMI: "He got out of the bed and very carefully picked up his clothes. Everything was done with great deliberation-as if he knew the maddening effect it would have on me. And when he got to the bathroom door, he turned and looked back at me. And said, 'Don't know why Mike's got such hot pants for you-you're a lousy lover.' And then, laughing, he closed the door. I felt like he had just kicked me in the gut.

Not so much because of what he had said about me-but because I knew that it hadn't meant a damned thing to him! That's when I made a vow that someday I would get even with him ... someday I would make him pay for everything ... for the way he had used me just so he could prove he was right to Mike ... and because of what he had told me about-about my love-making. Someday the shoe would be on the other foot."

MAYFIELD: "Like saying he raped Ruth Stone-is that what you meant by paying him back?"

The room silenced while we held our breath waiting for her response and her answer. It was a natural question for him to ask under the circumstances. And she had set herself up for it-he hadn't set any trap....

It took her a while to think about it though. She had to be sure ... Finally she answered....

MIMI: "No, I don't think so. I don't think I'd lie about it. I wasn't interested in getting even with Bob Phaelan like that...."

MAYFIELD: "How were you interested in getting even with him?"

MIMI: "By hitting him where it would hurt he most-in his ego. By showing him, that's how."

MAYFIELD: "And just how did you plan to go about doing that?"

MMI: "I didn't plan it, I just waited for the right opportunity to present itself."

MAYFIELD: "And did the right opportunity present itself?"

MIMI: "Sure. At the party. Why do you think it turned out the way it did ... so wild?"

MAYFIELD: "I'm not sure I understand."

MIMI: "When we got the idea about die party, we didn't have any idea of how it would turn out. It was only after we found out that Bob Phaelan was going to be there that we all sort of let go. That's when it got out of hand. Everyone there was out to prove something to him ... to show him up. I don't know about the others-just what their particular bitch with him was about-you know mine. Well, when I heard he was going to show up, I just sort of let go. This was my chance, I figured. I'd show him how wrong he was about me."

MAYFIELD: "Wrong? In what way?"

MIMI: "First, by making love with Mike.

He had said that I could be had by any man except Mike Bixby ... well, I was going to show him that wasn't true. And secondly, he'd said I was a lousy lover. I'd show him that wasn't true either!"

MAYFIELD: "Just what effect did you think that would have on him-if you could prove it?"

MIMI: "I know now it was only a wild idea-something a kid would think up. But don't forget, I'd had an awful lot to drink by the time the party really got rolling ... not that I'm making an excuse ... but what I was really figuring on was letting him know how good I was in bed ... so good that he'd want me ... and then-then I'd turn him down!"

Mayfield looked at the girl, shaking his head. Chances were, at that moment if he could have been taken off the investigation, he would have done so willingly. We doubt seriously if in all his years of work, he had ever run across anything like this....

MIMI: "Do you want to hear what happened?"

MAYFIELD: "I think I could probably figure it out, but go ahead ... I'd like to hear your version of it."

MIMI: "The party really didn't get rolling until he showed up. It was like we were all waiting for him to give us the cue to go ahead. And as soon as he arrived, things began to liven up."

MAYFIELD: "Think carefully now, Miss Towers, this might be very important ... what was Bob Phaelan's attitude when he first showed up at Ruth Stone's house?"

MIMI: "Attitude?"

MAYFIELD: "Yes. I mean how did he act? Did he seem eager to participate ... was the strip poker his idea ... could you tell if he was ... well, if he was looking for a girl?"

MIMI: "You want the truth, don't you?"

MAYFIELD: "Of course."

MIMI: "He looked like he wished he were any place but there. He looked like the only reason he had come was because he didn't have anything else to do or any place else to go."

MAYFIELD: "are you positive of that?"

MIMI: "If I wasn't certain of it when he first walked in I was after he made a phone call."

MAYFIELD: "First I've heard of that."

MIMI: "He came in ... said hello to everybody., and that asked Ruth if he could use her phone. Of course she said yes. When he came back, he seemed happier. Said that he couldn't stay too long-that he'd have to leave around eleven."

MAYFIELD: "Didn't that sort of throw cold water on the party?"

MIMI: "On the contrary-it got it off the ground. It was like we had to make it all happen before he left. I-I guess that's why we started so rough...."

MAYFIELD: "Started so rough....please explain what you mean by that?"

MIMI: "Sure. Started playing strip poker right away. Usually a party like that starts slow-the rough stuff doesn't happen until late. But it was like we didn't have time. Especially the girls. Anyway, me and Gail. It was like we had to get out of our clothes right away...."

MAYFIELD: "But why? You knew he was leaving in a few hours."

MIMI: "Maybe that's why I did it-I wanted to get his attention before he left. Maybe I thought I could change his mind ... make him want me. Oh hell, I don't know why....I just did it, that's all. I saw him looking at me with that damned smile of his and I figured it was now or never ... so I stripped. Bang! Just like that! And you know something, I got his interest all right ... for the first time he looked at me because he wanted to ... not because he was trying to prove anything. And then my nutty boyfriend had to louse things up...!"

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean?"

MIMI: "I forgot that Mike had never seen me completely naked. Thought he'd go ape when I looked at him. Couldn't blame the guy though I'd been holding out on him for an awfully long time. So what could I say-or do-when he yanked me into his lap and started working at me ... God, I never felt so many hands and fingers in my life! Poor guy, he was so worked up...."

MAYFIELD: "And you forgot about Bob Phaelan then?"

MIMI: "NO! How could I? He was right across the room. And you know what he was doing at me? That's right ... laughing. Not out loud-not so anybody else could ever notice. But I saw ... and I knew what he was thinking. And I guess that's why I gave Mike the time I did....really gave him the works."

MAYFIELD: "Will you please explain that? I don't understand what one thing has to do with the other."

MIMI: "Because all the time I was making love with Mike, I was pretending it was Bob Phaelan! I was showing Bob Phaelan that I wasn't a lousy lover! That I was the best he'd ever had! That he'd never forget a woman like me and what I was doing to him! I really went wild that night....I let go with everything I had. My whole body was made for sex and Mike Bixby got the benefit of it!"

MAYFIELD: "But Miss Towers...."

MIMI: "Don't interrupt, Buster! Let me get it off my chest once and for all. I know it sounds crazy. Impossible. But it happened. I wasn't making love to Mike, but to Bob Phaelan. It wasn't Mike who was touching me....tasting me ... loving me ... it was that no-good bastard Bob Phaelan. And as long as it was happening, I could make the pretense last. I could actually believe it. Who knows what happens to a person when their caught up in sex-I-I think they can believe anything! I know I did. It wasn't until it was all over ... until I had come back down to earth, that I faced the truth. That I knew what I had done. Then I knew I hadn't been with Phaelan at all ... except in my mind. And that's when I knew I would never be with him ... he didn't want me. He'd never wanted me...."

MAYFIELD: "Answer me truthfully, Miss Towers, is that what made you decide to hang a rape charge on him? A woman spurned, you know...."

Her eyes narrowed into thin slits but she shook her head immediately. She didn't have to think about her answer, she had thought about it previously....

MIMI: "No, Mr. Mayfield, one thing hasn't anything to do with the other. If I wanted to get Bob Phaelan, I wouldn't do it that way. I agreed with the others about his raping Ruth Stone because it's the truth! And that's the only reason.

MAYFIELD: "I've asked this question of several of die others, now I'll ask it of you: Why should a man with a reputation about woman like Bob Phaelan has, have to resort to rape? It seems to me that he had absolutely no trouble in finding all the women he ever wanted."

MIMI: "I can't answer that, Mr. Mayfield. Maybe he did it just for kicks! Hell, he's done everything else you can do with a woman, maybe he wanted to try that! I wouldn't put it past him. Especially after the way Ruth had treated him all evening."

MAYFIELD: "Just how had she treated him, Miss Towers?"

MIMI: "Like if he played his cards right, he was going to get the prize in the box of cracker jacks. Like she was so hot for him that she couldn't stand it and that if he didn't do anything when they had the chance, she'd kill him. I've been pretty obvious myself when I want a man-I told you how I was with him-but I could take lessons from Ruth on what to do to get a man worked up. And she didn't even have to get into that strip poker game either ... as a matter-of-fact, she didn't go all the way, if I remember correctly. But it wasn't necessary. With the rest of us, initially there was a little doubt as to what was going to happen....it wasn't until after the poker bit that the cards were on the table. But not with Ruth....the minute he walked into the room she let him know what she had in mind. And it wasn't like Ruth to do a thing like that-unless she meant it."

MAYFIELD: "And Phaelan? How did he react to it?"

MIMI: "Like any normal red-blooded American boy. He was drooling over her by the time the rest went into the other bedroom. And the only reason we did, was to leave her alone with him. She gave me and Gail the high sign and we took the hint."

MAYFIELD: "But you have no way of knowing what happened between them after you left, have you?"

MIMI: "Just my imagination, Mister-just my imagination!"

MAYFIELD: "I'm afraid imagination isn't good enough, Miss Towers. I need something more concrete than that."

MIMI: "Well, let me put it this way. I knew what Ruthie was up to. I could tell from the questions she asked about Bob before he came over. And from her reactions. Sure, she was leading him on-but good-but that's all she was doing. She had no more intention of shacking with Bob Phaelan than I do with you!"

MAYFIELD: "Is that what makes you so sure he raped her?"

MIMI: "I saw Ruthie after we brought her around-she was a girl who had been had. And the only way that could have happened was if Bob Phaelan had taken her by force-against her will!"

MAYFIELD: "I'm not doubting you, Miss Towers, but tell me everything that you remember from the time you left the bedroom until the time Ruth Stone called the police."

She paused and reconstructed the events in her own mind. When she was ready, she nodded and then related her version of the story....

MIMI: "The others went back into the living room first."

MAYFIELD: "The others?"

MIMI: "Yeah-Gail and the guy she was with-what's his name ... oh yeah, Phil Swanton. They went first because-well, because they were finished before Mike and I ... and when we finally joined them-maybe fifteen minutes later-they were sitting in the living room nursing drinks."

MAYFIELD: "And Phaelan and Miss Stone were in her bedroom?"

MIMI: "That's right."

MAYFIELD: "How can you be so sure? The door was closed, wasn't it?"

MIMI: "You could hear them, that's why I'm so sure. You could hear a man and a woman."

MAYFIELD: "You mean you could make out their voices."

MIMI: 'Yeah-that's right-you could make out their voices."

MAYFIELD: "But you couldn't hear what they were saying, could you? Or what they were talking about?"

MIMI: "Mister, you didn't have to hear what they were saying to know what they were talking about! She was fighting him off!"

MAYFIELD: "How can you be so sure of that?"

MIMI: "Maybe it takes another woman, I don't know about that ... but I know what a woman sounds like when she' struggling with a man!"

Mayfield consulted his notes, nodded at something he had read, and then indicated for the girl to go on with her story....

MIMI: "Then, after she screamed, it suddenly got quiet. Too quiet. Like she was out. A few minutes later, he came out of the bedroom. I don't know why-he wasn't the type to boast about it-yet he said, "I did it! I did it!" Though we waited for Ruth to show, we figured that maybe she was too embarrassed to come back into the living room. After all, some people are like that."

MAYFIELD: "Do you remember what Phaelan talked about-or how he acted-while you were sitting around in the living room?"

MIMI: "Quiet....didn't add much to the conversation. But he had a satisfied look on his face. And he kept looking at his watch."

MAYFIELD: "That was normal, wasn't it? After all, you all knew he had an appointment at eleven o'clock?"

MIMI: "He wasn't looking at his watch that way. It was like he was trying to figure out when would be the right time to leave so nobody would get suspicious. I-I don't think his appointment had anything to do with it. I think he wanted to get out of there before Ruthie regained consciousness and he was just waiting for the right time to do it."

MAYFIELD: "All right then-Phaelan left. What happened then? How long did you sit around waiting for Miss Stone?"

MIMI: "Not too long. Maybe three-four minutes, that's all. Finally, it was obvious to everybody that something was wrong-that she should have made some kind of a sound in that length of time. "That's when we decided maybe we'd better investigate and see if she was okay."

MAYFIELD: "And what did you find?" MIMI: "I guess the others have told you, haven't they?"

MAYFIELD: "Yes, but I want to hear your version."

MIMI: "Sure. She was out cold. Sprawled across her bed-her feet hanging over-her arms spread. You could tell from the marks on her body-her face-what she had been through. There was blood-bruises-scratches-he had given it to her all right ... but good!"

MAYFIELD: "And that's why you were all so sure he raped her? Because of the way she looked and because, when she came to, she said so? Is that right?"

MIMI: "What else could we believe? Besides, why should Ruthie lie about it? What reason could she have for doing that?"

MAYFIELD: "You're sure she had no reason to try and get him? I mean maybe she was vindictive about something he had done."

MIMI: "I doubt it. They had never met until that night. Why should she be vindictive-why should she try and get him? She didn't even know him! No, when Ruth Stone said she'd been raped, she wasn't lying! And when I agreed, neither was I. I know Bob Phaelan-the kind of a man he is-if he couldn't get what he wanted from her ... especially after the way she had been with him before....he wasn't above raping her! Not that no-good bastard!"

The anger had returned. Not as vehement as previously, but just as intense. At this stage of the interview, it was hard to understand the reason for it. Yet there was no doubt as to its presence....

Mayfield said nothing, merely studied her while she let die anger sweep over her. It wasn't until she had been satisfied by it and then had forced it back into the darkness of her mind that he was ready to resume his questioning....

MAYFIELD: "I guess that does it, Miss Towers. You've been very helpful. Thank you."

MIMI: "You mean that's all there is? That's it's all over? You're not going to ask me any more questions?"

His eyebrows knit in confusion.

MAYFIELD: "I'm afraid there's nothing to ask you about it. We've covered everything."

MIMI: "What's going to happen now? I mean are you going to arrest him?"

MAYFIELD: "After I finish-my investigation, the district attorney will determine whether there's a case against him or not."

MIMI: "You mean he's liable to get off? To go free!"

MAYFIELD: "There's a possibility, Mss Towers. Yes, there's a possibility."

MIMI: "The bastard! The no-good, rotten bastard....! bet he gets away with it!"

INTERVIEW FIVE THE OUTSIDER: Phil Swanton

MAYFIELD: "Thank you for coming down to my office, Mr. Swanton. I appreciate your cooperation."

PHIL "Not at all, Mr. Mayfield. Under the circumstances, I want to do everything I can to help."

MAYFIELD: "As I understand it, you were the only one who could be considered an outsider. You weren't really friendly with anybody there, were you?"

PHIL "No, not really. I'm pretty new in town."

MAYFIELD: "How did you get an invitation?"

PHIL: "I was-was at Mike Bixby's apartment when he got the call from his girl about the party. He mentioned I was there so they invited me too."

MAYFIELD: "Oh, I see. You were more or less a blind date for Gail Carmel?"

PHIL: "Not really. We had met before. Even gone out a few times. I-I didn't really like her though."

MAYFIELD: "Why not?"

PHIL "She was still stuck on this Phaelan character-that's all she ever talked about."

MAYFIELD: "And yet you agreed to go to the party and be her date knowing that?"

PHIL: "Well, there were two reasons I went-neither of them had much to do with Gail Carmel."

MAYFIELD: "What were they?"

PHIL: "First off, I didn't have anything else to do. That's the main reason I agreed to go along with Mike. And the second was Ruth Stone...."

MAYFIELD: "What about her?"

PHIL: "Well, I had met her before. She-she really appealed to me. I figured if she was inviting me to her house that she thought pretty well of me. And maybe this was my chance to get....to get close to he."

MAYFIELD: "I take it then that you didn't know about Bob Phaelan's also being invited?"

PHIL: "No. At least not until after I got there."

MAYFIELD: "And that he was to be Ruth's date for the evening? You didn't know that either?"

PHIL: "No."

MAYFIELD: "Would you have still gone if you had known about that?"

PHIL: "I-I guess so. Sure, why not. Like I said before, I didn't have anything to do that night anyway."

MAYFIELD: "Was that the first time you had ever met Bob Phaelan?"

PHIL: "Yes. But I felt as if I had known him ever since I got to town."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean by that?"

PHIL "That's all any of the girls I've met so far ever talk about. Bob Phaelan. Those that hadn't met him wanted to know if I could help them figure out how they could meet him. And those that did know him wanted to know who he was going around with or if I knew how to get him to call them."

MAYFIELD: What did you think of all that? I mean a fella you hadn't even met with a reputation like that?"

PHIL: "At first I couldn't believe it. But then when the other guys around town told me about him and the way he had to fight off women, I wondered how he got that way. Man oh man, what a way to be! Then I wondered how does a guy get that way....I mean when I found out he wasn't that good looking-didn't have much money....well, makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

MAYFIELD: "Would you say you were jealous of him, Mr. Swanton?"

PHIL: "Jealous! Me! Naw! There's plenty of women to go around-why should I be jealous of him as long as I get my share?"

Mayfield looked over to where we were sitting next to the recorder and nodded. We nodded back in agreement. The denial had been too vehement for die question. "Caesar doth protest too much...."

MAYFIELD: "And yet you had never met him?"

PHIL: "That's right. Saw him around town a couple of time. Been at some parties where he was, but we'd never been introduced."

MAYFIELD' How did you feel when he finanlly showed up at Ruth Stone's?"

PHIL "What do you mean? I wasn't thinking about him at all."

MAYFIELD: "That's what I mean, Mr. Swanton. As I recall, you said you had ideas about yourself and Ruth Stone. Yet it must have been pretty obvious to you that she was interested in Bob Phaelan. Not in you. So how did you take that?"

He twisted his lip while he studied the investigator seated on the other side of the desk from him. The only sound in the room was the whirring of the recorder while we waited for his response....

MAYFIELD: "Please be honest, Mr. Swanton. Besides, I already have the others' statements."

PHIL: "Okay then-I'll tell you the truth. At first I was sore-good and sore. I didn't know why, but it was obvious that the Stone broad was only interested in Bob Phaelan. She didn't want to have anything to do with me. But you know something, Mr. Mayfield, it was also true of the other two girls?!"

MAYFIELD: "You mean Gail Carmel and Mimi Towers were both hoping that Phaelan would decide to pair up with them!"

PHIL: "That's right. Oh, they didn't come right out and say so-didn't do anything about it when he finally showed up. But you could tell by the way they kept watching him what they had on their minds. And expecially how they felt when Ruth Stone took him over. But I figured that it was all to my advantage...."

MAYFIELD: "Just how did you figure that?"

PHIL "Well, I figured that it would make it much more easier for me. It was pretty obvious what was going to happen....Mike would end with Mimi....Ruth wasn't about to let go of Phaelan....so that left Gail and me...."

MAYFIELD: "And you liked that idea?"

PHIL: "Let's just say it had possibilities, Mr. Mayfield."

MAYFIELD: "What kind of possibilities?"

PHIL: "I don't think there was any doubt in anybody's mind how the evening was going to turn out-especially after that strip poker game started. It was going to be one big orgy-and let's not kid ourselves about that! Well, as long as I got my share I didn't care. And if it turned out to be Gail Carmel, that was even better."

MAYFIELD: "How come?"

PHIL: "Like I said before, I had gone out with he a couple of times. But I couldn't get to first base with her. She'd let me go so far and that's all. I finally figured out that it had something to do with what had happened between her and Phaelan. Even though I didn't know exactly what he had done to her, from the way she talked, it was pretty obvious that he had done something. And now I was getting my chance with her."

MAYFIELD: "What made you think that?"

PHIL: "I didn't know how far she'd goor let me go. But from the way she was carrying on, chances were she wouldn't put up too much of a fight about going all the way. And I owed that to Bob Phaelan."

MAYFIELD: "How?"

PHIL: "Because whatever she was gonna do, she was doing it because of him. She was gonna show him....just what, I couldn't figure out. But that didn't matter ... I had something else in mind."

MAYFIELD: "What?"

PHIL: "I was gonna make her forget all about him. I was gonna show her there was more than one lover in town. By the time I was finished, she'd forget all about Bob Phaelan. That's the way I had it figured...."

MAYFIELD: "And did it work out that way?"

PHIL "Whoa there, lemme tell this in my own way.

MAYFIELD: "Sure. Go ahead. I won't interrupt you unless I have to."

PHIL: "Good. Now let's see, where was I ... oh yeah ... I got the idea just before we started playing strip poker. That's when I made up my mind I was going to bed down with Gail. But I didn't think it was going to be as easy as it was."

MAYFIELD: "Please elaborate on that."

PHIL: "Well, you don't have to do much convincing with a girl who takes off all her clothes and then helps you do the same! That's what happened during that game. Suddenly the girls had enough....said it was going too slow ... I don't know which one did it first, but it didn't matter....pretty soon they were all naked ... and then they seemed to take their cues from Ruth. She grabbed hold of Bob ... said something like 'I'm staking my claim on this hunk of man!' And the others followed suite. Mimi took Mike and that left me and Gail. If I had any doubts about what was going to happen, it ended when she came over to me and undid my belt buckle. Mister, that was all she wrote! The next thing I know I'm sitting in a chair-with nothing on-and the hottest girl I've ever had is in my lap making sure I know what's going to happen next!"

MAYFIELD: "And that's what you wanted. Right?"

PHIL: "Yeah-but the other way around."

MAYFIELD: "The other way around....what are you talking about?"

PHIL "I wanted to show her what kind of a lover I was....I wanted to do things to her to show her that Bob Phaelan wasn't die only man in town ... but but it didn't work out that way."

MAYFIELD: "It didn't? How come?"

PHIL "She was too busy making love to me! I didn't stand a chance with her ... she was all over me ... doing things....making me feel things....God, it was fantastic! Like I always said, you can never tell a girl by the way she looks. You've met Gail Carmel ... looks sweet and innocent, doesn't she? Well, Mister, believe me when I tell you she isn't! I've never met anything as wild as that one. Man, she did things to me that even I didn't know about!"

We sat back and listened-remembering our meeting with Gail Carmel. Remembering the shyness and the sweetness. And wondering what had happened to her on that particular night....

PHIL: "And it would have been all right, except for one thing. That's what really killed it for me."

MAYFIELD: "What one thing are you referring to-I don't understand."

PHIL: "She wasn't making love to me at all. It was to that bastard Phaelan! I didn't know it at first-hell, actually I didn't know anything at first except what she was doing to me. She kept pulling at me-touching me-doing things. And all the while she was sobbing ... saying things under her breath ... and finally, when I got hold of myself, I heard what she was crying about ... what she was saying.."

MAYFIELD: "And what was she crying about? What was she saying?"

PHIL: "She was crying because it wasn't Bob Phaelan! Because it was another man-I don't even think she knew my name while it was happening! And she kept asking over and over again if she was good enough now! If he liked what she was doing! Things like that! I've been in on some crazy deals, but nothing like this one...."

Mayfield leaned back in his chair, lacing his hands belling his neck while he thought about what he had just heard. His face was expressionless-but cold. There was a hint of suppressed anger about him ... not just at Bob Phalan, but at all five of them....

PHIL "Now you know why I was sore at Phaelan?" How'd you like to have been in my place?"

MAYFIELD: "I wouldn't. Not then. Not now."

PHIL "What do you mean by that?"

MAYFIELD: "Forget it. Let's get on with this. I want to get it over with as soon as possible."

PHIL: "Sure. What else do you want to know?"

MAYFIELD: "Let's take it after that. What happened next?"

PHIL: "Well, when it was over, it was over.

She came to her senses then-realized what she had done. I think she was too ashamed to look at me. Anyway, as soon as she could she left the bedroom....I went with her. We sat in the living room for a while and then Mimi and Mke came out. We drank a little more, waiting for Phaelan and Ruth. After awhile, he came out...."

MAYFIELD: "And he said, 'I did it! I did it!' Right?"

PHIL: "That's right ... how do you know? Oh, I guess you heard it from the others."

MAYFIELD: "Heah-I heard it from the others. Tell me, Mr. Swanton ... what do you think he meant by that?"

PHIL: "Well, at first I thought it was funny that he should say a thing like that ... a guy with his reputation doesn't have to say that just "cause he's made some broad. But as things turned out, I guess he was all keyed up about what he had done to the Stone girl. I don't know ... maybe he said it because he's done just about everything else ... maybe he was congralating himself on having raped somebody!"

MAYFIELD: "Do you really mean that, Mr. S wanton?"

PHIL: "I've seen guys do some pretty kooky things. Who knows why he said it? That's as good a reason as any, isn't it?"

MAYFIELD: "I know what happened after that, Mr. Swanton ... I mean about his leaving you all sitting around waiting for Ruth Stone and then finally going into her bedroom and finding her unconscious ... is there anything you can add to that?"

PHIL: "No, not really-that's about the way it was. Except...."

MAYFIELD: "Except what?"

PHIL: "Except I've never seen a girl look like her after a roll in the hay. Man, she really looked the worse for wear. He must have really given it to her!"

MAYFIELD: "Then you're convinced he raped her?"

'PHIL: "You bet I am!"

MAYFIELD: "But you didn't actually see it. You only have your own opinion and some conclusions based on what you think happened."

PHIL: "Mister, I didn't have to see him do it ... I know he did it! It had to be that way, there's no other answer. She got him steamed up-made him think she was going all the way with him-and then, when she changed her mind, he lost control. That can happen to a guy, you know. He knocked her out and then gave her the works. Maybe he didn't want to do it that way, but like I said, he lost control. Anyway, that's the way it all fits together in my mind. I don't see how you can figure it any other way."

MAYFIELD: "And you're certain that your own personal feelings have got nothing to do with it?"

PHIL "My own personal feelings? I don't follow you...."

MAYFIELD: "Let's face facts, Mr. Swanton. By your own admission, you'd have loved to have been like Bob Phaelan. But you didn't know how. Whatever it is that he's got that makes him so-so popular with women, you don't have. And then to top it off-you make love to a girl-a girl that had once been Phaelan's girl-and find out right in the middle that she doesn't even know you exist ... she isn't making love to you ... it's to Bob Phaelan! Furthermore, your idea when you went to the party was to try and make out with Ruth Stone. Only when you got there you found out that she didn't want you-she wanted Phaelan. Just like every girl there! Now do you follow me, Mr. Stanton? Now do you see why I'm asking you if your personal feelings have anything to do with your conclusions...!" He gave his answer in a low, small voice.

PHIL: "If you haven't any more questions, Mr. May field, I'd like to leave now."

We watched him push away from his chair and go to the door. He turned and looked at Mayfield. He wanted to say something but somehow he couldn't find the words. Then we heard the fast click-click of his heels as moved down the corridor....

"Nice boy," Mayfield said to us. A real nice boy."

INTERVIEW SIX THE RAPIST: Bob Phaelan

He wasn't at all like we expected.

Somehow we had imagined a young man, darkly handsome. Almost sinister. Sensuous in every movement. Full lips. Black wavy hair. A man who knew of his physical endowments and prided himself on them. And who was completely aware of what they could do for him....

Bob Phaelan was nothing at all like that.

The interview took place in the one-room bachelor apartment that he called his pad. He was sprawled out full-length on what was obviously a convertible sofa, dressed casually in sport shirt and slacks. A pair of loafers were on the floor and his stockinged feet were propped up on the back ol the sola. We had come in upon his yelled invitation, surprised at finding the door open. He nodded at us as we came into the room behind Mayfield, and with his head he indicated for us to make ourselves comfortable wherever we could. But he never changed his position while we were getting ready....

And he looked nothing at all like we thought he won Id.

He was shorter than we expected. Just average height. And he wasn't heavy or thin. Just average. His looks were neither striking or repulsive. Just average. His voice, as he greeted us, was neither deep nor resonant. Just average. His hair was a non-descript brown. Just average.

As a matter-of-fact, that was the best way of describing Bob Phaelan.

Just average.

Mayfield, after carefully studying the sparsely furnished room, finally began the interview....

MAYFIELD: "I'm glad you're willing to cooperate, Mr. Phaelan. It'll make things that much easier for everyone concerned."

BOB: "Why shouldn't I want to cooperate, Mr. Mayfield? The sooner it's over, the better."

MAYFIELD: "Of course you know that I must warn you that anything you say might be used against you."

BOB: "I've got nothing to hide, Mr. Mayfield. Not one single thing."

We had to admire his confidence. There was nothing false about it. He said the words simply and straightforwardly-as if he really believed them. As if he didn't have anything to hide....

MAYFIELD: "Let's go back away, Mr. Phaelan. You've been in trouble belore."

BOB: "Trouble? What kind ol trouble?'"

MAYFIELD: "You've been named as correspondent in several divorce cases. Then there's that girl who committed suicide last year ... that pregnant girl...."

BOB: "Let's get down to cases, Mr. Mayfield. You're inferring that I was the father ol her unborn child, aren't you?"

MAYFIELD: "Girls have been known to kill themselves over less."

BOB: "I suppose so. There's only one thing that you haven't mentioned about her."

MAYFIELD: "What's that?"

BOB: "That there are probably ten other guys ill this town-that I know of-that also could have been the father of that child."

MAYFIELD: "Can you prove that?" BOB: "Would it do any good?"

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean?"

BOB: "That as far as everybody is concerned, I'm guilty. I'm the one to blame because she committed suicide."

MAYFIELD: "And why do you say that?"

BOB: "Because I've got a reputation with women, that's why. I'm the guy they can't wait to get into the sack with ... I'm the guy who'd do anything just to make a broad. That's why."

MAYFIELD: "And isn't it true?"

He didn't answer the investigator. Merely rolled over onto his side and propped his head in his hand while he poked an elbow into the cushion. Then he have him a look of disgust. Of complete and utter disgust....

MAYFIELD: "How about those divorce cases? You're not denying your association with those women, are you? Or your implication? You can't say that you didn't break up those two marriages.

BOB: "Mr. Mayfield, those marriages were broken up before I ever met those women. The fact that they were still living together-still pretending that everything was hunky-dory, doesn't change the facts. And the facts were that die only reason they stayed together was because it was more convenient than going and getting a divorce. The facts were that nothing would have happened if I hadn't come along and loused things up by telling them all what I thought of them. You might not believe this, Mr. Mayfield, but I used to pick those women up right in their homes-while their husbands were there. The question is, not why did I do what I did, but why did they let me?"

MAYFIELD: "I'm afraid that there are many people who don't agree with your code of morals, or ethics."

BOB: "I won't dispute that. But that doesn't change things, does it?"

MAYFIELD: "Are you trying to convince me that it was the husbands who were wrong and not you? That they were at fault for what you did!"

BOB: "I'm not trying to convince you of anything, Mr. Mayfield. I'm just trying to tell you what I think, that's all. The fact that you might disagree doesn't mean that you're one hundred percent correct, does it?"

MAYFIELD: "Look, I don't know how we got off onto this tack-let's get back to the questioning."

It was easy to see that die investigator's normal confidence had been shaken. It wasn't merely the man's attitude, it was also that perhaps there might be some trudi to what he was saying....

MAYFIELD: "What do you attribute this reputation you have, to? I mean-I must confess you're not quite what I thought you'd be."

BOB: "That is surprising, isn't it? And by reputation, I assume you mean as a lady-killer. I don't know if you'll believe this or not, but I don't have anything to do with it....it's all made up.

MAYFIELD: "Made up! By who? And what for?"

BOB: "By women. I don't know how it got started, but some where along the line one of them said something to another about what kind of a lover I was. From there it got blown way out of proportion. And then-as far as I was concerned-the rest was easy."

MAYFIELD: "I don't follow you."

BOB: "Sure ... easy. I didn't have to do anything. They did all the work. I'm like a fad-what better way for a woman to acquire a reputation than to bed down with me. That's why I know them all so well....what they're like. It isn't me they're after-it's my reputation . ... they all want a piece of it. They all want it to rub off on them."

MAYFIELD: "But why should they want some thing like that?"

BOB: "I don't know about you, Mr. Mayfield, but most of us lead pretty boring lives. Nothing very exciting ever happens to anybody. You know the saying....'We lead lives of quiet desperation.'....I think it was Thoreau who said that.

He was right, you know. We all live like that. Waiting and watching for something great to happen to us. For a Prince or Princess Charming to come along. Or to make a million dollars. Or to become famous. That's what we're all looking for....for fate to tap us on our shoulders and lift us above the crowd. Only it never happens. We keep hoping, but it never happens. So then we start making it up. Start pretending that our dreams are our realities. And that's where I come in. I'm that extra something that women look for. And you know why I'm successful. ... because I don't give a damn, that's why. I could care less. Maybe that's another reason for my reputation-my attitude makes them want me even more. But in a way, Mr. Mayfield, I do them a service. I make their dull, quiet lives exciting for them. I give them a sparkle and a zest that they've forgotten. But as for me having a reputation as a ladies' man....if I do, it's because the ladies have made me that wav...."

MAYFIELD: "And how do you feel about it?"

BOB: "It's a fair exchange....I get what I want from them, and they get what they want from me. And nobody gets hurt."

MAYFIELD: "Nobody gets hurt! What about Gail Carmel? Mimi Towers? Wouldn't you say that they were hurt because of you?"

His laughter was a snicker of derision. Then he sat up, swinging his feet onto the floor. He studied Mayfield as if to determine whether or not the investigator was serious about his question. studied Mayfield as if to determine whether or not the investigator was serious about his question. Finally with a sigh, he went on....

BOB: "Mr. Mayfield, it might be hard for you to understand this, but as far as Gail Carmel is concerned, I never once told her I loved her. She knew what the score was....that our relationship was to be based strictly on kicks....as long as we enjoyed each other's company-had some good times together-got a little and gave a little to each other-then we had a good relationship. The fact that she fell in love with me....or claimed she did...."

MAYFIELD: "Claimed she did! Don't you believe she was in love with you?"

BOB: "I'm sure she thought she was in love ... but that doesn't make it so. Look at it this way, Gail was-and is-a very lonely girl. She needs someone. Anyone. And if a man comes along who treats her decently-makes her feel wanted-bolsters her confidence ... then she's going to think she's in love with him. I happened to be that guy. But she got as much as she gave...."

MAYFIELD: "Mr. Phaelan, that girl was a virgin before you got a hold of her!"

BOB: "What's that got to do with anything! Just because she's a virgin doesn't mean she has to have special treatment! Come off it, Mayfield, sooner or later she was bound to lose that virginity-why not to me?"

MAYFIELD: "But you turned her into a ... into a....."

BOB: "Are you trying to say I made her into a sex fiend? A nymphomaniac? I had nothing to do with Gad Carmel's sexual needs. Or her frustrations. She became whatever she became because it was always within her....I just brought it out, that's all. No, you're not going to make me the dirty guy who ruined her. Besides, she isn't ruined....for the first time in her life, she knows what it is to be a woman....to want and to staisfy those wants. Actually, I did her a favor by introducing her to sex....."

Mayfield didn't answer. If he had a rebuttal, he chose not to express it....

MAYFIELD: "All right ... what about Mimi Towers?"

BOB: "What about her? If you've talked to her, then you know what kind of a girl she is. I was right about her-only Mike is too blind to see that. If you're trying to say that I hurt Mimi, you're crazy! The only thing I hurt was her pride and her ego. She wanted to get in the sack with me and I wasn't buying it, that's all. When I finally did, it wasn't because I wanted her ... it was because I was trying to help Mike."

MAYFIELD: "Help Mike! How do you help someone by making love to his girlfriend! Mr. Phaelan, I'm afraid you have a strange set of values."

BOB: "Maybe so, but I'm not the one that's hurting. Seems to me that everybody else is except me. And I did help Mike-only he wouldn't accept the truth. Funny, when the truly hurts-when it's rough and dirty-people don't want to know about it-don't want to have anything to do with it. But that's not my fault. And as for Mimi Towers-she'll probably end up marrying Mike because in her own way she does love him. But there's one thing wrong...."

MAYFIELD: "What's that?"

BOB: "What happens when she gets hungry again? What happens when she meets a guy like me again? What happens if Mike can't satisfy her? I'll tell you what happens-and you know it's true-she'll shack up with someone. And she'll find a way to justify it ... her husband doesn't understand her ... she was bored....if he can't take care of her, she'll find someone who can ... oh yeah, she'll find an excuse. But there'll be one difference....this time she'll be married to him ... this time she'll be playing for keeps. What then, Mr. Detective? Will you defend her then? Will you ask me why I hurt her then? Come off it, face the facts for what they really are ... not what they look like!"

MAYFIELD: "And just what are the facts, Mr. Phaelan?"

He got off the sofa and began to pace back and forth in front of the investigator. He was marshalling his thoughts now-obviously pleased that he was being given the opportunity to express them. Finally, when he was ready, he stopped pacing and turned to face Mayfield. Hands on his hips, legs spread, he began to speak....

BOB: "Not what they seem, Mr. Mayfield-not what they seem. I know you're sitting there listening to me and trying not to judge me-but you can't help yourself, can you? And the way I live and the things I believe in are so alien to you that automatically I'm guilty. I'm the one in the wrong. You're a hypocrite, Mr. Mayfield-you and everyone like you. My crime is not in anything I've done-my crime is in being different. I don't fit into any of the nice neat compartments. None of the labels apply. And so you condemn me. And so I'm guilty. Even though you don't quite know what it is that I'm guilty of, I'm still guilty. And if need be, you'll find something for me to be guilty of."

MAYFIELD: "You seem to have forgotten all about that rape charge, Mr. Phaelan. I didn't find that-didn't make it up."

BOB: "See what I mean? As far as you're concerned, I'm guilty. Yet you haven't even heard my story. Did you ever think that the truth of that evening might be different than the story told?"

MAYFIELD: "There were witnesses, Mr. Phaelan."

BOB: "Witnesses to what? To what actually happened? Or to what they think happened? Or maybe to what they hoped happened?"

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean by that?"

BOB: "You know what I mean, Mr. Mayfield. There wasn't a single individual there who didn't have an axe to grind. Not one. Every one of them needed a fall guy for their own inadequacies-their own weaknesses and shortcomings. Why is it, Mr. Mayfield, that the weak hate the strong? Why is it, Mr. Mayfield, that the weak always sap the strong-take from them? Why is it, Mr. Mayfield, that if given the opportunity, the weak always try to destroy the strong?"

MAYFIELD: "Can't we stick to the subject, Mr. Phaelan?"

BOB: "But we are. Can't you see that?" The interview had reached an impasse and they both realized it.

BOB: "Why don't I make us some coffee?"

MAYFIELD: "Good idea. Give us both time to organize our thoughts."

BOB: "I don't need to organize my thoughts, Mr. Mayfield-but never mind about that."

We watched him as he went behind the small screen that separated what passed for a kitchen from the rest of the apartment. The sounds of water and of what he was doing, filtered back to us and Mayfield shook his head. It was obvious that he hadn't expect Bob Pahelan to be what he was-it was also obvious that he had never run into anyone like him before. And just for the moment, he had been thrown. Gradually his composure returned and by the tune Phaelan came back with the coffee cups, he was once again ready to resume the interrogation....

MAYFIELD: "Shall we continue, Mr. Phaelan?"

BOB: "Anytime you're ready. Where do you want to begin?"

Mayfield checked his notes and after nodding to himself as if in agreement with his thoughts, looked up and continued the questioning....

MAYFIELD: "Just how did you come to be invited to that party? I mean who actually invited you?"

BOB: "Ruth Stone."

MAYFIELD: "Ruth Stone! I didn't know that she was the one who invited you."

Bob: "Oh yeah-she called me."

MAYFIELD: "But I thought she didn't know you-or you her."

BOB: "You're right-we didn't know each other. Not even casually. Only by reputation. I knew about her and she knew about me."

MAYFIELD: "Oh. Just how did she go about inviting you?"

BOB: "Said that she was having a little gathering at house and would I like to come? That I knew everybody else-that it was really their idea for her to call me. And that it was time that we get to know each other."

MAYFIELD: "And what did you say?"

BOB: "Not much-except I agreed with her. I wanted to meet her. I had heard a lot about her....enough to make me want to meet her."

MAYFIELD: "What had you heard about Ruth Stone?"

BOB: "That she had the same reputation that I did ... she was a man-killer."

MAYFIELD: "But what about your other date?"

BOB: "What other date?"

MAYFIELD: "Didn't you make an appointment for eleven o'clock with some girl?"

BOB: "Oh that! No. I had to meet somebody on business. And it wasn't a girl. Besides, business before pleasure, you know."

MAYFIELD: "But why did you go to Ruth's house knowing that you might have to leave soon?

BOB: "I wanted to meet her. Is that so unusual? Besides, I had nothing else to do and if we hit off there was always another day...."

MAYFIELD: "What did you think when she called you?"

BOB: "Nothing. Girls have called me before. Why should I think anything out of the ordinary?"

MAYFIELD: "All right then-you went over to her house ... what then?"

BOB: "It took me about five minutes to see what the deal was."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean?"

BOB: "She was setting me up, that's what I mean."

MAYFIELD: "Setting you up? For what?"

BOB: "You've interviewed the others, haven't you?"

MAYFIELD: "Yes."

BOB: "If they told the truth, then I don't have to answer that question. You know what I mean."

MAYFIELD: "Okay-I just wanted to hear your version, that's all."

BOB: "Since you put it that way, I'll tell you my version-she was a hot-pants bitch who thought she was going to get even with me for all the things I've supposedly done to women! She was going to get me all worked up and then make a fool of me!"

MAYFIELD: "You could tell this?"

BOB: "Of course I could. Don't forget, I know women....I know when they're for real and when they're phony. I know when they want it-when they think they want it-and when they want you to think they want it. I even know when they want it even though they might not know it. And you know something, Mr. Mayfield ... Ruth Stone belonged to the latter category!"

MAYFIELD: "Are you telling me that in order to have an alibi?"

BOB: "Why don't you go on with your questioning and then answer that for yourself?"

MAYFIELD: "Okay. Tell me about the strip poker game."

BOB: "What is there to tell? You know what strip poker is."

MAYFIELD: "But I understand that there was something different about this game."

BOB: "Oh, you must mean that the girls stripped before the game ended. You know why they did that, don't you?"

MAYFIELD: "Why?"

BOB: "Because I was there-because they were going to show me what I might be missing."

MAYFIELD: "Even Ruth Stone?"

BOB: "Yeah-even Ruth Stone."

MAYFIELD: "But I understand she didn't take off all her clothes."

BOB: "Then you understood wrong. She took them off just long enough for me to get an idea. And that's all she had in mind-just to show me what she had to offer. Then she put her bra and panties back on....I guess she figured that she was being seductive."

MAYFIELD: "And was she?"

BOB: "How would you have reacted if a wel-lstacked girl took off her clothes in front of you? Let you see just enough of the merchandise to tempt you?"

MAYFIELD: "I wasn't there, Mr. Phaelan, you were. How did you react?"

BOB: "You want the truth, don't you?"

MAYFIELD: "You bet I do!"

BOB: "It was working out just the way I figured it would-just the way I planned it."

MAYFIELD: "What are you talking about?"

BOB: "I was doing the same thing to her that she was doing to me. Only in reverse."

MAYFIELD: "I don't understand."

BOB: "Let me explain then. Ruth Stone had a reputation. I knew what it was. And I knew why she was doing what she was doing. That's when I decided to teach her a lesson. You know something, most people use sex....wives hold out on husbands, giving in when they want something men use it to prove that they're men-some people use it to let off tensions. And Ruth Stone was going to use it to put me in my place. But very few people use it for what it really was intended to be used for. Because they love someone-and because that's the ultimate way of expressing that love. Or because it's a purely physical attraction and so why not go to bed? Well, when I realized what she was up to, I decided I was going to teach her a lesson."

MAYFIELD: "By raping her!"

BOB: "Of course not!"

His denial was so vehement that Mayfield's head snapped back. They glared at each other and the tension between them took on a razor-like edge. It was finally broken by Phaelan who leaned back and laughed nonchalantly....

BOB: "Look, Mr. Mayfield, why don't you listen to the rest of my story before you make up your mind?"

MAYFIELD: "Go ahead-I'm listening."

BOB: "Like I said-I knew what she was doing-or trying to do to me. And that's when I decided to teach her a lesson. And what better way then by using the same weapon that she was using against me?"

MAYFIELD: "What weapon?"

BOB: "Sex. That's what she was using, wasn't it? By her own admission. So what better way than to give it back to her?"

MAYFIELD: "I'm afraid I don't follow you."

BOB: "Let me put it this way-as good as she was at what she was doing, I was even better. I was better because I knew what she was trying to do and she didn't have the faintest idea of what I was up to. It was easy enough-just get her so worked up that she'd forget all about what she was trying to do to me. Get her so primed and ready that she'd have to have me....even though she didn't really want me. Yeah, I was using sex....I admit it. But there's no crime against that, is there? If there is, then you'd better round up half of the population!"

MAYFIELD: "I understand what you've told me, Mr. Phaelan-and it sounds logical. But you haven't convinced me."

BOB: "I told you before, Mr. Mayfield-I'm not trying to convince you of anything. I'm merely trying to tell you what happened that night. And why it happened."

MAYFIELD: "Why don't you go on with the rest of your story? Pick it up from right after the strip poker game."

BOB: "Sure-maybe that's the best way. Now let's see ... oh yeah, the girls were nude ... but that wasn't enough for them....they had to have the fellas that way, too. Mike and that other guy-what was his name ... Phil something or other ... that was okay with them ... why not? That's what they had come there for, wasn't it? To have a wild time? Well, they were getting their money's worth! It didn't take too long for them to pair up and then disappear into a bedroom. The way things were going, I'm surprised they all held out as long as they did! Talk about orgies....!"

MAYFIELD: "Never mind the gory details, Mr. Phaelan-I've heard them. Besides, I'm interested in what you and Ruth Stone did. As I see it, the two of you were now alone in the living room. Right?"

BOB: "Right."

MAYFIELD: "She was in her underthings and you were in your pants. How come you didn't get undressed, too?"

BOB: "Like I told you-I was going to do the same thing to her that she was doing to me. The idea is sometimes more exciting than the reality."

MAYFIELD: "What do you mean?"

BOB: "By keeping my pants on I kept Ruth Stone more interested than if I had stripped. I was doing the same thing to her that she was doing to me."

MAYFIELD: "Okay. Tell me what happened then."

BOB: "Well, let's see ... we were alone in the living room....we could hear what was going on in the other bedroom ... she was standing there in just her bra and panties ... me in my pants ... and up to that point, I hadn't touched her. I sensed that she was waiting for that-for me to kiss her-but I didn't. I just stood there ... smiling at her. ... looking at her as if she were fully clothed. Actually, it was a battle of wits ... of who was going to give in first. She lost."

MAYFIELD: "She lost?"

BOB: "Yeah-when she saw I wasn't going to do anything, she walked past me and went to her bedroom door."

MAYFIELD: "What did you do that?"

BOB: "Continued to stay where I was and while I watched her. Pretty soon that got on her nerves and she asked me what was wrong. I said that nothing was wrong-on the contrary, that everything was fine. That's when she invited me into die bedroom."

MAYFIELD: "How? What did she say?"

BOB: "She didn't do it with words. She opened the door and stepped aside-and then indicated with her head that I was to come in. I shrugged-as if I could care less-remember, I was trying to do to her exactly what she was trying to do to me-only I was reaching her and she wasn't reaching me-of course she didn't know that.. But she was beginning to steam....I went into the room and she closed the door behind ha and followed me. Then she sat down on the edge of the bed."

MAYFIELD: "Where were you?"

BOB: "At the foot, looking at her. We exchanged stares for a while and then, when she saw I wasn't about to do anything, she held out her arms to me."

"MAYFIELD: "And then?"

We moved forward to the edge of our seats while we waited for his description. Now we were getting down to the main course ... now we would hear his version of what had happened....

BOB: "I shook my head. 'No,' I said. 'Not like that.' She seemed confused by my answer-not only because it wasn't what she expected, but because she couldn't figure it out. 'How then?' she whispered. I leaned across the bed and put my fingers down in the front of her bra. I could feel her tense as I touched her flesh. Then I tugged and the material gave way. I flung the torn garment away and turned back....I had never seen a woman so ready before. You could see it in the way her lips trembled-the way she kept looking down at her naked breasts and then up at me-as if she didn't know what to do now....that it was all up to me. That's when I ripped her panties from her. She resisted-that was natural-but not enough to stop me. Besides, she didn't really want to stop me. It was just that she wasn't used to anything like this ... but I could tell that she loved it ... that I had been right ... I had done exactly the things that she wanted to have done to her...."

MAYFIELD: "How could you tell that?"

BOB: "Because-because she stretched out full-length on the bed and pulled me down to her. By that time she had my pants off. There we were-the two of us naked-pushing and straining against each other-knowing each other. And all the time it was an act with me. Finally she couldn't stand it any longer-she pushed me away from her and, on her back, surrendered."

MAYFIELD: "You mean you...."

BOB: "No, not yet. I wasn't ready to do that yet. Neither was she. Whether she realized it or not, she wasn't ready for me. But I made her ready. In spite of her reputation, she had a lot to learn about sex. I taught it to her. I opened her up as she obviously had never been opened before. And-and she loved it!"

MAYFIELD: "Loved it!"

BOB: "Yeah-loved it. She let herself go-she became wild-abandoned-wicked! Like no other woman I'd ever had."

MAYFIELD: "But she told me that she fought against you. Struggled with you."

BOB: "Of course she did. Because she couldn't stand what was happening to her. Ever see a woman caught up in passion, Mr. Mayfield? Really caught up? Well that's the way Ruth Stone was. Screaming. Pulling at me. Even scratching and tearing at my face and my arms. Because she couldn't stand what was happening to her."

MAYFIELD: "But the blood? What about that? And the bruises on her face? On her body? What about them?"

BOB: "She did that to herself. She didn't know what she was doing, she was so far gone. I-I guess the ecstasy was so great-so intense-that she lost all control of herself. I didn't hit her-she bit her lip....I didn't do anything to her, except make her want me so much that she didn't know what she was doing. She wouldn't let go of me-couldn't let go of me! I tell you something, Mr. Mayfield-if anybody was raped that night, it was me!"

Mayfield didn't know what to think. He took out his notebook and thumbed through it as if checking one story against the other. Finally, when it was obvious that there was nothing to gain from his notes, he turned back to Phaelan....

MAYFIELD: "But she was unconscious. What about that? Out cold for at least a half an hour."

BOB: "You never heard of anyone passing out because of the sexual act, Mr. Mayfield? Well, they do. And that's what happened to Ruth Stone. Sure, maybe I had something to do with it-and if you want to say I knocked her out, you'd be right-but that's all you'd be....right. You couldn't use it against me."

Mayfield was almost desperate now-as if he were clutching at straws....

MAYFIELD: "But you came running out of her room, veiling, T did it! I did it!' What else could that have been but a confession?"

BOB: "I have a confession to make to you, Mr. Mayfield. Maybe some of the pieces will tie together when I tell you the whole story. I'd heard a lot about Ruth Stone-the kind of a girl she was-the things she did to men-how she was. And I'd made up my mind even before we met that if I ever got the chance I was going to knock her down a few pegs....there was only one way of doing that-that was to give her such a going over sexually that she'd never forget it-that she'd holler 'Uncle!' Well, I guess I'd boasted about that to some of my friends and none of them believed I could do it. They all knew her too well. And that's what that telephone call was ... I had made a bet that before eleven o'clock I'd have made and parlayed her. My appointment was to either go and collect or pay-off. Now do you understand why I came out of her bedroom, yelling, "I did it! I did it!?' I had just won a bet-I had done what I had said I would do to Ruth Stone...."

Mayfield sighed and put away his notebook. He looked at Phaelan as if looking at a bug. Finally he spoke....

MAYFIELD: "Your story doesn't agree with Ruth Stone's, Mr. Phaelan."

BOB: "You didn't think it would, did you? You didn't think a girl like her would admit to what really happened, did you?"

MAYFIELD: "It's her word against yours."

BOB: "No. It's my word against hers."

MAYFIELD: '"Whose word do you think everybody will believe?"

BOB: "Hers. But I'll tell you what you ought to do if you re really interested in getting to the truth. Tell Ruth Stone exactly what I've told you. Every detail. You've got it down on tape, just play the tape back for her. And then ask her who's telling the truth. But you know something, Mr. Mayfield? Ruth really isn't lying. In her mind, it happened the way she thinks it did-the wav she told you. Because that's the way she felt....sure she was fighting ... struggling ... but what she doesn't know is that she wasn't fighting me ... she was fighting herself. But why don't you do what I suggest, Mr. Mayfield? You'll be able to tell then what the truth really is...." I Mayfield sighed and got up. From his reactions, it was obvious that he knew what the results would be if he had followed Bob Phaelan's suggestion. It was also obvious that he wasn't going to do it. At the door he turned and looked at the young man who was once again sprawled out on the sofa, his hands laced behind his neck and his shoeless feet propped up....

MAYFIELD: "You know something, Mr. Phaelan? There was a point that everybody was agreed upon-and no matter what you say, you can't change that."

BOB: "What's that?"

MAYFIELD: "That you're a no-good bastard."

BOB: "And what do you think, Mr. Mayfield?"

MAYFIELD: "That they're right, Mr. Phaelan....."

INTERVIEW SEVEN THE INVESTIGATOR: Mr. Mayfield

We were surprised when Mayfield agreed to talk to us. After all, the charges had been dropped. "Lack of evidence" was the official reason given to the newspapers. Why then would the investigator agree to an interview now that the case was closed? Our reasons for wanting one were simple: to find out what had actually happened....to put a close to the many hours of conversation....

It was about seven in the evening when we knocked on the front door of the tract house on the outskirts of town. A pretty girl welcomed us, saying that her father was expecting us and that he'd be right down....would we wait for him in the family room. And a few moments later, Mayfield appeared. He looked a little tired-and a little older-as he greeted us, nodding his approval as we set up the recorder. Finally everything was in readiness and the conversation began....

MAYFIELD: "I suppose you're here because you want to find out exactly what happened?"

INTERVIEWER: "That's right, Mr. May field."

MAYFIELD: "The charges were dropped. Insufficient evidence."

INTERVIEWER: "Do you think he was really guilty?"

MAYFIELD: "Do you mean do I think he actually raped her?"

INTERVIEWER: "That's right."

MAYFIELD: "No, I was convinced after hearing his version of what happened that he hadn't raped her."

INTERVIEWER: "And Miss Stone? How did she take it all?"

MAYFIELD: "She was prepared for it."

INTERVIEWER: "How?"

MAYFIELD: "I-I went to her with Phaelan's story. Told her what he had said."

INTERVIEWER: "Did she deny it?"

MAYFIELD: "I didn't give her a chance-I wanted to save her from that embarrassment. I merely told her that legally Phaelan was safe. That it would be his word against hers ... and that the other's were of no help-they didn't actually see anything. It was all circumstantial. And besides, a good lawyer would tear their testimony apart, knowing how they felt about him. So it was best that she forget the whole thing-there wasn't anything that anybody could do to Bob Phaelan."'

INTERVIEWER: "What do you mean....'do to Bob Phaelan' If he's innocent, why should anybody want to do anything to him?"

MAYFIELD: "Because-because he's a dangerous man, that's why!"

INTERVIEWER: "Dangerous? In what way?"

MAYFIELD: "Technically, he didn't rape that girl-there isn't a jury in the world that could convict him of it. But I know different. I know what he did to that girl. How he's changed her-hurt her. Just like he's changed and hurt all the others....Gail Carmel. ... Mimi Towers ... Mike Bixby ... Phil Swanton ... all of them have been hurt because of him....all of them are paying for what he believes. And what about the others....the girl who committed suicide....the divorce cases he's been mixed up in ... what about them! And who knows how many others he's hurt! And all because of the way he feels-the things he believes in!"

INTERVIEWER: "But-but isn't it possible that he's right? Alter all, he sounded pretty logical, didn't he?"

MAYFIELD: "How can something be right and hurt so many people? Ruin so many lives! I say no! I say he's a menace. A danger. Sure, I know that times have changed since I was a boy-his age-I know that there have been many changes in society-in their beliefs-their morals. But that doesn't make it right. Change isn't good of itself. Change for change's sake isn't enough. It has to be constructive. It mustn't hurt. What's the good of saving what people believe is wrong unless you have something to give them in return....something that will take its place? And Phaelan doesn't. He's a product of the times ... self-centered ... selfish....not caring about the effects that his acts have on others. So what is he's honest within himself with what he believes...? That doesn't leave room for others who happen to believe differently, does it? And what good is a man if he doesn't have room within himself for beliefs that differ from his! No, Robert Phaelan is guilt)'! Maybe not of rape, but of a hundred other crimes equally as bad. And he'll never be convicted of any of them. He contaminates! Makes rotten everyone he comes in contact with. And nothing will ever stop him. He'll go on doing it again and again ... and the innocent will suffer ... will pay for his crimes...."

We started to ask another question but were interrupted by the appearance of the pretty young girl in the doorway of the room....

MAYFIELD: "What is it, Dear? I'm very busy right now."

DAUGHTER: "I know that, Dad-I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you that my date's here and I'm going out. Please don't wait up for me."

MAYFIELD: "All right, Sweetheart. But don't be too late."

DAUGHTER: "Oh Dad, stop treating me like I'm a child!"

That's when we heard the voice behind the girl. We looked at her date. The man with the average face. Average height. Average everything. Except his expression ... No, the look on Bob Phaelan's face was far from average. It was almost diabolical....

PHAELAN: "That's right, Mr. Mayfield. Mary isn't a child anymore! You don't think I'd go out with a child, do you?"

MAYFIELD: "You! What are you doing here?"

PHALEAN: "I found out you had a daughter, Mr. Mayfield. And I wanted to meet her. That was pretty easy. Now I want to know what a daughter of yours would be like."

MAYFIELD: "No! I forbid it! I forbid it! you can't go out with him! I won't let you!"

That was the wrong thing to say. You could tell by the look of resistance that came into her face. By the way her body stiffened and tensed....

DAUGHER: "Now Dad, you can't stop me! I won't listen to you! I'm old enough to chose my own friends. You've got to stop treating me like a child."

PHAELAN: "That's right, Mr. Mayfield-Mary's grown up now. And you know something

....tonight she's going to find out just how grown up she really is....!"

Then they were gone. Before Mayfield could respond they were gaily swinging away from the door-the sound of their laughter echoing back to us. Then the only noise was the slamming of the front door behind them as they disappeared into the night....

Except for one single sob from the throat of the man in front of me as he sank back into the chair behind him, burying his face in his hands.

We left quietly, remembering the words he had said to us a short time ago....

EPILOGUE

From a newspaper a few days later....

Mr. Paul Mayfield confessed to the shooting of Bob Phaelan last night. Though no apparent motive was given for the brutal shotgun slaying, it is believed that Mr. Phaelan's attention to the young daughter of the former investigator had something to do with the crime....

THE END
Investigation Of A Rape ....(61k)    by Hal Kantor




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