"Eddie ... what happened ... to Eddie?"
Remembering her instructions from the FBI, the nurse turned to make certain the door was closed.
"Was Eddie in the trailer with you?" she asked, bending closer to catch his reply.
He gave her a look of utter disgust, and tried to moisten his cracked lips with the tip of his tongue. But he drifted off again without replying.
This incident was duly recorded in the FBI's growing dossier, along with another conversation that took place in the office of Wesley Browne at Pacific Electronics, Inc. After carefully reviewing John O'Hara Smith's work record, FBI agent Frank Cowles inquired:
"Is there anything—anything at all, Mr. Browne—that you would consider out of the ordinary about Smith's recent actions?"
There was a trace of uneasiness in Browne's manner, but he tried to cover it by looking annoyed.
"I don't know why in the devil you fellows are spending so much time on Smith!... He sure as hell didn't blow himself up!"
"Of course not," Cowles said, placatingly. "But we never know where a lead will come from...."
He repeated the question.