“I’m afraid I don’t know his new address.”
“May I have the name of his parole officer, then?”
“He doesn’t have a parole officer.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“He got an unconditional release.”
“He was released unconditionally? From a sentence for murder? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“It’s rare, but it happens. Herbie was an outstanding prisoner, very helpful to the warden and me, and his psychiatric examination showed no likelihood of a repeat offense.”
“So you just cut him loose, and you’re hoping for the best?”
“That’s about it.”
“And you have no address for Mitteldorfer?”
“None at all; he’s as free as an eagle.”
“Thanks; sorry to trouble you.”
“No trouble at all,” Warkowski replied.
Stone could hear him laughing as he hung up. He returned to the car.
“Business all done?”
“Almost,” Stone said. He drove away from the prison and into the town, looking for something. It didn’t take him long to find it, and he drove into a parking place.
“I’ve got to run in here for a minute,” Stone said.
“Stone, darling, do you really feel an urgent need for stationery right now?”
“I won’t be a minute.” He got out and went into the store; the sign over the door read, WILHELM’S STATIONERS. A young woman was behind a counter near the door. “Good afternoon,” Stone said. “I wonder if I could speak to Mr. Wilhelm?”
“I’m afraid he’s out for a couple of hours, delivering,” the young woman said.
“Oh.” Stone turned to go, then stopped. “Did a man named Herbert Mitteldorfer used to buy supplies here for the prison?”
“Herbie? Oh, yes. He was one of our better customers. He and Mr. Wilhelm used to speak German to each other.”
“How often was he in here?” Stone asked.
“Oh, practically every single day, even when there was a lockdown at the prison.”
“He bought office supplies every day?”
“Oh, no, not really. At first, he’d come in to see Mr. Wilhelm, then he started working here.”
“He worked for Mr. Wilhelm?”
“Well, not for Mr. Wilhelm; Mr. Wilhelm rented him office space. He had a computer and everything.”
Stone blinked as he tried to get his mind around this. “Did you know he was released yesterday?”
“Oh, yes. Herbie came by to get his stuff and to say goodbye.”