Harvey struck him on the forehead such a blow that the back on his skull thumped onto dirt and gravel before he knew he'd left his feet. It took a moment for him to figure out that the pressure applied to his chest was caused by Harvey's bootheel. He wasjust coherent enough after that to decipher the message delivered to him. "Leave town, or I'll take a ball-peen hammer to your skull. True story, pal; first and last warning you'll get from me." Then, the book lifted off his chest, and by the time Henry managed to sit upright, there was no sign of the estranged husband anywhere. He called our to Harvey anyway, pleading with the man to consider extenuating circumstances. "I can't leave town. "he shouted. "They stole my car."