Bird of Passage

At an annual Private Investigators' Association convention, a PIA Monthly magazine roving representative inquired of Carlyle Current, our hero -- better, the protagonist of The Bird of Passage: "In your experience, what do you feel drives fear into the minds of criminals?" After a prolonged, borderline boring period of concentration and some facial contortions, Current hesitatingly responded: "Uh, hunger? Maybe the loss of family or friends? How about being alone in a big new city? That's always difficult. What about being fired from. No, that wouldn't bother a criminal." Another extended pause, followed by a frown of annoyance. "Say, shouldn't you be asking criminals this question?" The correspondent terminated the interview at this juncture and later erased Current's statement from an otherwise usable tape. The author might well have taken this example to heart.