ATDTDA (10): Like years ago, 269-270

[Paul Nightingale]

Deuce and Sloat discuss Lake in her absence; this reads like a stolen
moment, a brief respite. There is no indication of the setting; and the
subsequent passage indicates the end of a brief respite from being Webb's
killers. The "three-party household of dubious coziness" (269) has distanced
the reader from earlier events, "what seemed now like years ago" (270).
Deuce says they can "dig [Webb] up and see", to which the rep says: "Proper
identification might no longer be feasible."

To pursue their relationship Deuce and Lake have both had to suppress all
knowledge of what happened to Webb; now the rep considers the possibility
that nothing did happen to him. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.