,,! ,,MILLION-DOLL> ,,TATTOO

             ,,E>L ,,EM]SON

              ,PUBLI%$ BY
     ,BALLANT9E ,BOOKS1 ,NEW ,YORK
          ,COPY"R ^C #AIIF BY
           ,E>L ,EM]SON1 ,9C4
  ,FUR!R REPRODUC;N OR 4TRIBU;N 9 O!R
  ?AN A SPECIALIZ$ =MAT IS PROHIBIT$4
  ,TRANSCRIP;N ( ,,ISBN #J-CDE-DJJFG-D

      ,TRANSCRIB$ 9 ,5GLI% ,BRL BY
             ,G9NY ,SPADONI
          ,"EGRE5 ,BRL ,S]VICE
           ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON

             ,9 #D ,VOLUMES
               ,VOLUME #B
        ,PAGES ;I-;IV & #AJA-BAB

          ,"U ! ,SPONSOR%IP (
 ,WA%+TON ,TALK+ ,BOOK @& ,BRL ,LIBR>Y
           ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON
                 #BJJI
                                     ;II
























          ,,SPECIAL ,,SYMBOLS       ;III
         ,,US$ ,,9 ,,? ,,VOLUME

^C "COPY"R SYMBOL
@& ,AMP]S&




















                                     ;IV
























     ,,! ,,MILLION-DOLL> ,,TATTOO   #AJA

                  #AA

  ,SE>*+ =A BREEZE1 ,I LEFT ! FRONT DOOR
OP5 & CRACK$ A W9D[ 9 ! BA?ROOM ( ,EL-
M]'S A"P;T1 : SMELL$ M/Y AF TWO "DS )\T
AN O3UPANT4 ,! ,,SPD _H D"O A ?OR\< JOB1
L1V+ A B>E MATTRESS 9 ! B$ROOM1 F+]PR9T
DU/ ON DOORKNOBS & C.T]S1 &A /RIP ( C>-
PET RAZOR$ \ (! B$ROOM FLOOR4 ,IF "! _H
BE5 O!R VISITORS1 !Y _HN'T LEFT CALL+
C>DS4
  ,! TAPE 9 ,SNAKE'S ANSW]+ MA*9E _H BE5
ON ! LI/ ( 3FISCAT$ ITEMS ,HALDEMAN _H
REMOV$ )! W>RANT ,TUES"D MORN+1 B :AT
,HALDEMAN _HN'T M5;N$ 9 8 REPORT 0 T
HE'D REPLAC$ ! TAPE )A BLANK1 UND\BT$LY
PLANN+ 6-E BACK & PICK UP MESSAGES1 OR
CALL = !M4
  ,ALR "! 7 SEV5 FRE% MESSAGES4 ,TWO 7
HANG-UPS4 ,"O 0 ,MRS4 ,MAGDANZ ASK+
,SNAKE 6GET 9 T\* ) H] :5 HE GOT BACK4
,"O 0 A WOMAN )A R\<1 HUSKY VOICE :O
DIDN'T ID5TIFY H]F B ASK$ ,SNAKE 6CALL
H]4 ,! LA/ ?REE 7 AL F A WOMAN4     #AJB
,! F/ TWO "TS %E CALL$1 %E SD1 8,HEL-
LOOOOO4 ,HELLOOOOO4 ,PICK UP IF Y'RE
"!40 ,X 0 H] ?IRD MESSAGE T BO!R$ ME4
8,"O ( \R NUMB]S IS MISS+4 ,WE'RE CALL+
Y AB "O ( \R NUMB]S4 ,HELLOOOOO4 ,PICK
UP40 ,SNAKE _H TOLD U ! ALI5 WOM5 EA* _H
A NUMB]1 & ,I HOP$ %E WASN'T ALLUD+ 6T1
2C IF %E WAS1 ,SNAKE _H PUT H] UP 6X1 &
Z F> Z ,I 0 3C]N$1 T WD 2 "O MA*9,N TOO
_M4
  ,9 ! KIT*5 AN ,5D.S ,LI<T ,MIS.N BRO-
*URE 0 MIX$ 9 )A /ACK ( TAKE-\ RE/AURANT
M5US4 ,?REE BLOCKS F \R (FICE 9 ,PIONE]
,SQU>E1 ! ,5D.S ,LI<T _H BE5 E/ABLI%$ =-
TY YE>S AGO BAS$ ON S\P1 SOAP1 & SALV,N1
& F$ A QUEUE ( M5 EA* EV5+ AT SIX O'C1
SUPPLY+ =TY-FIVE ( !M ) B$S4 ,Z F> Z ,I
KNEW1 !Y _HN'T _H A VACANT BUNK 9 FIVE
YE>S1 N EV5 ON W>M SUMM] NI<TS L ^! :5 !
WAT]FRONT (F]$ A HUNDR$ CU2YHOLES = IT9-
]ANT CAMP]S4
  ,! M5US "U ! BRO*URE SURPRIS$ ME3
,?AI1 ,VIETNAMESE1 ,JAPANESE4 ,SNAKE
TYPIC,Y ATE M1T-&-POTATOES ,,TV D9N]S OR
AT ,MEXICAN RE/AURANTS4             #AJC
  ,! PH"O RANG4 8,HELLO10 ,I SD4
  8,SNAKE8 ,IS T ''' :O IS ?80
  8,MY "N IS ,?OMAS ,BLACK4 ,I'M "W+ =
,ELM]'S ATTORNEY & ,I--0 ,%E HUNG UP4
  ,TWO M WOM5 CALL$1 "O :O MI<T H BE5 !
F/ CALL] TRY+ AG1 & ANO!R ^: VOICE ,I
?"\ ,I RECOGNIZ$ F ELSE":1 SORT (A WORN-
D[N S\!RN-BELLE ACT4 ,N"O ID5TIFI$ !MVS1
& ,ELM] DID N H CALL] ,,ID ON 8 PH"O1 :
SEEM$ ODD 6ME1 3SID]+ 8 P>ANOIA4
  ,I W5T BACK \ 6MY C> & BR"\ 9 A SMALL
TAPE RECORD]1 4COV]+ YET ANO!R MESSAGE
ON ! MA*9E ^U MY RETURN1 ? F A MAN "ND
,GEORGE1 :O SD HE 0 A NEPHEW ( ,ELM]'S &
WANT$ 6"K IF ,ELM] NE$$ LEGAL C\NSEL4
,AF RECORD+ ALL ! MESSAGES ONTO MY TAPE1
,I RESET ! ANSW]+ MA*9E1 CLOS$ ! FRONT
DOOR1 OP5$ ! DRAPES1 SAT AT ! KIT*5 TA#1
& 2GAN WRIT+ UP MY NOTES F MY 9T]VIEWS T
MORN+4
  ,MAGDANZ'S ASSESS;T ( ,ELM] _HN'T BE5
4SIMIL> 6! O!R NEI<BORS'4 ,! TWO LADIES
WRIT+ ! BUTT]FLY BOOK LIV$ DIRECTLY NEXT
DOOR & 7 T]RIFI$ ( HM1 _H SE5 HM WALK+
>.D ! BREEZEWAY C>RY+ MY /U6$       #AJD
DOG1 ,ALFR$1 & B>K+ 9 TWO VOICES1 "O =
,ALFR$ & "O = HMF4 ,S"EAL "TS !Y'D SE5
HM /EP \ 6GET 8 MAIL )A PI/OL 9 8 H&4
,ONCE HE'D BE5 NAK$ EXCEPT = 8 BOOTS1 A
JOCK/RAP1 &! PI/OL4 ,!Y'D SE5 HM ) ELEC-
TRONIC 9/RU;TS !Y CDN'T EV5 GUESS ! USES
(4
  ,HE'D BE5 9 ! A"P;T EI<T MON?S1 & !Y
SD !Y'D N"E 2F WIT;S$ S* A PROCES.N (
FLOOZIES4 ,!Y _H 2LIEV$ ! ,AFRICAN-
,ASIAN WOMAN HE'D BE5 SEE+ LATELY 0 M
?AN A FLOOZY1 DI6]5T F 8 O!R 8DATES10
?\< !Y CDN'T PUT _! F+] ON :Y4
  ,WE'D SECUR$ ,ELM]'S LA/ ?REE MON?S (
PH"O RECORDS F ! PH"O -PANY YE/]"D1 & ,I
SAT & SORT$ !M1 "K+ ,I MI<T 2 =C$ 6PUT A
"N ON E NUMB]4 ,I'D ALR ID5TIFI$ ! LI-
ON'S %>E US+ A PH"O REGI/] ,SNAKE _H
LEFT 9 8 -PUT]4 ,HE'D CALL$ ! ,SMI?SONI-
AN 9 ,WA%+TON1 ,D4,C41 EI<T "TS DUR+ !
PA/ MON?1 "O (! CALLS LA/+ =TY M9UTES4
,ON ! "D (! MURD] HE'D PHON$ ! SCI;E DE-
"P;T AT ! ,UNIV]S;Y ( ,COLORADO & 0 ON !
L9E TW5TY-TWO M9UTES4
  ,Z ,I /UDI$ ! PH"O BILLS1 A MAN   #AJE
C>RY+ A B$ROLL &A SMALL PACK %U6L$ PA/ !
PICTURE W9D[1 LOOK+ DIRECTLY AT ME =A
MO;T4 ,I OP5$ ! DOOR & CALL$ \4 8,HEY80
  ,HE 0 ALM Z ?9 Z ! CADAV]1 ,MAGDANZ1 &
IF HE'D BE5 A WOMAN1 Y WD H SD HE 0 ANO-
REXIC4 8,ME80 HE SQU1K$4 ,EV5 9 /OCK+
FEET ,I 9TIMIDAT$ HM4 ,HE 0 ALM SIX FEET
B WEI<$ MAYBE =TY OR =TY-FIVE P.DS LESS
?AN ,I DID4
  8,Y -E 6SEE ,ELM]80 ,I SD4
  8,SNAKE8 ,I M1N ,MR4 ,SLEZAK8 ,YES4
,T'S :O ,I CAME 6SEE4 ,B ,I DON'T WANT
6BO!R ANYBODY4 ,I'LL -E BACK "S O!R "T40
  8,Y ,B>B]80
  ,": MO/ P WD H TAK5 A /EP =W>D1 HE
TOOK A T5TATIVE /EP BACKW>D4 8,YES40
  8,-E ON IN40 ,I TURN$ MY BACK ON HM TO
HELP EASE 8 ANXIETY1 W5T 96! KIT*51 RUM-
MAG$ "? ! CUPBO>DS1 & CAME UP )A PACKAGE
( SPA<ETTI1 A J> ( SAUCE1 "S CANN$ MU%-
ROOMS & BLACK OLIVES1 & AN ONION1 /ACK+
! BOOTY ON ! C.T]TOP4 ,I PASS$ UP !
GRE5I%-LOOK+ SAUSAGES ,I F.D 9 ! REFRIG-
]ATOR4 ,X TOOK A FEW SECONDS 2F HE D>K5$
! DOORWAY1 LOOK+ L A KID ON 8 F/    #AJF
TRIP 6! DOCTOR4
  8,I 0 ''' ,I 0 WOND]+ IF ,ELM] 0 >.D40
  8,-E ON IN4 ,Y HUNGRY80
  8,N M*40
  8,X'S ALM LUN*"T1 S ,I'M GO+ 6COOK UP
A MESS ( SPA<ETTI4 ,I NE$ "SBODY 6HELP
ME EAT X4 ,Y GOT "T80
  8,WELL1 SURE1 Y1H1 ,I GUESS40
  ,HE MOV$ & SPOKE L A MAN :O'D BE5 PU%$
>.D & _H SUBSEQU5TLY LE>N$ 6MAKE HMF
LOOK H>M.S & 9VISI#4 ,HE _H FAIR SK91
W9"S1 CORNFL[]-BLUE EYES1 & :ITE HAIR
SWEPT BACK 9 A CUT WOR?Y (A CORPORATE
EXECUTIVE4 ,8 DIC;N & MANN]S 7 IMPE3A#
&1 Z DID MO/ /REET P1 HE WORE TOO _M
CLO!S =! W1!R3 A W9T] COAT1 A SPORT COAT
"U T1 A RUMPL$ DRESS %IRT1 TWO ;,T-%IRTS
T ,I CD SEE4 ,8 BODY 0 A HUMAN CLO!S
RACK4
  8,G AH1D & WA% UP4 ,! BA?ROOM'S BACK
"!40
  8,Y SURE X'S ALL "R80
  8,NO PRO#MO1 PAL4 ,I C'T EAT ? M*10 ,I
SD1 PUNCTUR+ ! SPA<ETTI PACKAGE )A
KNIFE4 ,HE LOOK$ $UCAT$1 REM9D$     #AJG
ME ( ,JOHN ,UPDIKE1 8 FACE A TAD P9K ":
! SUN _H GOTT5 6X4 ,0! "T HE CAME BACK1
! WAT] 0 BOIL+ & ,I 0 DROPP+ A H&;L (
DRY SPA<ETTI 96X4 ,! SAUCE 0 SIMM]+4 ,I
LOOK$ >.D = VEGETA#S OR BR1D1 B F.D N"O4
  8,I'M UH1 UH1 RE,Y "H ''' 6SEE
,SNAKE10 HE SD4 8,M1DE ,B>B]40 ,HE /UCK
8 H& \4 ,I TOOK X & TRI$ N 6BR1K ANY
B"OS4 ,HE _H T LOOK4
  8,?OMAS ,BLACK4 ,I'M "W+ = ,SNAKE'S
ATTORNEY4 ,MAYBE Y HAV5'T HE>D4 ,SNAKE'S
9 JAIL40
  ,! NEWS KNOCK$ HM 96! *AIR ,I'D BE5
US+ AT ! TA#4 8,HE IS80
  8,"H4 ,LET ME CLE> ? /UFF (F40 ,I
PICK$ UP ! PH"O RECORDS & MY NOTES & PUT
!M ON "O (! O!R *AIRS4 8,A WOMAN 0 KILL$
"H ,MON"D NI<T4 ,! POLICE ?9K ,ELM] DID
X40
  8,"H80
  8,N "H AT ! TA#4 ,9 ! O!R ROOM40
  8,HOLY %IT40 ,B>B] FELL 96A ?\S&-Y>D
/>E Z IF HE 0 A MAN :O FELL 96X (T54
  8,Y OKAY80
  8,Y1H4 ,SURE4 ,B HE SEEM$ L S*    #AJH
AN H"O/ GUY4 ,HE'S BE5 V GD 6ME4 ,I
DON'T ''' 2LIEVE HE CD H D"O T4 ,! PO-
LICE ?9K '''0
  8,!Y'VE *>G$ HM ) SECOND-DEGREE MUR-
D]40 ,I /EPP$ BACK 96! KIT*5 & /IRR$ !
SAUCE4 8,I HOPE Y L OLIVES40
  8,Y1H4 ,OH1 Y1H40
  8,H[ L;G H Y "KN ,SNAKE80
  8,I DON'T "K4 ,MAYBE A C\PLE ( MON?S4
,HE'S BE5 GD 6ME40
  8,Y1H1 HE'S L T40
  8,Y ?9K X WD D ANY GD IF "S ( 8 FRS
TALK$ 6! POLICE4 ,I M1N1 ,I'D 2 WILL+
TO--0
  8,WE'RE GO+ 6H 6SAVE ! "*-WIT;S /UFF =
! S5T5C+1 IF X -ES 6T4 ,SNAKE SD Y _HN'T
BE5 >.D =A :ILE40
  8,Y TALK$ AB ME80
  8,WE TALK$ AB "EY"O40
  8,I'VE BE5 BUSY LATELY40
  8,MAYBE Y CD HELP ME \40
  8,) LUN*80
  8,DEF5D+ ,SNAKE40 ,EV5 ?\< 8 SLI<TLY
WR9KL$1 SILKY SK9 MADE HM LOOK >.D
FIFTY1 8 LL-BOY ACT DIDN'T SEEM A   #AJI
BIT FAK$4 8,TELL ME :AT Y "K AB ,SNAKE'S
LIFE4 ,ANY FRS ( 8 Y'VE MET4 ,ANYBODY HE
TALK$ AB4 ,TELL ME H[ Y TWO CAME 6"K EA*
O!R40
  8,JESUS4 ,WE MET ON ! /REET4 ,HE CAME
UP ) "S M"OY & DECID$ WE %D EAT 9 !
,WE/LAKE ,MALL4 ,SNAKE IS "O ( ^? R>I-
TIES1 HE'S GOT T5 DOLL>S1 FIVE ( X'S
YRS40
  8,YES1 HE IS40 ,SNAKE 0 ANO!R P]SON
5TIRELY >.D ! W1L?Y1 ! >ROGANT1 OR ! P[-
];L1 B ,I DIDN'T SEE ANY PO9T 9 M5;N+ X4
8,S Y MET ON ! /REET80
  8,ACTU,Y WE 7 9 ! *[ L9E AT ! ,MIL-
LIONAIR ,CLUB4 ,WE J />T$ HANG+ >.D
TGR40
  8,SNAKE DRIVES A PRETTY NICE C> =A MAN
EAT+ AT ! ,MILLIONAIR ,CLUB40
  8,HE SD HE 0 A PRIVATE 9VE/IGATOR40
  8,HE TELL Y M* AB 8 JOB80
  8,I GUESS N40
  8,S :AT'D Y TALK AB80
  8,HE 0 HELP+ ME4 ,I'VE _H PRO#MS1 B
,I'M />T+ 6SEE A TURN>.D4 ,SNAKE 0 A BIG
"P ( T40                            #AAJ
  8,:AT K9D ( PRO#MS80
  8,TRY+ 6GET A JOB4 ,GET BACK ON MY
FEET4 ,:5 Y'RE ON ! /REET1 Y "K1 X'S H>D
6KEEP YR SELF-RESPECT4 ,HE LET ME %[] "H
A C\PLE ( "TS :5 ,I _H JOB 9T]VIEWS4 ,B
MO/LY HE LI/5$ & GAVE ADVICE4 ,ELM]'S A
FANTA/IC C\NSELOR4 ,I ?9K HE'S PRETTY M*
GOT MY LIFE /RAI<T5$ >.D40
  8,Y "E /AY "H80
  8,! F/ NI<T WE MET4 ,HE WANT$ 6"K ALL
AB ME4 ,E LL "PICUL>4 ,HE'S A R1L SYMPA-
!TIC LI/5]4 ,WE /AY$ UP TILL F\R TALK+1
!N HE LET ME CRA% ON ! C\*40 ,M1DE KEPT
TALK+ :ILE ,I F.D PLATES & DI%$ UP !
SPA<ETTI4 ,WE ATE2 HE TALK$4 ,HE TURN$ \
6BE RAV5\S1 T\*+ 8 M\? ) 8 NAPK9 EA* "T
HE SPOKE "? 8 FOOD UNTIL ,I ?"\ HE 0 GO+
6DRIVE ME NUTS4 8,SNAKE IS ! NICE/ MAN
,I'VE "E MET4 ,& ,I DON'T 2LIEVE HE
KILL$ ANY"O4 ,HE CDN'T4 ,SAY1 DID Y "K
HE GOT HIT 0LI<TN+ ONCE80
  8,:AT80
  8,WE 7 D[N 0! WAT]FRONT4 ,HE B"\ ME "S
ICE CR1M :ILE WE 7 FIGUR+ \ H[ 6GET MY
LIFE BACK TGR4 ,\ ON ! PI]4 ,X 0    #AAA
/ORM+1 S WE PROBABLY %DN'T H BE5 \4 ,!N
? LI<TN+ BOLT HIT HM4 ,KNOCK$ HM AB FIVE
FEET ONTO 8 BUTT4 ,I 0 "R NEXT 6HM4 ,X
CD H BE5 ME4 ,I CD H BE5 KILL$4 ,I "K T
S.DS SELFI%1 B ,I ALW ?9K ( HM Z 9DE-
/RUCTI#4 ,HE'S J S ''' ,I DON'T "K4 ,MA-
*O40
  8,:AT HAPP5$ AF ! LI<TN+ HIT HM80
  8,WELL1 HE GOT UP & />T$ LOOK+ = 8
%OES4 ,!Y 7 SMOK+4 ,"S LADY 9 A BOAT N
F> (F ! PI] M/ H SE5 X1 2C %E CALL$ #IAA
& !N !Y CAME 9 6SEE IF HE 0 ALL "R4 ,!
AID C> TOOK HM UP 6! HOSPITAL40
  8,:5 0 ALL ?80
  8,MAY4 ,A MON? AGO40
  ,I WOND]$ IF A LI<TN+ BOLT MI<T N H
BE5 ! CAUSE ( ,SNAKE'S FRI$ CIRCUITRY4
,! /RUCK-BY-LI<TN+ DEF5SE4 ,KA?Y WD MAKE
LEGAL HI/ORY4 8,TELL ME AB 8 GIRLFRS40
  8,:5 ,I SAW HM1 X 0 MO/LY J ME &
,SNAKE40
  8,Y N"E MET ANY ( !M80
  8,A C\PLE1 ,I DID40
  8,DID Y MEET H]80 ,I ASK$1 PULL+ A
COPY (! NEWSPAP] PHOTO ( ,MC-       #AAB
,FLEEGLE \ F MY PAP]S & LAY+ X ON ! TA#
2T U4
  ,HE /UDI$ X4 8,I 2LIEVE S4 ,NO4 ,I'M N
SURE4 ,UH1 ! ONLY "O ,I REMEMB] = SURE 0
''' ."! %E IS40
  ,/>+ AT U F ! W9D[ 0 ,DESIREE ,NA%4
,OBVI\SLY %E 0 ! WOMAN ,MAGDANZ CALL$ 8!
GIANT40
  8,DESIREE10 ,I :ISP]$4
  8,Y "K H]80 ,B>B] ASK$4
  8,DESIREE & ,I G WAY BACK40













                  #AB               #AAC

  ,2F ,I CD RESPOND 6,DESIREE'S L\D
KNOCK+1 %E 0 9 ! A"P;T4 8,BLACK1 Y BAS-
T>D4 ,:AT ! HELL >E Y DO+ "H80
  8,I CD ASK ! SAME "Q40
  8,CAME 6TALK 6MY OLD MAN40
  8,ELM]80
  8,": ! FUCK IS HE80
  8,Y & ,ELM]8 ,>E Y KI4+ ME80
  8,:AT IS ?8 .,OPRAH8 ,I CALL$ HM UP "O
"D4 ,WE W5T \ = BE] A FEW "TS4 ,N[ WE'RE
MAK+ HI/ORY TGR40
  ,%E LOOK$ AT ME \ ( EYES T 7 A DECEP-
TIVELY G5TLE BLUE1 ALM ! SAME BLUE Z H]
EX-HUSB&'S 2F ! /ATE HANG$ HM4 ,%E _HN'T
*ANG$ M*1 EXCEPT %E WASN'T WE>+ ! BIK]
REGALIA OR ! ,JOLLY ,ROG]S' COLORS4 ,%E
0 MY HEI<T B WEI<$ M2 _H A ?ICK TORSO2
L;G1 PIPE-/EM LEGS2 & BR1/S T "SBODY L
,ELM] WD IDOLIZE4 ,ELM] 0 FIVE-FIVE1 OR
"!ABS1 DEP5D+ ON H[ BADLY HE 0 LY+ T "D1
& %E 0 SIX-"O OR -TWO1 S !Y WD 2 A SI<T
TGR4 ,%E _H A L>GE1 FLAT FACE1 F\R E>R+S
9 "O E>4 ,BLACKI% LIP/ICK4 ,H] HAIR 0
DY$ BLACK & FELL 9 WET-LOOK+ R+-    #AAD
LETS >.D H] NECK4 ,%E WORE TI<T J1NS &A
TI<T] ;,T-%IRT ) WRIT+ ON X T ,I DIDN'T
H ! GUTS 6R1D4 ,H]S _H BE5 ! WORN-D[N
S\!RN-BELLE A35T T _H HUNG UP ON ME E>-
LI]4
  8,ELM]'S AWAY10 ,I SD4
  8,) "S :ORE80 ,/EPP+ T[>D ! B$ROOM1
,DESIREE SURVEY$ ! A"P;T4 8,":'D HE G80
  8,! ,K+ ,C.TY ,JAIL40
  8,Y PUTT+ ME ON1 SWEETHE>T80
  8,I WI% ,I W]E4 ,DON'T Y R1D ! PAP]S80
  8,NO "T4 ,I "W4 ,:AT'D HE D8 ,GET R\<
)A MET] MAID8 ,WEL% ON A BET ) 8 A3.T-
ANT80
  8,SECOND-DEGREE MURD]40
  ,IF %E 0 SURPRIS$1 %E 3C1L$ X WELL4 ,I
WANT$ 6ASK H] H[ %E 0 DO+1 ": %E 0 LIV+1
WANT$ 6DET]M9E H[ %E MI<T 2 9VOLV$1 2C
%E CD ?R[ ! CASE 96ANO!R DIM5.N4 8,/UPID
BUTTHOLE4 ,SECOND-DEGREE MURD]8 ,:O'D HE
(F80
  8,I'LL TELL Y ALL AB X1 B Y & ,I NE$
6SIT D[N & TALK40
  8,SURE4 ,SURE1 ,BLACK4 ,B ,I GOT MY C>
IDL9' \ "H 9 ! /REET40 ,%E GL.ED    #AAE
AT ,M1DE ,B>B]1 :O'D /OOD MEEKLY :5 %E'D
-E 9 & :O _HN'T SD A ^W2 !N %E />$ AT \R
LUN*1 AT ! PICTURE (! D1D WOMAN ON ! TA-
#4 8,I GOTTA MOVE X 2F "S GANG-BANG] DE-
CIDES 6SEE IF X'S GOT LI<T SPE$ ON !
GE>%IFT4 ,": D Y WANT 6MEET80
  8,Y GOT "T N[80
  8,SURE40
  8,H[ AB "H8 ,WE'RE AB F9I%$40
  8,SNAKE'D 2 PISS$4 ,"K ": ! ,MONKEY
IS80
  8,ON ,ROOSEVELT80
  8,SEE Y 9 TW5TY M9UTES40
  ,X 0 ONLY A FEW BLOCKS F MY H\SE1 & ,I
WOND]$ IF %E'D *OS5 X = T R1SON4 ,DESI-
REE _H EXPRESS$ A ROMANTIC--IF T'S ! ^W
--9T]E/ 9 ME A C\PLE ( "TS1 & ,I _H LL
R1SON 62LIEVE %E'D AB&ON$ T B5T4 ,2+
,SNAKE'S WOMAN WD MAKE LL DI6];E 6H]4
,SEX = ,DESIREE _H ALW BE5 L CIG>ETTES1
GUM1 OR M LIKELY1 9 H] CASE1 *EW+ TOBAC-
CO4 ,OP5 UP ! PACKAGE & PASS X >.D4 ,X
_H 6D ) H] LIFE HI/ORY1 H] "M'S 9FIDELI-
TIES1 H] [N E>LY SEDUC;N & SUBSEQU5T
ABUSE 0MALE RELATIVES1 & NUM]\S     #AAF
O!R FOOTPR9TS ON H] PSY*E1 : %E'D REV1L$
6ME "O NI<T :ILE %E 0 SURR.D+ BE] 9 A
MOTEL RE/AURANT 9 ,WALLA ,WALLA4
  ,AF %E LEFT1 ,M1DE ,B>B] SAT BACK D[N
& 2GAN EAT+ Z FA/ Z HE CD4 8,TAKE YR "T4
,X'S ONLY A TWO-M9UTE DRIVE10 ,I SD4
  8,I DON'T WANT 6BE 9 YR WAY40 ,HE PAT-
T$ 8 LIPS TIDILY ) 8 /-FOLD$ PAP] NAPK94
  8,": C ,I F9D Y IF ,I NE$ 6TALK 6Y
AG80
  ,M1DE LOOK$ UP1 FURR[S ( WORRY CR1S+ 8
BR[4 8,ME8 ,I GET MY MAIL AT ! ,5D.S
,LI<T4 ,MAYBE Y CD L1VE A NOTE "!40
  8,OKEYDOKE40
  ,/ EAT+1 ,M1DE SD1 8,I'M N S SURE
,SNAKE & T WOMAN 7 GETT+ AL;G40
  8,I WDN'T 2 SURPRIS$4 ,NEI "O ( !M'S
:AT Y'D CALL EASYGO+4 ,0! WAY1 ,SNAKE "E
TALK AB ,M>TIANS OR SPACEM5 OR ANY?+ L
T80
  8,WE MO/LY TALK$ AB MY LIFE4 ,GETT+ X
/RAI<T5$ \4 ,I C'T TELL Y H[ BAD ,I FEEL
AB HM 2+ 9 JAIL40
  8,DON'T WORRY AB X4 ,WE'LL GET HM \40
  ,I CL1N$ UP ! KIT*51 HA/ILY       #AAG
WA%$ \R DI%ES 9 ! S9K1 & GA!R$ UP ! MA-
T]IALS ,I'D BE5 /UDY+4 ,B>B] _H PUT 8
PACKSACK /RAP OV] "O %\LD]4 8,?ANK Y =!
M1L40
  ,I TUCK$ A TW5TY-DOLL> BILL 96HIS COAT
POCKET4 8,=! 9=M,N Y GAVE ME4 ,I'D (F]
6DROP Y "S": B '''0
  8,Y H 6MEET T WOMAN40
  8,"R4 ,TAKE C>E40
  ,FIVE M9UTES LAT]1 ,I DESCRIB$ ,DESI-
REE 6! B>T5D] AT ! ,MONKEY1 B HE ?"\ ,I
0 JOK+4 ,HE'D N"E SE5 OR HE>D ( H]4
,HOLD+ ON 6! UNLIKELY POSSIBIL;Y T %E
MI<T %[ UP /1 ,I FRITT]$ AWAY HALF AN
H\R 9 ! C>4
  ,I CALL$ A S\RCE AT ! PH"O -PANY1 :O
GAVE ME ,DESIREE'S A4RESS & UNLI/$ NUM-
B]1 3FIRM+ T %E 0 / US+ ! SUR"N ( ,NA%4
,CURI\SLY1 ,I'D BICYCL$ 6)9 A MILE ( H]
H\SE YE/]"D4
  ,JOHN ,C\LT] ,NA%1 H] EX1 _H BE5 !
9/RU;T ( \R 9ITIAL MEET+1 BACK :5 ,I'D
BE5 A "Y1 UNS1SON$ POLICE (FIC] "W+
,S1TTLE'S NOR? 5D4 ,I'D APPREH5D$ ,NA%
RUNN+ A /OP SIGN1 RUN 8 "N "? !     #AAH
-PUT]1 & 4COV]$ AN \T/&+ W>RANT = RO2]Y4
,:5 ,I'D SE>*$ HM = W1PONS1 HE'D DROPP$
A L5G? ( PIPE \ (A SLEEVE1 SWUNG X >.D1
& CLIPP$ MY %\LD]1 H>D4 ,HE'D BE5 AIM+ =
MY TEMPLE4 ,HE \TWEI<$ ME & _H A C]TA9
FLAIR = /REET FI<T+1 & Z WE TUSSL$1 ,I
2GAN 6?9K ,I 0 GO+ 6LOSE1 & T :5 ,I DID
LOSE1 HE WD KILL ME4 ,X 0 "O ( ?REE 9CI-
D5TS 9 MY %ORT POLICE C>E] T ,I'D ?"\
MI<T GET ME KILL$4 ,?\< ! SCU6LE O3URR$
ON ,NOR?EA/ ,EI<TIE?1 A BUSY 5 ?OR\<F>E1
& TRA6IC SL[$ 6WAT*1 NOBODY /OPP$4 ,EV5-
TU,Y ,I BROKE "O ( 8 E>DRUMS & ?REE ( 8
F+]S 9 A MANEUV] HE'D N 5C.T]$ 2F4 ,ON !
WAY 6! PREC9CT HE KEPT ASK+ ": ,I'D
LE>N$ X4 ,X _H BE5 A LUCKY MOVE1 B ,I
DIDN'T TELL HM T4
  ,YE>S LAT]1 L;G AF ,I'D LEFT ! ,,SPD1
& L;G AF HE'D G"O 6PRISON =! LA/ "T =A
TRIO ( BRUTAL MURD]S1 HE BE7$ ME 6DRIVE
6,EA/]N ,WA%+TON 6WIT;S 8 EXECU;N4
,ASIDE F 8 WIFE1 ,DESIREE1 ,I 0 ! ONLY
P]SON HE REQUE/$4 ,X 0 EASY 63JECTURE T
HE BLAM$ "S1 IF N ALL1 ( 8 PRO#MS ON ME
& KNEW 9TUITIVELY H[ UPSETT+ X WD   #AAI
2 = ME 6WAT* HM HANG & _H 9VIT$ ME 6WIT-
;S 8 5D Z AN ACT ( RETALI,N4
  ,DESIREE & ,I /AY$ AT ! SAME HOTEL1
O/5SIBLY S T ,I CD LOOK AF H] Z ,I _H
PROMIS$ ,NA% ,I WD1 B DEEP 9SIDE "S":1
,I'D _H A NA/Y FEEL+ HE'D TOLD H] 6SE-
DUCE ME & MURD] ME 9 MY SLEEP1 ?\< N M*
9 ! R1L _W "E 3FIRM$ MY P>ANOIA4 ,9 !
YE>S S9CE1 ,I'D RUN ACR H] S"EAL "TS1 &
,I N[ _H ! UNEASY NO;N %E'D 4COV]$ ,ELM]
"? "S?+ ,I _H 9ADV]T5TLY TOLD H]1 _H !
FEEL+ %E MI<T H LOOK$ HM UP 2C HE 0 MY
FR4
  ,:5 ,I GOT HOME T EV5+1 ,KA?Y H&$ ME A
REGI/]$ LR F ,,IGP ,SY/EMS4 ,"! 0 AL A
MESSAGE ON MY ANSW]+ MA*9E F !M4 ,! M"OY
(F] _H G"O UP4 ,=! F/ "T1 AN (FIC] (!
CORPOR,N 0 M5;N$1 A MAN "ND ,RAKUBIAN1 8
TITLE3 ,VICE ,PRESID5T 9 ,*>GE ( ,DOMES-
TIC ,A6AIRS--:AT"E T M1NT4 ,9T]E/+LY
5\<1 ! LRH1D ON ! PAP] 9DICAT$ APPROXI-
MATELY FIFTY -PANIES "U ,,IGP,''S FLAG1
"S ( : ,I RECOGNIZ$ & "S ( : ,I DID N4
  ,:ILE ,I PREP>$ SUPP]1 ,KA?Y SAT AT !
TA# 9 ! D9+ ROOM CASU,Y L1F+ "? !   #ABJ
EV5+ PAP]4 ,I TOLD H] AB ,SNAKE'S NEI<-
BORS1 AB ,M1DE ,B>B]1 ,DESIREE1 & ,MAG-
DANZ1 ! A"P;T [N]4
  8,DESIREE8 ,ISN'T %E T ,AMAZON BIK]
BABE :O KNOCK$ Y S5SE.S ) AN AL>M
CLOCK80
  8,X WASN'T S5SE.S EXACTLY4 ,& %E
DIDN'T--0
  8,H] & T O!R MOTORCYCLE MAMA4 ,BO? (
!M _H BODY ODOR TOO4 ,DIDN'T !Y WANT 6H
AN ORGY ) Y80
  8,I'M N SURE40
  8,0! WAY1 ,I TALK$ 6,ELM] AG TD4 ,HE
TRI$ 8 BE/ 6FILL ME 9 ON :AT .RE,Y HAP-
P5$40
  8,:AT .RE,Y HAPP5$80
  8,HE'S "P ( AN 9T]PLANET>Y BRE$+ PRO-
GRAM4 ,HE'S BE5 SELECT$ 6IMPREGNATE HUN-
DR$S ( ALI5 FEMALES 9 "S HUGE G5ETIC EX-
P]I;T DEVIS$ 6F9D ! "R POPUL,N BASE =A
PLANET !Y'RE COLONIZ+ AB TW5TY LI<T-YE>S
F "H4 ,HE SWE>S HE 0 HAV+ SEX ) VIRG9S F
? 9T]PLANET>Y BRE$+ PROGRAM1 DOZ5S (
!M40
  8,T'S PA!TIC40                    #ABA
  8,ISN'T X8 ,X'S EV5 WORSE ?AN YR FAN-
TASY AB A WOM5'S S(TBALL T1M40
  8,I N"E %D H M5;N$ T4 ,S :AT'S 8 EX-
PLAN,N =! D1D WOMAN80
  8,HE / DOESN'T H "O40
  8,! NEI<BORS SAY T =! LA/ FEW WEEKS
HE'S _H ONLY ! "O WOMAN UP "! AT 8
PLACE4 ,! D1D "O40
  8,T'S ! B1UTY ( ? "PICUL> DELU.N4
,SNAKE SAYS HE'S S]VIC$ TW5TY OR ?IRTY (
!M4 ,SAYS !Y'RE CL"OS4 ,!Y ALL LOOK
ALIKE4 ,EXACTLY ALIKE40
  8,BULL%IT40
  8,T'S :AT ,I SD40










                  #AC               #ABB

  ,DESIREE LIV$ ON ,AVON ,/REET 9 A SEC-
;N ( ,S\? ,S1TTLE CALL$ ,SKYWAY4 ,H]
H\SE SAT HALFWAY D[N ! D1D-5D /REET & 0
SMALL 5 T A RUNAWAY PICKUP TRUCK CD
ERASE X4 ,T5 OR FIFTE5 YE>S AGO "S HAP.S
PA9T] _H 2GUN SPR1D+ BLUE OV] ! TEA-BR[N
& !N AB&ON$ ! PROJECT1 & N[ X LOOK$ L A
HIDE\T =A GANG ( MOTORCYCLE \TLAWS1 :
CO9CID5T,Y 0 :AT ,DESIREE _H HUNG >.D )
:5 ,I KNEW H]1 A FLOCK ( NO-GDS "KN Z !
,JOLLY ,ROG]S1 MO/ ( :OM 7 9 PRISON N[ =
RUNN+ DRUGS4
  ,LY+ 9 ! BR[N GRASS & TALL ?I/LES 9
FRONT (! H\SE L RU/Y ALLIGATORS WAIT+ =
QU>RY 7 ?REE JUNK$ C>S4 ,9 FRONT (! D1D
C>S /OOD A B"R ORANGE ,CAM>O )A BLACK
AIR SCOOP ON ! HOOD1 WIDE SLICKS 9 !
RE>1 & 5 P9/RIP+ & *ROME & TAILPIPES TO
MAKE ANY GRADE-S*OOL BOY TURN 8 H1D4
,DESIREE'S C>4 ,A T>P T LOOK$ Z IF X
_HN'T BE5 MOV$ 9 A YE> 0 LUMP$ OV] AN
OBJECT AL;GSIDE ! H\SE1 ! ,H>LEY4 ,EX-
BIK]S N"E GOT RID (! HOG4
  ,I SNAPP$ MY CL1TS \ (! P$ALS &   #ABC
WALK$ MY TW5TY-P.D ,$DY ,M]CKX "? !
SPIKY GRASS 6! FRONT DOOR1 L1N$ X AG/ AN
5G9E BLOCK ON A TILT+ /&1 & KNOCK$4
  ,:5 %E F9,Y ANSW]$ ! DOOR1 X 0 PLA9 TO
SEE %E'D ONLY REC5TLY CLIMB$ \ ( B$1 EV5
?\< X 0 AF T5 O'C ON A ,FRI"D MORN+ &!
TEMP]ATURE 0 ALR BUMP+ EI<TY4
  8,BLACK4 ,Y BA/>D40
  8,T'S :AT Y SD YE/]"D40
  8,H['D Y F9D ME80
  8,I CALL$ YR PA/OR40
  8,-E ON IN4 ,Y WANT "S DECAF80
  8,NO ?ANKS40 ,"U A TATTY :ITE ROBE1 %E
WORE A P9K *I6ON A6AIR T LOOK$ L A LEFT-
OV] CO/UME F ! CIRCUS1 ALL ( X 5D+ AT
MID ?I<4 ,H] LEGS 7 B>E1 & )\T H] CU/OM-
>Y CAK$-ON MAKEUP1 H] FACE LOOK$ L A DE-
=E/$ HILLSIDE4 ,! H\SE 0 T9Y & MESSI]
?AN ! Y>D4 ,%E KNOCK$ A PYRAMID ( MAGA-
Z9ES & FEM99E HAIR-C>E PRODUCTS (F A
/RAI<T-BACK$ *AIR ONTO ! FLOOR & ASK$ ME
6SIT :ILE %E W5T 96! KIT*5 & RATTL$ UT5-
SILS4
  8,DALE10 %E SD4 8,? IS ,?OMAS ,BLACK4
,HE'S A PRIVATE PEEP]40 ,A "Y MAN   #ABD
:O DIDN'T LOOK TOO B"R & :O CDN'T H BE5
OLD] ?AN EI<TE51 MAYBE EV5 SIXTE51 POK$
8 H1D >.D ! KIT*5 CORN] &1 )\T A ^W1
CREPT PA/ ME 6! FRONT DOOR1 B>EFOOT1 C>-
RY+ %OES1 SOCKS1 &A %IRT1 SKULK+ \ L A
CAT CAU<T 9 ! NEI<BOR'S G>AGE4
  ,%E 5T]$ ! ROOM1 SET A CUP ( /1M+ LIQ-
UID ON ! HULL (A 4ASSEM#D MOTORCYCLE GAS
TANK1 & FLOPP$ ACR A S(A1 DANGL+ H] LEGS
OV] ! 5D1 >RANG+ H]F S %E CD WAT* ME4
,IF %E ?"\ H] LEGS 7 ALLUR+1 %E _H !
WR;G AUDI;E4 ,%E PICK$ UP H] CUP &
SIPP$4 8,S TELL ME1 PRETTY BOY4 ,H['D
,SNAKE -E 6H A WOMAN 9 8 ROOM80
  8,Y M1N A D1D WOMAN80
  8,A .WOMAN40
  8,Y'LL H 6ASK ,SNAKE4 ,DID Y "E MEET
H]80 ,I UNFOLD$ ! CIRCUL> ! COPS 7 PR9T+
9 ! PAP]S & HELD X UP4
  ,%E LOOK$ AT X =A FEW SECONDS4 8,T !
BIT* HE (F$80
  8,X'S ! WOMAN :O DI$ 9 8 A"P;T40
  8,I N"E SAW H]40
  8,H[ L;G H Y "KN ,ELM]80
  8,LI/5 6ME1 ,BLACK4 ,I'M TIR$1    #ABE
OKAY8 ,I WAIT TA#S UNTIL TWO & !N X
TAKES ME A :ILE 6UNW9D1 S Y GOT ME UP 9
L ! MI4LE (! NI<T = Y4 ,& !N "! 0
,DALE40
  8,BABYSITT+ =! NEI<BORS1 7 Y80
  8,N[1 DON'T G (F ON ,DALE4 ,HE'S ONLY
A KID40
  8,T 0 MY PO9T40
  8,HE LIVES UP ! /REET4 ,HE'S GOT A
SNI6LE BRA9 F GLUE & GASOL9E4 ,X'S FUNNY
2C ,I US$ 69HALE GASOL9E MY [N SELF40
  8,T .IS FUNNY40
  8,Y'RE J ! SAME OLD TI<T-ASS Y ALW
W]E1 >5'T Y80
  8,I SUPPOSE S4 ,:AT C Y TELL ME AB
,SNAKE8 ,0 HE ACT+ O4LY80
  8,X'S K9D ( H>D = ME 6TELL 2C HE'S BE5
ODD "E S9CE ,I'VE "KN HM40 ,%E SIPP$ AG
& C>E;LLY PLAC$ ! CUP BACK ON ! GAS
TANK4
  8,& H[ L;G HAS T BE580
  8,SIX MON?S4 ,HE 4APPE>$ A C\PLE ( "TS
9 "!4 ,MAYBE TWO WEEKS AT A POP4 ,I
DON'T "K IF HE ALW DOES T OR :AT40 ,%E
LOOK$ AT ME "Q+LY4                  #ABF
  8,I WDN'T ?9K S40
  8,I DIDN'T EI4 ,HE N"E WD TELL ME ":
HE W5T OR :AT HE 0 DO+4 ,X 0 TOO BAD1 2C
HE _H A HELL (A JOB & HE BLEW X4 ,BR++ 9
DAMN GD M"OY40
  8,,IGP ,SY/EMS80
  ,%E SNAPP$ H] F+]S4 8,Y1H4 ,T 0 X4
,,IGP4 ,HE US$ 6CALL X ,I-,GET-,PISS$4
,HE GOT SEV5 HUNDR$ DOLL>S ONCE = DELIV-
]+ AN 5VELOPE40
  8,WAS HE SEE+ A %R9K80
  8,"SBODY D[N ! HILL "H 9 ,R5TON4
,CLAIM$ X _H "S?+ 6D ) "O ( 8 CLI5TS1 B
HE'D BE5 HAV+ ALL SORTS ( PRO#MS 8 [N
SELF40
  8,TELL ME AB !M40
  8,= "O ?+ HE 0 RUNN9' >.D ON ME40
  8,RUNN+ >.D ON A GIRLFR IS N EXACTLY
ABNORMAL 2HAVIOR = ,ELM]40
  8,HE 0 AFRAID 6BE CLOSE4 ,8 MOM RAN \
ON !M4 ,DID Y "K T80
  8,YES40
  8,HE N"E WD EXPLA9 :Y HE GOT CANN$4 ,B
! ODD "P WAS1 HE /AY$ BUSY1 MAYBE BUSI]
?AN HE _H BE540                     #ABG
  8,DO+ :AT80
  8,"W+ ) W9OS4 ,WALK+ ! /REETS4 ,I
CDN'T FIGURE \ :AT ! HELL X 0 AB1 & HE
WDN'T TELL ME40
  8,Y "E SEE HM ) ANO!R WOMAN80
  8,J ONCE4 ,I FOLL[$ HM 6"S GAL'S H\SE
OV] 9 ,WE/ ,S1TTLE4 ,I 0 TEMPT$ 6G 9 &
LET !M BO? H X40 ,%E SLAMM$ A BALL$-UP
FI/ 96H] OP5 PALM4 8,B !N ,I SAW "S
KIDS' JUNK LAY+ >.D 9 H] Y>D & DECID$ TO
TALK 6HM LAT]4 ,I DON'T L MESS+ >.D :5
"!'S KIDS40
  8,EXCEPT = ,DALE40
  8,DON'T 2 PICK9' ON ,DALE4 ,HE'S GOT
ALM NO BRA9 LEFT40
  8,S.DS L ! P]FECT MAN = Y4 ,DID Y TALK
6,ELM] LAT]8 ,AB ? WOMAN80
  8,FUCK Y4 ,I TALK$ 6HM4 ,? 0 MAYBE '''
?REE WEEKS AGO4 ,H] "N 0 ,M>G]Y ,BILL+-
HAM4 ,F/ HE D5I$ GO+ OV] "!4 ,!N HE D5I$
HAV+ SEX ) H]4 ,*RI/4 ,I WAIT$ ?REE
H\RS4 ,SNAKE'S N CAPA# ( SP5D+ ?REE H\RS
)A WOMAN & .N HAV+ SEX ) H]4 ,S WE _H ?
BIG BL[\T4 ,I 0 J LOOK+ HM UP :5 ,I MET
Y YE/]"D40                          #ABH
  8,T'S ! F/ "T Y'D BE5 OV] "! 9 WEEKS80
  8,Y1H4 ,:AT'D Y ?9K8 ,I W5T OV] &
KILL$ 8 BIT*80
  8,"S?+ L T40
  8,Y "K ME BETT] ?AN T40
  8,I H>DLY "K Y AT ALL1 ,DESIREE40
  8,"K ?4 ,I WDN'T H LEFT HM RUNN+ >.D4
,I WDA KILL$ !M BO?40
  8,! H\SE 9 ,WE/ ,S1TTLE4 ,Y REMEMB] !
A4RESS80
  8,UP ON ,TW5TY-F/ ,S\?WE/1 UP 2H !
-MUN;Y COLLEGE40 ,%E GAVE ME ! A4RESS F
MEMORY1 & ,I WROTE X D[N4 8,HE PROBABLY
_H WOM5 ALL OV] T[N4 ,I J HAPP5$ 6CAT*
HM ) .? "PICUL> TRAMP4 ,Y "K1 N[ T ,I
?9K AB X1 HE DID ACT RE,Y WEIRD "O "T4
,HE CAME OV] SMELL+ ( X4 ,L ,I WASN'T
GO+ 6"K HE'D BE5 )A WOMAN4 ,I WD H BELT$
HM1 B HE 0 CRY+ & SAY+ ALL K9DS ( /UFF
DIDN'T MAKE S5SE4 ,HE SD 8 FACE 0 FALL+
(F4 ,WANT$ ME 6HOLD 8 E>S S !Y WDN'T FLY
AWAY & !N ,I _H 6C.T 8 F+]S4 ,SD .!Y 7
GO+ 6GIVE HM AN EXTRA F+]4 ,HE CRI$ =A
C\PLA H\RS4 ,I ?"\ HE 0 ON %IT1 B HE
SWORE HE WASN'T40                   #ABI
  8,Y SURE HE WASN'T80
  8,I N"E SAW ,SNAKE TAKE ANY %IT40
  8,Y "E TALK 6? ,M>G]Y ,BILL+HAM80
  8,L ,I SD1 ,I 3SID]$ GO+ OV] & BU/+ H]
UP1 B %E _H ^? KIDS4 ,I DID GIVE H] A
J+LE4 ,E "T ,I CALL$1 "O (! RUGRATS AN-
SW]$ & TOLD ME %E 0 AT "W4 ,AF ,I HE>D
^? LL VOICES 5 "TS1 ,I GAVE X UP4 ,I ALW
BE5 A SUCK] = KIDS1 ,BLACK4 ,2SS1 0T "T
,SNAKE & ,I 7 ON ! SKIDS40
  8,& Y'RE N N[80
  8,WE >E1 B ,I'M GO+ 6PAT* X UP40
  8,Y SURE Y N"E SAW ? WOMAN 9 ! FLI]80
  8,N"E40
  8,DID ,SNAKE "E TALK 6Y AB 2+S F
,,UFO,'S80
  8,HE & ,I US$ 6WAT* ^! MOVIES4 .,,ET4
..,PLAN ,N9E F ,\T] .,SPACE4 ,8 FAVORITE
0 ..,9VA.N (! ,BODY .,SNAT*]S4 ,HE EV5
_H OLD ,,TV EPISODES F .,! .,9VAD]S40
  8,HE "E TALK AB ANY ( X 2+ R1L80
  8,NO M ?AN ANYBODY ELSE4 ,:Y80
  8,IF HE WASN'T ON DRUGS1 & HE 0 SEE+ A
M5TAL H1L? PROFES.NAL1 & HE 0 HAV+
DELU.NS1 MAYBE HE ?"\ "S ( ? /UFF   #ACJ
0 R1L40
  8,M>TIANS80
  8,S.DS CRAZY1 "R80
  8,N ,SNAKE40
  ,I /OOD UP 6L1VE4 ,DESIREE ROLL$ (F !
C\* & GAVE A L;G1 SL[ LOOK AT MY GETUP1
A ,BANE/O T1M J]SEY1 ,LYCRA %ORTS1 CYCL+
%OES1 & GLOVES4 ,I 0 C>RY+ A ,GIRO HEL-
MET & SUNGLASSES4 8,:Y DIDN'T Y %[ UP AT
! ,MONKEY80
  8,HEY1 ! :OLE _W DOESN'T REVOLVE >.D
Y4 ,I H A LIFE1 Y "K40
  8,Y 7 N"E GO+ 6TALK 6ME1 7 Y80
  8,I TOLD Y4 ,I _H 6GET 6"W YE/]"D4 ,I
0 GO+ 6CALL ? AFN40 ,%E LOOK$ ME OV]4
8,-E ON1 ,BLACK4 ,Y C'T KEEP ME HANG+ ON
AB ,SNAKE & SPACEM54 ,:AT'S GO+ ON80
  8,Y ASK HM4 ,:5 Y F9D \1 TELL ME1 2C
,I DON'T H A CLUE4 ,0! WAY1 :AT"E HAPP5$
6,QUE5IE80
  8,MOV$ BACK 6,GEORGIA4 ,_H A KID A YE>
S9CE Y SAW H]4 ,SQUIRT9' EM \ L A GOAT4
,Y / ) T MALN\RI%$ BRUNETTE WE>S ! PA9T$
3TACT L5SES80
  8,%E DOESN'T WE> 3TACTS4 ,&       #ACA
YES4 ,I'M / ) H]4 ,WE'RE M>RI$40
  8,WELL1 HEY1 3GRATUL,NS4 ,M>RI$8 ,GEEZ
,L\ISE4 ,I N"E FIGUR$ Y =! M>RY9' K9D4
,-E ON OV] 6MAMA & ,I'LL GIVE Y A GRT
BIG HUG40 ,%E HELD \ H] >MS4 ,I /EPP$
T[>D ! DOOR4 8,JOHN ALW DID L Y40
  8,T'S :AT HE SD4 ,I N"E RE,Y 2LIEV$
HM40
  8,HE DID4 ,HE LIK$ Y40
  ,JOHN 0 H] EX1 ! MAN ^: EXECU;N WE'D
WIT;S$ TGR4 ,HE'D BE5 A MON/]4













                  #AD               #ACB

  ,X 0 LATE ,FRI"D 0! "T ,I GOT 6,WE/
,S1TTLE4
  ,4T.ED F ,S1TTLE PROP] 0! BAY &! ,DU-
WAMI% ,RIV]1 ,WE/ ,S1TTLE _H ! FEEL (A
SMALL T[N1 0 MO/LY H\S+1 S*OOLS1 RE/AU-
RANTS1 SMALL %OPS1 )A /EEL MILL AT !
BASE (! HILL (F ,DELRIDGE ,WAY4
  ,A GD POR;N ( MY AFN _H BE5 SP5T SORT+
! MAT]IALS ,I'D TAK5 F ,ELM]'S (FICE &
A"P;T1 "W+ ON 8 PH"O BILLS1 POR+ OV] !
..,DIAGNO/IC & ,/ATI/ICAL ,MANUAL ( ,M5-
TAL .,4ORD]S 6SEE :AT HE _H HI<LI<T$1 &
!N SP1K+ 6,ELL5 ,BURGESS1 ! PSY*OLOGI/1
:O ULTIMATELY REFUS$ 6SPECULATE4 ,! BOOK
0 ?OR\<LY M>K$ UP1 PROBABLY N ALL ( X BY
,ELM]1 S9CE HE'D /OL5 X F ! ,TACOMA
,PUBLIC ,LIBR>Y4
  ,Z ( ?REE-?IRTY T AFN ! POLICE / _HN'T
ID5TIFI$ ! D1D WOMAN4
  ,ELM]'S CELLUL>-PH"O BILL _H -E 9 !
MAIL T MORN+1 & X 9CLUD$ NUM]\S CALLS 6A
,WE/ ,S1TTLE NUMB] T MI<T H CO9CID$ )!
A4RESS ,DESIREE _H GIV5 ME4 ,:5 ,I
CROSS-*ECK$ 9 \R ;,,CD-ROM PH"O     #ACC
DIRECTORY1 ! "N T W5T )! NUMB] WASN'T
,M>G]Y ,BILL+HAM1 ?\<2 X 0 ,JO,ANNE
,B>B]--AT ! SAME A4RESS ,DESIREE _H GIV5
ME4 ,X 0 TYPICAL T %E'D >GU$ ) ,SNAKE AB
! WOMAN B ,SNAKE _H N CORRECT$ H] ON !
"N4 ,X TOOK ME A M9UTE 63NECT ! "N ,B>B]
6! HOME.S MAN ,I'D MET AT ,ELM]'S A"P;T
H\SE3 ,M1DE ,B>B]4
  ,TW5TY-F/ ,S\?WE/ RAN NOR? & S\? AL;G
! RIDGE (A SMALL1 WOODSY HILL OV] ,DEL-
RIDGE ,WAY4 ,X 0 A HI<1 TWO-LANE ROAD )A
GRAVEL %\LD]1 DOZ5S ( C>S P>K$ HELT]-
SKELT]1 & MODE/LY PRIC$ H\SES CR[D$ AL;G
EI SIDE4
  ,! A4RESS ,DESIREE _H FOLL[$ ,ELM] TO
0 A TWO-B$ROOM RAM#R ) AN OV]GR[N LAUREL
H$GE ON "O SIDE1 A RICKETY WOOD5 F;E ON
! O!R4 ,! RELATIVELY B>R5 Y>D 0 TYPICAL
( "S"O :O DIDN'T H "T 6D M ?AN POLICE !
LITT] & M[ ! GRASS4 ,"! 7 T5 OR TWELVE
WE$Y P]5NIALS1 N"O T _H BE5 PUT 9 REC5T-
LY4 ,A NEW PORTA# BASKETBALL HOOP SAT 9
! GRASS AL;GSIDE ! DRIVEWAY4 ,JUDG+ 0!
HEI<T1 ! PLAY] 9 ! FAMILY WASN'T M* OLD]
?AN TWELVE OR ?IRTE54               #ACD
  ,A FAD$ "N--,M>G]Y ,BILL+HAM--ON !
MAILBOX ACR ! /REET 0 :AT _H SPAWN$ ,DE-
SIREE'S BL"U4 ,AN OP5 C>PORT ATTA*$ 6!
H\SE 3TA9$ ?REE SAD-LOOK+ BICYCLES1 A
LAWN M[]1 A B>BECUE1 /OR$ SN[ TIRES1 & 5
EMPTY SPACE =A C>4
  ,A GU/ ( /ALE SUMM] H1T PU%$ \ (! H\SE
:5 ! BOY OP5$ ! DOOR4 ,HE TOLD ME 8 "N 0
,CORMICK & 3FIRM$ 8 "M'S "N 0 ,JO,ANNE
,B>B]1 SD %E WASN'T HOME F "W YET4
  8,:5 D Y ?9K %E'LL 2 IN80 ,I ASK$4
  8,MAYBE AF SEV540 ,X 0 ALR SIX-?IRTY4
  ,HE 0 A GD-LOOK+ BOY--%ORT1 BLOND1 >.D
?IRTE51 ) BLUE EYES & %ORT-CROPP$ HAIR T
%[$ (F A S]I\S C[LICK 9 FRONT4 ,HE WORE
BASKETBALL %OES1 NYLON %ORTS1 &A L>GE1
BLACK ,SA9T ,L\IS ,RAMS ;,T-%IRT4 ,HALF
COLLIE & HALF M;GREL1 A MUTT CAME 6!
DOOR 2H HM & EY$ ME4 ,2Y ,CORMICK 9 !
DOORWAY A "Y] BOY 0 ON 8 KNEES 9 FRONT (
A TELEVI.N SET4
  8,MAYBE ,I %D -E BACK & TALK 6YR "M
TM40
  8,%E "WS AT ,KM>T ON WEEK5DS40
  ,I WD H LEFT !N IF N =! NEWSPA-   #ACE
P] CLIPP+ & PHOTO ( ,ELM]'S D1D ALI5 AF-
FIX$ 6_! REFRIG]ATOR ) MAGNETS4
  ,I W5T \ 6! C> & ?"\ AB X4
  ,F ! LOOK (! KIT*5 !Y'D BE5 HOME AL"O
ALL "D2 MOM AT "W1 KEEP+ TABS ON !M BY
PH"O1 IF !Y 7 LUCKY4 ,9 "S WAYS X REM9D$
ME ( MY [N *ILDHOOD4
  ,:5 ,I *ECK$ ! (FICE = 9COM+ MESSAGES1
,I LE>N$ ,,IGP ,SY/EMS _H CALL$ AG4 ,P]-
SI/5T LL BU7]S4 ,2C ( ,ELM]'S 9VOLVE;T
,I _H DECID$ 6LE>N M AB !M1 B ,I KNEW !Y
W]5'T GO+ 6GET *ATTY IF ,I ASK$ ! WR;G
"QS4 ,9QUIRIES 3C]N+ ,ELM] WD 2 RELAT$
BACK 6! CASES HE'D "W$1 & _! ASSUMP;N1
P]H TRUE1 WD 2 T ,I 0 RUNN+ D[N "O ( ^?
CASES4 ,!Y WD N WANT T4
  ,! SEXY -PUT]-S.D+ VOICE ANSW]$ MY
CALL4 8,MR4 ,BLACK4 ,I'M S HAPPY WE F9,Y
MADE 3TACT4 ,WE'VE _H S _M FAVORA# -;TS
AB Y4 ,:5 C WE SEE Y80
  8,I 0 ?9K+ AB ,MON"D40
  8,MON"D'S A LL LATE = :AT WE _H 9 M9D4
,>?UR W 2 \ ( T[N ALL WEEK5D4 ,CD Y HOLD
=A MO;T80 ,I LI/5$ 6A /R+ 5SEM# = ALM
TWO M9UTES 2F %E CAME BACK ON !     #ACF
L9E4 8,C Y -E 9 ? EV5+8 ,>?UR W 2 "H UN-
TIL SEV5-?IRTY1 B !N HE HAS A PLANE TO
CAT*40
  8,SORRY4 ,I C'T MAKE X40
  8,? 9VOLVES A FAIR SUM ( M"OY1 ,MR4
,BLACK40 ,%E "ND A TRULY OBSC5E SUM &
LET ! G]M ( GRE$ SPR\T =A :ILE4 8,! JOB
IS = ? WEEK5D & TWO "DS "!AF40
  8,C'T MAKE X TN4 ,SORRY40 ,"! 0 A L;G1
PREGNANT PAUSE4 ,H] VOICE 0 *ILLY :5 %E
SD1 8,I GUESS X W H 6BE ,MON"D40 ,EV5
*ILLI] :5 %E A4$1 8,N9E O'C AT \R (FICE
9 ! ,M1NY ,T[]80
  8,S.DS F9E40
  8,SEE Y !N40
  ,IF !Y'D _H A JOB T WEEK5D1 !Y WD H
HIR$ "SBODY = X L;G 2F ,FRI"D AFN4
  ,:5 ,CORMICK CAME \ (! H\SE & 2GAN
%OOT+ HOOPS1 ,I ASK$ HM IF HE WANT$ TO
PLAY ,H-,O-,R-,S-,E4 ,HE WASN'T A BAD LL
%OOT] & B1T ME ?REE \ ( FIVE4 ,! SMALL]
BOY1 ,P[ELL1 GL.ED \ ! W9D[ F "T 6"T Z
WE DRIB#D ! BALL & MADE \R %OTS4 8,I NO-
TIC$ Y GOT A C\PLE ( FLAT TIRES ON YR
BIKES4 ,Y "K H[ 6FIX !M80           #ACG
  8,N RE,Y10 ,CORMICK SD1 B\NC+ ! BAS-
KETBALL SL[LY4
  8,Y GOT A PUMP8 ,I H A PAT* KIT 9 !
C>40
  8,SURE40
  ,X TOOK ONLY A FEW M9UTES A BIKE2 ?REE
BIKES1 "O = EA* (! BOYS &! LA/ = ,MOM4
,ALL ( !M _H FLATS4 ,P[ELL CAME \ 6WAT*1
B SD LL EXCEPT T ! BIKES _H BE5 \ ( COM-
MIS.N S9CE LA/ SUMM]4 ,I _H ! FEEL+ ,P[-
ELL R>ELY SD M*4 ,HE _H R$ HAIR & FRECK-
LES T _H BE5 BRONZ$ 96PAT*ES ON 8 FACE &
>MS4 ,HE TOLD ME HE 0 GO+ 96FIF? GRADE
NEXT YE>4 ,CORMICK 0 GO+ 96SEV5?4 ,AF WE
GOT ! :EELS BACK ON & SECUR$1 ! TIRES
PUMP$ 6PRESSURE1 WE OIL$ ! *A9S1 !N DIS-
CUSS$ *A9 T5.N1 S1T-HEI<T ADJU/;T1 & RE-
LAT$ TOPICS4
  ,:5 ! 3V]S,N DRI$ UP1 ,I HELD \ MY
DIRTY H&S & SD1 8,"! "SPLACE ,I C WA%
UP80
  ,! BOYS LOOK$ AT EA* O!R1 & ,I CD SEE
! H\SEHOLD DICTUM AG/ LETT+ /RANG]S
9SIDE 2G9N+ 6TOPPLE EV5 2F ,CORMICK MADE
! DECI.N4 8,WE H "S ,LAVA SOAP 9    #ACH
! KIT*54 ,! ONLY ?+ X DOESN'T "W TOO GD
ON IS PIT*40
  8,X "WS ON BIRD CRAP B N ON ,SUP]
,GLUE10 VOLUNTE]$ ,P[ELL BRAVELY4
  8,X'S GD 6"K T10 ,I SD1 SMIL+4
  ,SMELL+ ?OR\<LY ( DOG & BOY1 X 0 A
SMALL H\SE ) PA?WAYS WORN 96! C>PETS4
,"! 7 TWO BIRDCAGES ) CAN>IES 9 ! CORN]4
,P[ELL _H TURN$ (F ! ,,TV :5 HE CAME \1
S "! 0 ONLY ! NOISE F ! PANT+ M;GREL AT
MY HEELS4 ,! DOOR _H BE5 OP5 =A FEW M9-
UTES N[1 S ! H\SE 0 COOL]4 ,! COLD-WAT]
TAP _H A WA%] T NE$$ REPLAC+4
  8,Y "K T LADY80 ,I ASK$ ,CORMICK1
PO9T+ AT ! NEWSPAP] CLIPP+ /UCK 6!
REFRIG]ATOR )A HAPPY-FACE MAGNET4 ,P[ELL
_H TURN$ ! TELEVI.N BACK ON4
  8,N RE,Y4 ,MOM J PUT T UP40
  8,Y "K :Y80
  8,NO4 ,D Y80
  ,I SMIL$4 8,NO1 ,I DON'T40
  ,AL ON ! REFRIG]ATOR 7 TWO OP5 REPORT
C>DS &A C\PLE ( RECEIPTS = *N'S CLO?+4
,! OLD] BOY _H GOTT5 /RAI<T ,AS & GD
NOTICES 9 ! -;TS SEC;N4 ,P[ELL _H   #ACI
GOTT5 AN ;,A 9 >T1 B A"P F T1 MO/LY ,CS
& "O ;,D4 ,! CLO?+ _H ALL BE5 B"\ AT
B>GA9 /ORES4
  ,A H&MADE ,"F'S ,"D C>D ) GLU$-ON PHO-
TOS ( ,P[ELL & 8 OLD] BRO!R AL;GSIDE A
MAN 9 A BUSI;S SUIT _H CREPT1 PROBABLY
OV] A P]IOD ( WEEKS1 6A SPOT NE> ! BOT-
TOM (! REFRIG]ATOR DOOR4 ,! MAN 9 ! SUIT
0 ! MAN ,I'D LUN*$ ) YE/]"D1 ,M1DE ,B>-
B]4
  8,T YR DAD80 ,I ASK$1 LOOK+ AT ,COR-
MICK4
  ,HE NO4$4 8,WE US$ 6BE RI*4 ,WE _H A
H\SE )A SWIMM+ POOL4 ,I _H MY [N ,,ATV4
,WE CD SEE ,M.T ,RA9I] .& ,M.T ,BAK]4
,WE _H JET SKIS4 ,WE US$ 6SN[BO>D 9
,COLORADO40
  8,D Y MISS X80
  8,N RE,Y40
  ,I W5T \TSIDE & SAT ON ! /EP NE> !
FRONT DOOR4 ,CORMICK &! DOG CAME \ & SAT
2S ME4 ,X 0 ALM SEV5-?IRTY4 8,SEE YR DAD
M*80
  8,HE 0 SUPPOS$ 6-E OV] ON ,"F'S ,"D1 B
HE CDN'T MAKE X4 ,HE HAS 6TAKE !    #ADJ
BUS & !N WALK UP ! /AIRS F ,DELRIDGE1 &
8 LEG HURTS40
  8,:AT HAPP5$ 6HIS LEG80
  8,"S MAN :O US$ 6BE A COP B1T HM UP4
,DAD'S N A FI<T]4 ,HE TRI$ 6USE R1SON40
  8,I GUESS "S"TS R1SON DOESN'T "W40
  8,T'S :AT ,DAD SD40
  8,YR MOM & HM >E DIVORC$80
  8,LA/ YE>4 ,HE US$ 6VISIT E "D4 ,!N
"SBODY TOOK 8 C> & HE _H 6USE ! BUS4 ,:5
HE GETS 8 JOB BACK1 HE'S GO+ 6BUY A 3DO
D[N ON ,ALKI & H U OV] ON WEEK5DS40
  8,T'LL 2 NICE40
  ,A BR[N ,*EVROLET /,N WAGON CAME UP !
/REET & SWUNG 96! DRIVE1 COA/+ D[N !
SLI<T SLOPE 96! C>PORT1 ! MU6L] HANG+ L[
(F A WIRE4 ,! 5G9E DIESEL$ TWICE 2F X
DI$4
  ,H] %\LD]-L5G? BLONDE HAIR 0 FULL &1
AC 6! OLD] PHOTOGRAPHS 9 ! H\SE1 DY$4
,%E WORE A SKIRT & BL\SE & OP5-TO$ %OES
)A W$GE HEEL4 ,Z %E CLIMB$ \ (! C>1 !
DOG %[$ UP & LICK$ H] H&4 ,%E LOOK$ AT
ME ) GRAY EYES & RAIS$ EYEBR[S1 Z S\R A
LOOK Z ,I'D RCVD ALL "D4 ,CORMICK   #ADA
SD1 8,MOM1 ? IS ,MR4 ,BLACK4 ,HE'S A R1L
PRIVATE EYE40
  ,%E LOOK$ ME OV] WE>ILY4 8,Y A FR (
,MR4 ,SLEZAK'S80
  8,I'M "W+ = 8 ATTORNEY40
  8,I R1D AB HM 9 ! PAP]4 ,I DON'T "K
:AT Y WANT F ME40
  ,CORMICK _H OP5$ ! TAILGATE & 0 HAUL+
GROC]IES 96! H\SE4 ,:5 HE 0 \ ( E>%OT1
,I SD1 8,HE'S A GD KID40
  8,Y ?9K S80
  8,HE IS4 ,S'S ,P[ELL40
  ,%E LOOK$ AT ME CURI\SLY4 8,H[ L;G H Y
BE5 "H80
  8,AN H\R4 ,I HOPE Y DON'T M9D40
  8,I .D M9D40 ,%E GRA2$ A SACK ( GROC]-
IES4 8,I GUESS Y H 6D :AT Y H 6D40 ,) H]
FREE H& %E PICK$ UP A FLAT1 GR1SY BOX T
_H A PIZZA-COMPANY "N ON X & C>RI$ X 96!
H\SE1 L1V+ ! >OMA ( HOT *EESE & PEPP]ONI
9 H] WAKE4 ,CORMICK & ,P[ELL CAME \ &
C>RI$ ?REE M BAGS ( GROC]IES &A C>TON (
MILK 9SIDE4 ,I CLOS$ ! HAT* ON ! /,N
WAGON & WAIT$4 ,FIVE M9UTES LAT]
,JO,ANNE ,B>B] CAME \ 9 D5IM        #ADB
%ORTS1 AN OLD BL\SE1 & ?;GS T REV1L$
METICUL\SLY PA9T$ TOENAILS4






















                  #AE               #ADC

  8,:AT D Y WANT1 ,MR4 ,BLACK80
  ,%E CROSS$ H] >MS & REMA9$ ON ! /EP S
T H] EYES 7 NE>LY LEVEL ) M9E4 ,%E 0 A
TRIFLE PLUMP & _H PALE SK91 ! TYPE (
PUL*RITUD9\S FIGURE M5 WD H RAV$ AB TWO
HUNDR$ YE>S AGO :5 />V,N 0 A FREQU5T 5
CAUSE ( D1? 9 ! ,WE/]N _W4 ,%E WASN'T
PRETTY1 B %E 0 CUTE1 & H] -PLEXION 0
FLAW.S4 ,%E'D SCRU2$ H] FACE1 & DAMP T5-
DRILS ( HAIR CLUNG 6! FR+ES ( H] FACE4
,%E LOOK$ COOL] B NO M RELAX$ ?AN 2F4
  8,I DON'T WANT 6KEEP Y F D9N]10 ,I SD4
  8,B Y >E1 >5'T Y80
  8,I GUESS S4 ,ELM] ,SLEZAK CAME 6VISIT
Y A FEW WEEKS AGO40
  8,I R1D ": HE'S 9 JAIL40
  8,IS T :Y Y CUT ! >TICLE \80
  8,:AT >TICLE80
  8,! "O ON ! REFRIG]ATOR40
  8,OH1 T40 ,%E SEEM$ *AGR9$1 H] *EEKS
FLU%+4 8,! BOYS >5'T SUPPOS$ 6BE LETT+
ANYBODY 9 ! H\SE40
  8,CORMICK LET ME WA% UP40
  8,HE SD Y FIX$ _! BIKES4 ,?ANK    #ADD
Y4 ,S Y WANT 6"K AB ,SLEZAK8 ,:AT80
  8,:AT DID HE WANT F Y80
  ,%E CROSS$ H] >MS OV] H] *E/ AG4 8,MR4
,SLEZAK CAME S"EAL "TS />T+ AB TWO MON?S
AGO4 ,HE SD HE 0 9VE/IGAT+ "S?+ 3C]N+ MY
EX4 ,HE N"E 0 CLE> ON :AT4 ,I ASSUM$
,M1DE 0 9 ANO!R JAM4 ,I'M AFRAID ,I 0 9
A TALKATIVE FRAME ( M9D T F/ EV5+4 ,I
PROBABLY TOLD HM M AB \R DIVORCE ?AN ,I
%D H40
  8,DID HE PH"O Y LAT]80
  8,HE CAME BACK TWICE1 B HE N"E PHON$40
  8,CD Y *ECK )! BOYS8 ,MAYBE HE SPOKE
6!M ON ! PH"O40 ,%E /EPP$ 9SIDE ! H\SE &
ASK$ H] SONS1 :O 7 AT ! D9N] TA# 4MANTL+
! PIZZA W$GE 0W$GE4 ,!Y %OOK _! H1DS1
/R+S ( *EESE WE2$ (F _! *9S4 ,ELM]'S
CELLUL>-PH"O BILL _H BE5 LAC$ ) CALLS TO
H] NUMB]4
  8,Y M9D TELL+ ME :AT Y TOLD ,SLEZAK80
  8,IF Y'RE "W+ = ,MR4 ,SLEZAK'S ATTOR-
NEY1 :Y DON'T Y ASK ,SLEZAK80
  8,T'S A L;G /ORY40
  ,%E ?"\ AB T =A FEW MO;TS4 8,IS ,M1DE1
MY EX1 9 "S SORT ( TR\#8 ,2C ,EL-   #ADE
M] ASK$ AB HM40
  8,I DON'T "K YET40
  8,2C IF HE'S 9 TR\# AG1 ,I C R1DILY
2LIEVE T40
  8,H[ L;G H Y BE5 DIVORC$80
  8,A LL OV] A YE>4 ,WE'D BE5 SEP>AT$ (F
& ON ANO!R YE> 2F T4 ,9 FACT1 N[ T Y
ASK1 T 0 ! "T P]IOD ,MR4 ,SLEZAK SEEM$
MO/ 9T]E/$ IN4 ,! P]IOD >.D ! "T WE SEP-
>AT$40
  ,I NO4$4
  8,WE 7 M>RI$ TWELVE YE>S4 ,MY "F '''
,M1DE "W$ = MY "F1 B T DIDN'T "W \1 S HE
5D$ UP "W+ = V>I\S BUILD+-MA9T5.E -PA-
NIES4 ,HE 0 A VICE PRESID5T AT ! LA/ "O1
DO+ Q WELL4 ,2F T1 :5 HE 0 / "W+ = MY
"F1 "SBODY CALL$ "O EV5+ & ASK$ IF ,I
KNEW ": MY HUSB& WAS4 ,!Y SD HE 0 AT A
MOTEL ) "S WOMAN4 ,I DROVE "! & 0 ACR !
LOT :5 !Y CAME \4 ,!Y N"E SAW ME4 ,A
HALF H\R LAT] AT HOME :5 ,I 3FRONT$ HM
AB X1 HE D5I$ X4 ,I 0 2G9N+ 6?9K MAYBE
,I 0 GO+ CRAZY1 T ,I _HN'T ACTU,Y SE5
!M4 ,B !N HE BROKE D[N & TOLD ! TRU?4
  8,M1DE 0 ALW S* A SAP4 ,:5 ,I     #ADF
F/ MET HM1 ,I ?"\ HE 0 J A SUP] NICE
GUY4 ,B HE'S A SAP4 ,! BIMBO HE 0 RUNN+
>.D ) TALK$ HM 969VE/+ \R LIFE SAV+S 9 A
PYRAMID S*EME4 ,A ,PONZI S*EME !Y CALL$
X4 ,"S O!R P GOT CAU<T UP 9 X4 ,X 0 9
ALL ! PAP]S4 ,"EY?+ WE _H 9 ! _W1 9CLUD+
! H\SE1 : HE'D TAK5 A SECOND MORTGAGE
ON4
  8,I CD H LIV$ ) LOS+ X ALL4 ,I'D LO/
MY "M'S TRU/ FUND E>LI]4 ,HE KEPT TELL+
ME HE LOV$ ME &! *N & WANT$ 6MAKE X UP
6U4 ,!N HE LO/ ANO!R JOB "U CL\DY CIR-
CUM/.ES40
  8,C ,I ASK :AT ^? CIRCUM/.ES 5TAIL$80
  8,!Y CLAIM$ HE 0 SEXU,Y H>ASS+ 8 SEC-
RET>Y1 Z WELL Z ANO!R WOMAN 9 ! -PANY4
,HE SD HE WASN'T1 & ,I 2LIEV$ HM4 ,I
DON'T "K :Y4 ,!N AF ONLY A MON? ANO!R
\TFIT 9 T[N HIR$ HM AT A M* HI<] SAL>Y4
,! *IEF EXECUTIVE OV] "! A3US$ HM ( HA-
RASS+ 8 SECRET>Y1 :O1 AC 6,M1DE1 ! *IEF
EXECUTIVE _H BE5 SLEEP+ )4 ,I TOLD ,M1DE
6GET \40
  8,&80
  8,HE D5I$ X ALL1 ! WAY HE'D DE-   #ADG
NI$ X ALL :5 ,I CAU<T HM AT ! MOTEL1 SD
HE 0 GO+ 6F9D ANO!R JOB & MAKE X UP 6ME1
PAY X ALL BACK4 ,Y C SEE H[ M* HE'S PD
BACK4 ,EV5 * SUPPORT ONLY LA/$ TWO
MON?S4 ,WE LO/ ! H\SE1 ! CAB91 \R VEHI-
CLES1 L& 9VE/;TS1 ALL ( X4 ,I _H 6DCL
BANKRUPTCY4 ,/&+ 9 FRONT ( T JUDGE 0 !
MO/ HUMILIAT+ AFN ( MY LIFE4 ,& /1 ,I
WANT$ ! BOYS 6H A "F4 ,N[ HE DOESN'T EV5
VISIT40 ,%E *EW$ (F H] ^WS & FOLD$ H]
>MS1 ! FLE% BULG+ L PALE BALLOONS4
  8,Y "K ": HE'S BE5 /AY+80 ,I ASK$4
  8,I DON'T WANT 6"K4 ,IF HE DROPP$ (F !
FACE (! E>?1 X WDN'T BO!R ME "O LL BIT40
  8,H[ D Y R1* HM80
  8,I DON'T40
  ,%E GAVE ME ! "NS (! -PANIES H] HUSB&
_H "W$ =4 ,:5 ,I'D SPOK5 6,M1DE1 HE
_HN'T /RUCK ME Z EI A PLAYBOY OR A
:EEL]-D1L]1 & ,I SD Z M*4
  8,Y MET MY HUSB&80
  8,YE/]"D40
  ,%E TOOK A DEEP BR1?4 8,I "K4 ,HE
WASN'T A PLAYBOY4 ,N = ELEV5 &A HALF
YE>S1 ANYWAY4 ,8 TR\# 0 HE 0 S      #ADH
EASY 6L1D >.D 0! NOSE4 .,ANYBODY CD TALK
HM 96.ANY?+4 ,HE N"E _H A 4TRU/;L ?"\ 9
8 LIFE4 ,TN Y CD WALK UP 6HM & TAKE E
C5T HE'S GOT ) "S TRUMP$-UP /ORY40
  8,X'S PROBABLY N M*40
  8,X'S PROBABLY N .ANY?+40
  ,JO,ANNE />$ ACR ! /REET AT A YELL[
H\SE1 ": A WOMAN ) :ITE HAIR /OOD 9 !
W9D[ WAT*+ U4 ,JO,ANNE WAV$4 ,! WOMAN
WAV$ BACK4 8,I DON'T "K :AT HAPP5$ 6HM4
,HE />T$ (F Z S* AN ID1LI/4 ,:5 WE 7 F/
M>RI$1 8 DR1M 0 6WRITE SCI;E FIC;N NOV-
ELS4 ,HE WROTE E NI<T AF "W4 ,SP5T MO/ (
8 WEEK5DS WRIT+4 ,I ?"\ X 0 GRT4 ,:5
,CORMICK />T$ 6GET OLD]1 ,M1DE R1LIZ$ HE
0 GO+ 6H 6FOCUS ON E>N+ A LIV+4 ,ON !
FAMILY40
  8,S :AT DID ,SLEZAK SAY :5 HE CAME >.D
! SECOND "T80
  8,! SAME "QS1 BASIC,Y40
  8,Y N"E _H A P]SONAL REL,N%IP ) HM80
  ,H] EYES TI<T5$ D[N 96BLUE SCREW H1DS4
,%E LOOK$ AT ME H>D4 8,EV5 IF ,I _H1 ,I
WDN'T TELL Y4 ,& :AT MAKES Y ?9K ,I'D 2
9T]E/$ 9 AN OLD BAG ( B"OS L HM8    #ADI
,:AT MAKES Y ?9K ,I EV5 H "T =A MAN 9 MY
LIFE8 ,I B>ELY SEE MY KIDS40
  8,I WASN'T TRY+ 69SULT Y40
  8,Y DID A PRETTY FAIR JOB ( X40
  8,Z L;G Z WE'RE N FRS ANYMORE1 MAYBE
Y'LL TELL ME ! R1L R1SON Y CUT T PHOTO \
(! PAP]80
  8,I CUT X \ 2C X 0 H]40
  8,:O80
  8,! WOMAN ,M1DE 0 AT ! MOTEL )40
  8,>E Y SURE80
  8,YES40
  8,X _H 6BE AB1 :AT1 TWO YE>S AGO80
  8,DON'T TRY 6TELL ME ,I C'T REMEMB] T
F> BACK4 ,I'LL REMEMB] T WOMAN'S FACE
TWO YE>S AF ,I'M D1D40
  8,Y R1LIZE %E'S ! SAME WOMAN ,SLEZAK
HAS BE5 A3US$ ( MURD]+1 DON'T Y80
  8,SURE40
  8,H Y CALL$ ! AU?ORITIES80
  8,:Y %D ,I8 ,I DON'T H ! FA9TE/ IDEA
:O %E IS40
  8,M1DE DOES40
  8,I GUESS X'S POSSI# HE ASK$ = H] "N
:5 HE 0 SCREW+ H]40                 #AEJ
  8,DON'T Y ?9K X EXTRAORD9>Y YR HUSB& &
,SLEZAK 7 9VOLV$ )! SAME WOMAN80
  8,YES1 ,I D4 ,I DON'T "K :AT 6MAKE (
X4 ,EXCEPT MAYBE X _H "S?+ 6D ) ALL !
"QS ,MR4 ,SLEZAK 0 ASK+4 ,I N"E DID Q
"U/& ,SLEZAK'S PRECISE REL,N%IP 6,M1DE40
  8,MY IMPRES.N 0 T HE 0 TRY+ 6HELP40
  8,M1DE8 ,"EYBODY TRIES 6HELP ,M1DE4
,SOON] OR LAT] !Y R1LIZE X'S HOPE.S &
GIVE UP4 ,:AT8 ,:Y >E Y LOOK+ AT ME L T8
,Y DIDN'T GIVE HM M"OY1 DID Y8 ,8 S-
CALL$ FRS'LL H X (F HM 2F HE C SP5D A R$
C5T4 ,DID Y GIVE HM M"OY80
  8,N M*10 ,I LI$4










                  #AF               #AEA

  ,ON \R BACKS ON A BLANKET "U ! CRAB
APPLE TREE1 WE WAIT$ =! F/ /> 6W9K "? !
P5UMBRA RADIAT+ (F ! C;Y LI<TS4 ,X 0
N9E-?IRTY1 & ALR ,HORACE'S H\SE NEXT
DOOR 0 D>K & BUTTON$ UP4 ,A G5TLE BREEZE
PLAY$ ACR \R BODIES & HELD ! SUMM]
9SECTS AT BAY4 ,A FEW DOORS NOR? ( \R
Y>D A CADRE ( SMALL *N 7 GLEE;LLY PLAY+
HIDE-&-SEEK4 ,X 0 ,FRI"D NI<T4 ,X 0 SUM-
M]4 ,:AT CD G WR;G8
  8,?OMAS1 ,I _H A BIZ>RE EXP]I;E TD4 ,I
KNEW Y 7 GO+ 6BE LATE1 S ,I WALK$ D[N 6!
,SAFEWAY ON ,BROOKLYN4 ,6GET TACO %ELLS
& M SALSA40
  8,ALW A GD MOVE40
  8,?ANK Y4 ,ON ! WAY HOME AT ! CORN] (
,FIFTIE? & ,BROOKLYN A MAN &A WOMAN 7
FI<T+4 ,I %DN'T SAY .FI<T+ ACTU,Y1 2C X
0 M L HE 0 YELL+ AT H] & %AK+ H] 0! %\L-
D]S & %E 0 SIMPLY ABSORB+ X4 ,Y CD ACTU-
,Y HE> HM 9SIDE ! /ORE1 B ,I DIDN'T "K
:AT ! NOISE 0 UNTIL ,I GOT \TSIDE4 ,A
CR[D _H BUN*$ UP 9 ! P>K+ LOT 6WAT*1 B
NOBODY MOV$ 6HELP4 ,"! 0 ? 9]TIA    #AEB
T SEEM$ 6TAKE OV] "EY"O4 ,= J A SECOND
,I 2CAME "P ( X & X SC>$ ME40
  8,X'S A SELF-PROTECTIVE ME*ANISM10 ,I
SD4 8,Y H 6MAKE A DECI.N .N[1 B YR NAT-
URAL 9/9CTS >E "W+ AG/ A DECI.N T CD GET
Y HURT4 ,S Y FREEZE4 ,I REMEMB] :5 ,I 0
A COP ONCE -+ UP ON "S LL RUCKUS :5 ,I 0
(F-DUTY & R1LIZ+ T ,I 0 %AK+4 ,A LL
PISSANT HASSLE ,I NORM,Y H&L$ TWO OR
?REE "TS A %IFT )\T BL9K+4 ,X'S FUNNY1 B
J 2+ M5T,Y PREP>$ 6H&LE A SITU,N L T
MAKES ALL ! DI6];E 9 H[ Y REACT40
  8,I ?9K T'S TRUE4 ,2C (! WAY HE 0 MAN-
H&L+ H] &! WAY %E 0 /&+ NEXT 6! /REET1
,I 0 AFRAID HE WD %OVE H] 96TRA6IC4 ,Y
"K H[ FA/ !Y DRIVE ON ,FIFTIE?4 ,S HE'S
YELL+ AT H] & !N HE SLUGS H] 9 ! BELLY40
  8,H[ BIG 0 ? GUY80
  8,N S BIG4 ,HE 0 9 8 LATE =TIES1 ALL
WR9KL$ UP L HE'D BE5 LEFT \ 9 ! SUN S9CE
HE 0 TWO4 ,8 CLO!S 7 DIRTY1 & HE LOOK$
M1N Z A BULL 9 ! BLACKB]RIES4 ,F ! WAY
.%E 0 REACT+1 %E _H 6BE 8 WIFE OR 8 WOM-
AN OR :AT"E4 ,S ,I CROSS$ ! /REET & SD1
,8,HEY1 Y IGNORANT SON(ABIT*4 ,:Y   #AEC
DON'T Y PICK ON "SBODY YR [N SIZE80'
,WASN'T T MATURE ( ME8 ,I J CDN'T /& 0&
WAT*1 ?\<40
  8,Y %D 2 C>E;L4 ,Y'RE N EXACTLY A GI-
ANT4 ,MO/ P CD LEVEL Y )A GD BACKH&40
  8,I DON'T "K T .HE _H A GD BACKH&4
,HE'D ALR HIT H] TWO OR ?REE "TS & %E 0
/ /&+40
  8,I'M SURE %E'S _H M PRACTICE TAK+
PUN*ES ?AN Y4 ,:AT HAPP5$80
  8,HE H>DLY PD ANY ATT5;N 6ME4 ,=TU-
NATELY A POLICE C> HAPP5$ 6BE GO+ UP
,BROOKLYN & HE HIT H] AG :ILE !Y 7
WAT*+4 ,X TURN$ \ ^! TWO P 7 M>RI$ & _H
DRIV5 "H F ,T5;SEE & "SH[ %E'D LO/ _!
C>4 ,DON'T ASK ME H[4 ,%E TOLD ! COPS TO
LET HM G1 SD %E DES]V$ ,8A GD PA/E-
UP40'0
  8,:AT 7 Y PLANN+ IF ! POLICE _HN'T %[N
UP80
  8,I DON'T "K4 ,ON ! WAY HOME ,I R1LIZ$
HE CD H TURN$ AWAY F H] & PUN*$ ME40
  8,OR %OT Y4 ,P :O SLAP WOM5 >.D ON
CR[D$ /REET CORN]S G5],Y DON'T TAKE
DEROGATORY -;TS TOO K9DLY4          #AED
  8,S1 :AT WD Y H D"O 9 MY PLACE8 ,:AT
IF HE'D BE5 Z L>GE 9 -P>ISON 6Y Z MO/ M5
>E 9 -P>ISON 6ME8 ,!N :AT80
  8,Y M1N AB ?REE HUNDR$ P.DS80
  8,& Y KNEW IF Y /EPP$ IN1 HE WD N ONLY
PUT Y 9 ! HOSPITAL B HUMILIATE Y DO+ X8
,WD Y WAT* "S POOR WOMAN TAKE A B1T+8
,OR /EP 9 & TAKE ! B1T+ YRF80
  8,"S?+ L T'S ONLY HAPP5$ 6ME ONCE1 &
MY REAC;N / BO!RS ME4 ,X 0 T5 YE>S AGO40
  8,:AT 0 X80
  8,I WAIT$1 L ! BY/&]S 9 T P>K+ LOT4
,NOBODY GOT HURT1 B !Y CD H40
  8,& X / BO!RS Y80
  8,"S"TS40
  ,! TALE ( MY "D TOOK "S:AT L;G] ?AN H]
/ORY4 ,:5 ,I'D F9I%$1 %E SD1 8,S Y'RE
GO+ 69T]VIEW = ,,IGP ,SY/EMS8 ,Y GO+ TO
TELL !M :AT Y'RE RE,Y AF80
  8,I MI<T IF ,I KNEW :AT X WAS4 ,Y R1L-
IZE !Y W]5'T 9T]E/$ 9 ME UNTIL WE TOOK
ON ,ELM]80
  8,DON'T GET P>ANOID ON ME1 ,?OMAS40
  8,I'VE ALW BE5 P>ANOID4 ,X'S J T N[ P
>E FOLL[+ ME40                      #AEE
  8,M5 9 BLACK8 ,DW>FS80
  8,A C\PLA EX-GIRLFRS IS ALL40
  8,S :AT ELSE IS NEW8 ,H[ CURI\S T ?
,JO,ANNE ,B>B] SAYS ,ELM]'S D1D ALI5 0 !
WOMAN :O BROKE UP H] M>RIAGE40
  8,Y "K H[ FICKLE ! HUMAN MEMORY IS4
,:AT >E ! O4S %E WD REMEMB] A WOMAN F
TWO YE>S 2F1 EV5 IF X .0 ! WOMAN :O
BROKE UP H] M>RIAGE1 & REMEMB] H] WELL 5
6RECOGNIZE H] DRIV]'S-LIC5SE PHOTO AF
X'S BE5 REPRODUC$ 9 BLACK & :ITE 9 A
NEWSPAP]80
  8,SORRY1 BU/]1 ,I'D SAY AB A MILLION
6"O4 ,NO WOMAN'S GO+ 6=GET T4 ,! IMAGE
WD 2 9DELIBLY BURN$ 96H] MEMORY4 ,I WON-
D] :Y %E D5I$ GETT+ PH"O CALLS F ,SNAKE1
?\<4 ,Y H ! PH"O RECORDS1 "R8 ,TELL Y
:AT ,I ?9K4 ,I ?9K ,SNAKE MADE A PASS AT
H]4 ,I ?9K HE 0 CALL+ H] TRY+ 6GET 96H]
PANTS1 T OR !Y 7 HAV+ AN A6AIR & %E SAW
,SNAKE ) ,MC,FLEEGLE4 ,%E ,SNAKE'S
TYPE80
  8,E WOMAN IS ,SNAKE'S TYPE40
  8,I GUESS ,I %D H ASK$ IF ,SNAKE 0 H]
TYPE4 ,IF !Y 7 HAV+ AN A6AIR1       #AEF
%E'S A SUSPECT4 ,%E MI<T H 2COME J1L\S &
SN1K$ 96! A"P;T & KILL$ ,MC,FLEEGLE4
,SNAKE MAY H GIV5 H] A KEY1 : WD EXPLA9
! UNLOCK$ DOOR4 ,%E _H A P[];L 9C5TIVE
IF ,MC,FLEEGLE ACTU,Y DID RU9 H] M>RIAGE
) "O MAN & !N H] A6AIR ) ANO!R4 ,DESI-
REE'S A SUSPECT TOO4 ,& ALL ! O!R WOM5
,SNAKE "KS4 ,OR _H Y 3SID]$ T80
  8,I'VE BE5 3SID]+ X ALL "D4 ,B T PUTS
! SUSPECT LI/ 96! DOZ5S40
  8,": IS X )\T ALL ^? WOM580
  8,"O40
  8,ELM]80
  8,"R4 ,B Y "K8 ,DESIREE CD /RANGLE A
WOMAN ! SIZE ( ,MC,FLEEGLE "O-H&$4
,HELL1 %E CD /RANGLE .ME "O-H&$40
  8,I H A FEEL+ %E HAS O!R BUSI;S 9 M9D
= Y40






                  #AG               #AEG

  ,SATUR"D MORN+ ,I RCVD A TELEPH"O CALL
F A WOMAN :O WANT$ 6TALK AB ! H1T4 ,AF
AB A M9UTE ( LI/5+ 6H]1 ,I RECOGNIZ$ H]
VOICE4 8,MRS4 ,MAGDANZ4 ,H[ NICE 6HE> F
Y40
  8,AC 6? MORN+'S PAP]1 !Y / HAV5'T
3FIRM$ :O ! D1D WOMAN IS40
  8,YES1 ,I SAW T4 ,:AT C ,I D = Y80 ,I
0 HALF DRESS$ =A BIKE RIDE1 -PANIONS DUE
9 M9UTES4 ,! TIRES ON MY BIKE NE$$ AIR &
MY WAT] BOTTLES 7 EMPTY4 ,X WD 2 9 ! UP-
P] EI<TIES 2F WE GOT BACK1 & ,I WD NE$
WAT]4
  8,I'VE BE5 ?9K+ AB X1 & ,I'VE DECID$
.,G5TLEM5 .,PREF] .,BLONDES IS ! "O Y "\
6SEE4 ,M>ILYN 0 P]FECTLY LOVELY 9 T4 ,I
2LIEVE H] -IC TIM+ 0 AT XS HEI<T40
  8,ACTU,Y ,I'M ON MY WAY \1 ,MRS4 ,MAG-
DANZ40
  8,Y WAT* X1 !N -E OV] "H "S"T NEXT
WEEK & ,I'LL %[ Y ,M>ILYN'S E>R+S F !
SC5E ": %E 0 W$G$ 9 ! PORTHOLE4 ,IF Y'RE
9T]E/$1 ,I AL H ! SCRIPT ,M>ILYN "W$ F4
,OH1 & ,I H ,TOMMY ,NOONAN'S        #AEH
GLASSES40
  8,I'D LOVE 6SEE ^? ITEMS1 ,MRS4 ,MAG-
DANZ1 B ,I'M N SURE ,I C CLE> MY CAL5D>
= NEXT WEEK4 ,6TELL Y ! TRU?1 ,I ?"\ Y
CALL$ 6TELL ME "S?+ M AB ,ELM] ,SLEZAK40
  ,B>E FEET PROPP$ UP ON A *AIR1 ,KA?Y
WAT*$ ME F ACR ! KIT*51 TA/+ *]RIES F A
B[L ON ! TA# Z ! MORN+ SUNLI<T TA/$ H]4
  8,OH1 YES4 ,! MAN 9 ! BE>D4 ,I CALL$
AB ! MAN 9 ! BE>D4 ,"! 0 A HOBO OR A
TRAMP ( "S SORT4 ,I SAW HM KNOCK+ AT
,MR4 ,SLEZAK'S DOOR E>LI] ON ! EV5+ (!
MURD]1 & :5 ,SLEZAK DIDN'T ANSW]1 HE
HUNG >.D S L;G1 ,I 0 TEMPT$ 6CALL ! PO-
LICE4 ,EV5 ,MR4 ,HALDEMAN SD X WD H BE5
APPROPRIATE40
  8,Y TOLD ,HALDEMAN AB A BE>D$ MAN80
  8,I C]TA9LY DID40
  8,DID Y "K ? MAN80
  8,I 2LIEVE HE 0 A FR ( ,SLEZAK'S4 ,T'S
:Y ,I DIDN'T CALL ! POLICE4 ,HE'D VISIT$
O!R "TS4 ,T'S AL "O (! FUNDA;TAL R1SONS
,I WANT$ ,MR4 ,SLEZAK \ ( ? A"P;T -PLEX4
,FIL?Y HOBOS RUNN+ >.D \R BREEZEWAYS
SC>+ \R T5ANTS40                    #AEI
  ,:5 ,I'D SPOK5 6,MAGDANZ ! F/ "T1 %E
CLAIM$ 6BE 3FUS$ AB :AT %E _H TOLD ,HAL-
DEMAN4 ,T 0 EASY 5 62LIEVE1 2C %E 0 CON-
FUS$ AB A LOT ( ?+S4 ,N[ %E SWORE ,HAL-
DEMAN _H BE5 TOLD (A MAN LOIT]+ >.D !
A"P;T -PLEX ! NI<T (! MURD]4 ,IF HE _H1
HE'D L>D$ 8 WIT;S /ATE;TS ) TRIVIALITIES
:ILE NEGLECT+ 6M5;N AN ITEM ( POSSI# MO-
;T\S IMPORT4
  8,C Y DESCRIBE ? MAN1 ,MRS4 ,MAGDANZ80
  8,HE 0 L>GE & DIRTY & _H A BE>D40
  8,:AT ELSE80
  8,HIS COAT 0 FIL?Y40
  8,WAS HE :ITE8 ,BLACK8 ,ASIAN80
  8,Y M1N ,*9ESE8 ,T'S FUNNY4 ,I'VE N"E
SE5 A ,*9ESE BUM4 ,H Y80
  8,S HE 0 :ITE80
  8,YES4 ,A HULK+ MAN :O WALK$ L AN
APE40
  8,D Y RECALL ! COLOR ( 8 HAIR80
  8,GD;S1 NO40
  8,WE>+ :AT ELSE 2SS A COAT80
  8,I DON'T "K4 ,TR\S]S4 ,A C\PLE (
COATS40
  8,OV]DRESS$ =! W1!R80             #AFJ
  8,I DON'T RECALL ! W1!R40
  8,X 0 W>M4 ,A LOT L TD40
  8,I GUESS HE WAS1 !N40
  8,:AT "T DID HE %[ UP80
  8,I'M N SURE4 ,"S"T T ,SUN"D EV5+40
  8,! EV5+ (! MURD]80
  8,YES40
  ,! MURD] _H BE5 ,MON"D1 B "! 0 LL PO9T
9 CORRECT+ H] AG4 8,DID Y SEE HM MAKE
3TACT ) ,SLEZAK80
  8,N T NI<T4 ,B L ,I SD1 ,I'D SE5 HM )
,SLEZAK ON O!R O3A.NS40
  ,! UBIQUIT\S MY/]I\S BE>D$ /RANG]4 ,E
MURD] CASE _H "O4 ,ON ,MON"D NI<T ,KA?Y
& ,I _H SE5 A HOME.S MAN 9 A GRIMY
SLEEP+ BAG NE> ! ,DEMPSEY ,DUMP/]4 ,X
O3URR$ 6ME AF WE 4COV]$ ! D1D WOMAN 9
,ELM]'S B$ T ! MAN 9 ! SLEEP+ BAG MI<T 2
A WIT;S1 T P]H HE'D SE5 "S"O 5T]+ OR
EXIT+ ,ELM]'S A"P;T1 B 0! "T WE CALL$ !
POLICE & /EPP$ \TSIDE1 HE'D G"O4
  ,( C\RSE ! BE>D$-/RANG] DEF5SE 0 AN
OLD & WELL-"KN /RATEGY1 A SORRY CLI*@E1
PURSU$ AF ALL O!R DEF5SES _H COLLAPS$ ON
! SWORDS ( _! [N LOGIC OR = LACK    #AFA
( EVID;E4 ,9 \R CASE "! ACTU,Y _H BE5 A
BE>D$ /RANG]1 &! POLICE PROBABLY KNEW AB
HM1 B T WDN'T MAKE X ANY LESS LAU<A# 9
C\RT4 ,IF X CAME 6A JURY TRIAL1 ! POLICE
DEF9ITELY DID N WANT ? TE/IMONY -+ F "O
( _! P1 H;E ,HALDEMAN'S 3V5I5T MEMORY
LAPSE4
  ,! MAN NE> ! ,DUMP/] _H LOOK$ 9NOCU\S
5\<1 Z DID A LOT ( HOME.S P1 A MAN :O
SP5T 8 "DS & NI<TS TRY+ 6KEEP F 2+ BOOT$
\ ( DOORWAYS1 H1T$ LIBR>IES1 W>M BUSES2
TRY+ N 6GET P.D$1 SW9DL$1 RAP$1 RO2$1
BURN$1 MUTILAT$1 OR TATTOO$4
  8,MRS4 ,MAGDANZ4 ,AB A HALF H\R AF ,I
VISIT$ Y1 A G5TLEMAN CAME 6,SLEZAK'S
A"P;T4 ,I M5;N ? ONLY ON ! "O-IN-A-
MILLION *.E T Y HAPP5$ 6CAT* A GLIMPSE (
HM40
  8,OH1 ,I CAU<T A GLIMPSE1 ALL "R4 ,&
,I SAW T FIFTY-FOOT WOMAN ,SLEZAK CALLS
A GIRLFR TOO4 ,I 0 GLAD 6SEE Y ?REW H] \
"R AWAY40
  8,DID Y RECOGNIZE ! MAN80
  8,I DON'T ?9K S40
  8,Y DON'T ?9K HE MI<T H BE5 !     #AFB
G5TLEMAN F ! O!R NI<T8 ,) 8 BE>D %AV$80
  8,:Y WD HE %AVE 8 BE>D80
  8,HE DIDN'T LOOK L ! SAME MAN8 ,0 HE !
SAME SIZE8 ,WEI<T8 ,! SAME APPROXIMATE
HEI<T80
  8,HE WASN'T ANY ( ^?4 ,! MAN LA/ ,SUN-
"D NI<T _H A SCRU6Y BE>D4 ,R$DI% 9 COL-
OR4 ,HE 0 DIRTY4 ,& M1N-LOOK+4 ,? MAN Y
SPOKE 6WASN'T DIRTY4 ,& HE 0 SMALL]4 ,!
MAN )! BE>D 0 A M* L>G] MAN4 ,& HE
DIDN'T H ALL T SILV] HAIR40 ,I DIDN'T
RECALL ANY SILV] HAIR ON ! MAN 0! ,DUMP-
/] EI1 B !N1 HE'D BE5 WE>+ A WAT* CAP :5
,I SAW HM4
  8,:AT "T DID HE %[ UP80
  8,OH1 X 0 PROBABLY CLOSE 6ELEV54 ,SLE-
ZAK 0 / \40
  8,& Y SAY HE HUNG >.D80
  8,=A L;G "T4 ,HE _H A JUG ( MILK 9 8
H&4 ,HE 0 DR9K+ F X40
  8,DID HE H A PACK ) HM80
  8,I 2LIEVE S4 ,I TURN$ IN1 S ,I DON'T
"K H[ L;G HE 0 "!40
  8,Y'VE BE5 HELP;L1 ,MRS4 ,MAGDANZ4 ,IF
Y ?9K ( ANY?+ ELSE OR SEE ? MAN     #AFC
AG1 WD Y GIVE ME A CALL80
  8.,G5TLEM5 .,PREF] .,BLONDES4 ,N ALL (
H] MOVIES HOLD UP1 B T "O DOES40
  8,WE'LL R5T X40
  ,I 0 DEEP 9 ?"\ :5 ,KA?Y SD1 8,MRS4
,MAGDANZ8 ,:AT'S %E L80
  8,L ,JANE ,RUSSELL 9 H] PRIME4 ,GOR-
GE\S4 ,BUXOM4 ,:OO4 ,%E 9VIT$ ME OV]
NEXT WEEK1 B ,I TOLD H] ,I _H A HANGNAIL
OP],N S*$UL$40
  8,OH1 Y DID1 DID Y80
  8,YES40
  8,:Y DIDN'T Y J TELL H] Y 7 M>RI$80
  8,I H 6KEEP A FEW IRONS 9 ! FIRE4 ,:AT
IF Y DECIDE 6L1VE ME = "O ( ^? FANCY-
PANTS ATTORNEYS D[N AT ! C\RTH\SE80
  8,I WD N"E L1VE Y = AN ATTORNEY4 ,A
JUDGE1 MAYBE4 ,A CABDRIV]4 ,A MAILMAN4
,A C(FEE V5DOR4 ,A '''0
  8,I WDN'T L1VE Y EI4 ,N UN.S A R1L
CUTE ,DUMP/] DIV] %[$ UP40
  ,:ILE ,I F9I%$ DRESS+1 ,I TOLD H] :AT
,MAGDANZ _H SD4 8,S ,MRS4 ,MAGDANZ TOLD
,>NOLD ,HALDEMAN AB A /RANG] HANG+ >.D
,ELM]'S A"P;T ! NI<T (! MURD]1 &    #AFD
HE DIDN'T ?9K X IMPORTANT 5 69CLUDE 9 !
WIT;S /ATE;T80
  8,Y *ALL5GE HM ON X1 HE'LL SAY HE
DIDN'T RECALL X4 ,Y PUT H] ON ! /&1
!Y'LL EAT H] ALIVE4 ,%E'S ALR GOT ! "D
WR;G40
  8,TOO BAD40
  8,X IS4 ,B Y SAW HM YRF4 ,NICK ,NOLTE
0! ,DUMP/]40
  8,HALDEMAN WROTE S* METICUL\S REPORTS
S T WE WD 2LIEVE HE 0 PUTT+ D[N E LL
TIDBIT1 :5 9 FACT HE ONLY WROTE :AT SUP-
PORT$ 8 [N !ORIES40
  8,LOOKS T WAY40
  ,MY TWO RID+ -PANIONS PICK$ ME UP A
FEW M9UTES LAT]1 ! ?REE ( U COA/+ D[N
,RAV5NA & P$AL+ 6! ,BURKE-,GILMAN
,TRAIL4 ,WE TOOK ! TRAIL 6,R$MOND & !N
GOT ONTO ,HI<WAY #BJB & RODE Z F> Z
,NOR? ,B5D1 ": WE /OPP$ & SNACK$ AT !
BAK]Y1 !N RODE BACK4 ,X 0 ALM F\R O'C 2F
,I'D %[]$ & EAT5 & DRIV5 6,ELM]'S A"P;T
-PLEX4
  ,I MANAG$ BO? 6ELUDE ,MRS4 ,MAGDANZ &
6F9D F\R 9DIVIDUALS ,I _HN'T        #AFE
SPOK5 6E>LI]1 ONLY "O ( :OM1 ,FELIX
,TROSP]1 A -PULSIVE TALK] )A BO2+ ,AD-
AM'S APPLE1 _H ANY USE;L 9=M,N4 ,I QKLY
F.D \ T HE'D DROPP$ \ ( COLLEGE & 0 "W+
9 A RECORD /ORE1 T 8 P>5TS 7 S5D+ HM
M"OY "U ! MISTAK5 NO;N T HE 0 / A /UD5T1
T A GIRLFR _H JILT$ HM REC5TLY1 & T HE 0
?9K+ ( />T+ A B& & MAK+ A MOVIE AB X4
,HE SD HE WD APPRECIATE X IF ,I TRI$ TO
KEEP 8 "N \ (! PAP]S4 ,I SD ,I WD TRY4
  8,I SEE BUMS OV] "! ALL ! "T40 ,WE 7
LOOK+ ACR ! /REET AT ,ELM]'S A"P;T F
,FELIX'S SMALL SECOND-/ORY ROOM1 ! WALLS
( : 7 PLA/]$ ) ROCK PO/]S4
  8,! SAME 9DIVIDUAL1 OR DI6]5T P80
  8,I CDN'T SAY = SURE4 ,BUMS SORT ( ALL
LOOK ! SAME1 "K :AT ,I M1N80
  8,&! NI<T (! MURD]8 ,MON"D NI<T8 ,DID
Y SEE ANYBODY80
  8,"S DUDE4 ,I'VE SE5 HM >.D 2F )! MAN
:O DRIVES ! ,CADILLAC40
  8,WD Y RECOGNIZE HM IF Y SAW HM AG80
  8,! DUDE )! ,CADILLAC80
  8,! O!R "O40
  8,PROBABLY4 ,HE HASN'T BE5 >.D1   #AFF
?\<4 ,N S9CE ! MURD]4 ,N T ,I'VE SE540
  8,:AT'D HE LOOK L80
  ,8 DESCRIP;N 0 SIMIL> 6,MAGDANZ'S1 ?\<
M DETAIL$4 ,A TALL MAN WE>+ LOTS ( CLO!S
& C>RY+ A KNAPSACK4 ,)A BE>D4 ,R$DI% 9
COLOR4
  8,SEE ANYBODY ELSE HANG+ >.D80
  8,I DID4 ,AB A WEEK AGO4 ,A WOMAN CAME
A C\PLE ( "TS4 ,! R1SON ,I NOTIC$1 %E
P>K$ "R 9 FRONT1 &! F/ "T %E DID X1 ,I 0
EXPECT+ "SBODY1 S ,I KEPT LOOK+ \4 ,%E 0
"! AB TWO H\RS4 ,I "K %E 0 WAIT+ =! DUDE
)! ,CADILLAC 2C :5 ! ,CADILLAC %[$ UP1
%E GOT \ & />T$ ACR ! /REET4 ,B !N ,I
GUESS %E NOTIC$ HE _H A WOMAN ) HM1
'CAUSE %E J TURN$ >.D & W5T /RAI<T BACK
6H] C>4 ,L A DOG "SBODY'D HOS$ D[N40
  8,!N :AT'D %E D80
  8,%E 0 / \ "! />+ AT ! A"P;T ACR !
/REET :5 ,I LEFT4 ,I DON'T "K H[ L;G %E
/AY$4 ,B X 0 A BAD LOOK %E 0 GIV+ T
PLACE4 ,X 0 RE,Y BAD4 ,J ! EVIL EYE40
  8,:AT'D ? WOMAN LOOK L80
  8,NICE4 ,BLONDE4 ,AB YR AGE1 MAYBE4 ,A
PRETTY GD BUILD ON H]4 ,A LL H1VY   #AFG
9 ! LEGS40
  8,& %E WASN'T "! :5 Y CAME HOME80
  8,NO4 ,B %E %[$ UP ! NEXT NI<T4 ,!
,CADILLAC 0 "! :5 %E GOT "H1 B %E DIDN'T
G IN4 ,%E SAT \ 9 H] C> =A C\PLE ( H\RS
/>+ AT ! PLACE ACR ! /REET40
  8,Y ONLY SAW H] F UP "H T SECOND "T80
  8,Y1H4 ,S ,I DON'T "K IF %E 0 /
PISS$40
  8,SEE H] ANY O!R "TS80
  8,T 0 X40
  8,Y DIDN'T HAPP5 6GET ! LIC5SE NUMB] (
! C>1 DID Y80
  8,NO4 ,B X 0 A BR[N ,*EVY WAGON )A BAD
MU6L]4 ,& "! 0 A LL CR1SE RUNN+ AL;G !
PASS5G] SIDE (! C>4 ,N DEEP1 B R1L L;G40
  ,I DIDN'T REMEMB] A CR1SE AL;G ! SIDE
( ,JO,ANNE ,B>B]'S C>1 B X WD 2 EASY 5
6*ECK \4 ,2F ,I LEFT1 HE EXPLA9$ 9 DE-
TAIL AB ! B& HE WANT$ 6/>T4
  ,EXPECT+ 6BE 4APPO9T$1 WE SAT 9 FRONT
( .,G5TLEM5 .,PREF] .,BLONDES T EV5+1
D[N+ /RAWB]RY %ORTCAKE BUILT )! F/ B]-
RIES (! S1SON4 ,! MOVIE 0 FUNNY & CAMP1
FILL$ ) CL"E P]=M.ES & WITTY        #AFH
WRIT+4 ,MAGDANZ _H BE5 "R4 ,X 0 ,MONROE
AT H] BE/4
  ,SUN"D MORN+ WE SLEPT IN1 !N BAK$ BIS-
CUITS & S"M$ !M 9 JAM :ILE !Y 7 / HOT4
,I TOOK A L;G1 EASY BIKE RIDE )! SAME
TWO FRS F YE/]"D4 ,! AFN 0 SP5T >.D !
H\SE1 ,KA?Y ALT]+ A #AIEJ;S DRESS %E'D
PICK$ UP 9 A ?RIFT %OP & R1D+ :ILE ,I
D1DH1D$ ROSES1 WE$$ ! VEGETA# B$S1 &
SCANN$ ..,! ,NEW ,YORK .,"TS4
  ,\R DOME/IC TRANQUILL;Y 0 9T]RUPT$
DUR+ D9N] 0! FRONT BELL4 ,2F ,I _H !
DOOR ALL ! WAY OP51 ,ELM] ,SLEZAK BLEW
PA/ ME & H1D$ = ,KA?Y 9 ! KIT*54 8,C WE
TALK80 HE SD1 TAK+ MY PLACE AT ! TA#4
,HE R1*$ 96MY SALAD ) TWO F+]S & SNAT*$
\ A SLICE ( CUCUMB]1 TOSS+ X 96HIS MAW4
  ,I SD1 8,WELL1 HELLO1 ,SNAKE4 ,L;G "T
NO SEE4 ,X'S GD 6SEE Y TOO1 ,?OMAS40
  8,OH4 ,SORRY10 ,ELM] SD1 HOLD+ 8 H1D 9
8 H&S4 ,8 %IRT 0 RUMPL$1 8 HAIR T\SL$1 &
8 EYEBR[S1 ALW WILD1 LOOK$ L A PAIR (
H$GEHOGS SQU>+ (F =A SPAT4 ,HE WORE !
SAME SILV]-TO$ C[BOY BOOTS1 SLACKS1 &
%IRT HE'D WORN 6JAIL E>LY ,TUES"D   #AFI
MORN+4
  8,H['D Y GET SPRUNG1 ,ELM]80 ,KA?Y SD4
  8,=GET H[ ,I GOT SPRUNG4 ,LOOK \TSIDE4
,!Y'RE FOLL[+ ME40 ,:5 ,I W5T 6! FRONT
W9D[1 ,I SAW ONLY ! RE> (A BLACK C> Z X
4APPE>$ UP ! /REET4 ,I WAIT$1 B X DIDN'T
-E BACK4
  8,WAS T "SBODY80 ,I ASK$4
  8,!M DW>FS40















                  #AH               #AGJ

  8,!Y BE5 FOLL[+ ME = TWO "DS40
  8,I DIDN'T GET A GD LOOK10 ,I SD1
TURN+ F ! W9D[4
  8,:Y WD DW>FS FOLL[ Y80 ,KA?Y SD4 8,Y
WANT "S?+ 6EAT80
  ,ELM] %OOK 8 H1D4 ,I SAT AT ! TA# &
DRA7$ MY S\P & SALAD OV] 6A NEW SPOT4
,ELM]'S BR1? 0 BE]Y & 8 EYES LOOK$ L OL-
IVES FLOAT+ 9 TOMATO JUICE4 8,I DON'T "K
:Y4 ,!Y 7 J AF ME4 ,GOV]N;T M51 ,I BE-
LIEVE40
  8,Y SURE80
  8,NO1 ,I'M N SURE6 ,I'M N EV5 SURE !Y
7 DW>FS4 ,!Y LOOK$ %ORT 5\<4 ,B MAYBE !Y
W]5'T EV5 FOLL[+ ME4 ,I'VE BE5 PRETTY
3FUS$40
  8,DID Y "K YR L&LADY CLAIMS GOV]N;T M5
BROKE 96YR A"P;T ! O!R "D80 ,I SD4
  8,!Y 7 PROBABLY *ECK+ ! ELECTRONIC
BUGS40
  8,HELL1 ,SNAKE4 ,Y'VE GOT A %ITLOAD (
DEBU7+ TOYS 9 YR (FICE4 ,& Y'RE TELL+ ME
YR A"P;T IS BU7$80
  8,I J FIGUR$ T "P \ 9 JAIL40      #AGA
,4TRACT$1 HE GOT UP & WALK$ 6! BACK
DOOR1 PE]$ \1 !N BO2$ 8 H1D AT ! KIT*5
W9D[1 !N ! W9D[S 9 ! LIV+ ROOM4 ,HE
WALK$ B[LE7$ BACK 6! KIT*5 TA# L A 4AP-
PO9T$ BRONC RID] :O'D BE5 ?R[N & 4QUALI-
FI$4 8,I DON'T "K4 ,MAYBE NOBODY'S FOL-
L[+ ME4 ,MAYBE ,I'M NUTS40
  8,:5 7 Y REL1S$80 ,KA?Y ASK$4
  8,FRI"D4 ,! PAP]"W SD X 0 A PLACE ON
,SECOND ,AV5UE SPRUNG ME1 S ,I W5T D[N &
ASK$ AB X1 B !Y 7 FULL ( %IT UP 6_! EYE-
BR[S4 ,SD A MAN CAME IN1 GAVE !M ! BAIL
M"OY &A FEE 9 CA%1 & LEFT4 ,NO "QS
ASK$40
  8,WAS HE A DW>F80 ,I ASK$4
  8,I =GOT 6ASK40
  8,FRI"D80 SD ,KA?Y1 GIV+ ME A NA/Y
LOOK = T1S+ ,SNAKE4 8,": H Y BE5 =! LA/
TWO "DS80
  8,*ECK+ \ ! TITTY PALACES40
  ,KA?Y LOOK$ PUZZL$4
  8,TOP.S D.E JO9TS10 ,I SD4
  8,!Y'VE ALL GOT ^! TATTOOS4 ,IF ,I C
F9D ANO!R "O1 %E C L1D ME 6! HIVE4
,DON'T LOOK AT ME L T4 ,T'S :AT     #AGB
"O ( !M CALL$ X4 ,! HIVE4 ,TOLD ME DE-
SPITE ! WAY !Y LOOK1 !Y ?9K & 2HAVE M L
9SECTS ?AN P4 ,T'S :Y !Y WANT 6BRE$ ) U4
,62COME M HUMAN4 ,"R N[ !Y ALL "W TGR !
WAY BEES "W TGR4 ,"O BRA94 ,DON'T Y SEE8
,!Y ADMIRE \R 9DEP5D;E4 ,!Y WANT X40
  ,KA?Y & ,I LOOK$ AT EA* O!R :ILE
,SNAKE />$ ANXI\SLY AT ! FRONT W9D[S4
,KA?Y SD1 8,Y CDN'T H SP5T TWO :OLE "DS
*ECK+ \ TOP.S B>S4 ,:AT ELSE DID Y D80
  8,I MI<TA PICK$ UP A WOMAN40
  8,Y MI<T H8 ,DID Y OR DIDN'T Y80
  8,I GUESS ,I DID40
  8,Y REMEMB] H] "N80 ,KA?Y ASK$4
  8,DON'T WORRY4 ,%E 0 D\#-;U OH TEE40
  8,:AT80 ,I SD4
  8,N .:AT4 ,WOT4 ,W-,O-,T4 ,)\T ,TAT-
TOOS40
  8,"SBODY WALK$ 9 (F ! /REET & PD YR
BAIL80 ,KA?Y SD4 8,SEV5TY-FIVE ?\S& DOL-
L>S CA%4 ,:O WD D T80
  8,MAYBE !M ALI5S WANT ME \ S !Y C ICE
ME 'CAUSE !Y ?9K ,I KILL$ "O ( _!S40
  8,I ?"\ Y SD !Y CD G "? WALLS10 ,I SD4
,"? LOCKS4 ,W9D[S4 ,IF !Y WANT$     #AGC
6KILL Y1 :Y DIDN'T !Y D X 9 JAIL80
  8,OR "O ( MY EX-GIRLFRS8 ,I HAV5'T _H
"T 6?9K AB ALL ! RAMIFIC,NS4 ,I BE5
LOOK+ = CL"OS4 ,Y BE5 LOOK9' TOO1 HAV5'T
Y1 ,TOMMY80
  8,DON'T CALL ME ,TOMMY4 ,& NO1 ,I
HAV5'T BE5 LOOK+4 ,I DON'T 2LIEVE "! >E
ANY CL"OS40
  ,HE GAVE ME AN 9CR$UL\S LOOK1 !N TURN$
6,KA?Y "Q+LY4 8,I'M SORRY1 ,ELM]10 %E
SD4 8,I DON'T 2LIEVE 9 CL"OS EI40
  8,WELL %EEEIT60 HE SD4
  ,I SD1 8,I DID LE>N T AB HALF ! A"P;T
-PLEX ": Y LIVE SAYS Y'D BE5 DAT+ ! D1D
WOMAN = TWO WEEKS40
  8,I EXPLA9$ T4 ,OKAY4 ,%IT4 ,DAMN X4
,N[ ,I .AM HUNGRY4 ,H[ AB "S GRUB80
  8,:AT WD Y L80
  8,/1K4 ,R>E4 ,SIRLO9 OR ;,T-B"O'S
OKAY4 ,A BAK$ POTATO AB YEA BIG4 ,LOB/]4
,SP9A* SALAD4 ,MAYBE "S /1M$ ASP>AGUS
TIPS4 ,& TWO FRI$ E7S ON ! SIDE4 ,SUNNY-
SIDE UP & S(T 9 ! C5T]4 ,!N VANILLA ICE
CR1M ) COLOR$ SPR9KLES ON X4 ,OR JELLY
B1NS4 ,:I*"E Y GOT40                #AGD
  ,KA?Y LOOK$ AT ME4 8,WE 7 ?9K+ M AL;G
! L9ES ( :AT WE 7 HAV+1 S\P & SALAD10 ,I
SD4 8,& ROLLS4 ,WE DON'T H ANY /1K4 ,WE
C NUKE "S 5*ILADAS F LA/ NI<T4 ,MAYBE
RU/LE UP ! E7S40
  8,:AT"E40
  8,ELM]10 ,I SD SLID+ ! PAN ( 5*ILADAS
\ (! REFRIG]ATOR4 8,H[ DID Y MEET ,DESI-
REE ,NA%80
  ,HE GAVE ME A />TL$ LOOK1 & !N1 )\T A
^W1 /OOD UP & W5T 96! BA?ROOM1 ": HE RE-
MA9$ = NE>LY FIFTE5 M9UTES4 ,KA?Y :ISP]$
ACR ! KIT*51 8,:O WD H LET HM \80
  8,I'LL *ECK TM40
  8,& :AT IS ALL ? AB DW>FS FOLL[+ HM80
  8,I'M TAK+ ANY?+ HE SAYS )A GRA9 (
SALT UNTIL ,I 3FIRM X ELSE":4 ,HE'S BE5
SEE+ A LOT ( /UFF40
  8,:AT AB ! GOV]N;T M51 ! "OS ! L&LADY
SAW80
  8,I DON'T "K40
  ,:5 ,ELM] F9,Y EM]G$ F ! BA?ROOM1 !
CU6S ( 8 %IRT 7 ROLL$ UP &A PI/OL 0
/ICK+ \ ( 8 BELT4 ,I SD1 8,":'D Y GET !
GUN8 ,YR (FICE80                    #AGE
  8,HAV5'T BE5 6! (FICE40
  8,H& X OV]40 ,L A * CAU<T ) C&Y HE'D
SNIT*$ \ (! B[L ON ,HALL[E5 MORN+1 ,ELM]
GAVE X 6ME4 ,I UNLOAD$ X & PUT X 96A
DRAW]4
  8,DESIREE CALL$ ME UP "O "D \ (! BLUE1
/>T$ TALK9' DIRTY ON ! PH"O10 HE SD4
8,T'S ": ,I MET H]40
  8,ON ! PH"O80
  8,Y GOTTA LOVE A WOMAN :O TALKS L T40
  8,CALL$ Y \ (! BLUE80
  8,WE AGRE$ 6MEET AT A DIM SUM PLACE 9
,*9AT[N4 ,WE ATE \RVS SICK & W5T BACK TO
H] PLACE4 ,%E C DR9K M & CUSS WORSE ?AN
J AB ANY WOMAN ,I "E "K$40
  8,T'S 2C Y HAV5'T SE5 ,KA?Y ON A
TOOT10 ,I SD1 E>N+ A !ATRIC,Y S\R LOOK F
,KA?Y4 8,Y ?9K ,DESIREE CD H SN1K$ 9 &
KILL$ ,MC,FLEEGLE80
  8,%E GETS MI<TY J1L\S10 ,ELM] SD4 8,I
DON'T RECALL %E KNEW ANY (! CL"OS1 ?\<40
  8,QUIT ! CL"O CRAP1 ,ELM]60 ,I SD4
8,I'VE _H 5 ( ?6 ,WE NE$ 9=M,N1 & SITT+
>.D TALK+ AB 9T]GALACTIC BRE$+ PROGRAMS
ISN'T DO+ ANY?+ B PU6+ UP YR        #AGF
EGO40
  8,MY EGO8 ,:Y1 ,I DON'T H ANY P]SONAL
/AKE 9 ?1 BOY4 ,Y ?9K ? IS ALL 2C ( MY
EGO8 ,:Y1 Y'RE BL4 ,X'S N MY FAULT !Y L
! LOOK ( MY ,,DNA4 ,!Y NE$$ ,,DNA & /AM-
9A1 & ,I GAVE X TO 'EM40
  8,GIVE ME A BR1K4 ,HUNDR$S ( VIRG9S
?R[+ !MVS 96YR B$8 ,X'S ALL A SCRIPT
MADE UP 9 YR [N H1D4 ,X'S PURE HORSE-
%IT40
  ,HE 0 QUIET =A FULL M9UTE4 ,KA?Y SD
NO?+4 ,9 ! O!R ROOM ! REGULATOR CLOCK
TICK$ AWAY4 8,:5 0 ! LA/ "T Y SAW ,DESI-
REE80 ,KA?Y ASK$4
  8,TWO WEEKS80
  8,"R AB ! "T Y SAY ! CL"O BUSI;S
2GAN10 ,I SD4 8,"R AB ! "T ! NEI<BORS
SAY Y />T$ DAT+ ! D1D WOMAN4 ,DOES
,DESIREE H A KEY 6YR PLACE80
  8,N T ,I'M AW>E (4 ,B %E MI<T40
  8,%E "E ?R1T5 Y OV] O!R WOM580
  8,A FEW "TS4 ,%E FOLL[$ ME A FEW "TS1
B AN AMATEUR IS EASY 6DIT*4 ,Y "K T40
  8,Y DIT* H] DRIV+ OV] 6,JO,ANNE
,B>B]'S H\SE1 DID Y80               #AGG
  8,H[ DID Y "K T80
  8,2C %E GAVE ME ,B>B]'S /REET NUMB]4
,%E SD %E WD H FOLL[$ Y "R 96! H\SE IF X
_HN'T BE5 =! KIDS4 ,TELL U AB ,M1DE
,B>B]40
  ,SNAKE SCOOP$ UP A =K;L ( HOT 5*ILADA
(F ! PLATE ,I'D TAK5 \ (! MICROWAVE1 />$
AT ! COPP]Y-ORANGE ROSES 9 ! C5T] (!
TA#1 ,TROIKAS1 & 3SID]$ ! NEW 9=M,N4 8,Y
"K1 ,I ?"\ HE 0 ! CAUSE ( ? F&ANGO4 ,9 !
2G9N+ ,I ?"\ HE WAS4 ,2F X GOT \ ( H&40
  8,B>B]80
  8,YEP4 ,B X DOESN'T MAKE S5SE40
  8,IS HE ! ONLY HOME.S P]SON Y "K80
  8,HE HAS A C\PLE FRS %[ UP ONCE 9 A
BLUE MOON40
  8,IS "O ( !M A BIG1 HULK+ MAN )A R$DI%
BE>D80
  8,MAYBE4 ,YES4 ,HE'S GOT A BU4Y :O
FITS T DESCRIP;N40
  8,Y "K ! BU4Y'S "N80
  8,>LISS "SBODY OR O!R40
  8,ON ! NI<T (! MURD]1 DID Y SEE ,B>B]
OR ,>LISS OR ANYBODY80
  8,NO40                            #AGH
  8,:Y DID Y ?9K ,B>B] 0 ! CAUSE ( ?80
  8,! SE$1 RE,Y4 ,N ( ? BRE$+ PROGRAM B
( "S?+4 ,? 0 ALL BACK MON?S AGO4 ,X'S
ANCI5T HI/ORY40
  8,I'M A /UD5T ( ANCI5T HI/ORY40
  8,OKAY4 ,SURE4 ,*RI/4 ,I SAW HM 9 A
FOOD L9E4 ,I RECOGNIZ$ HM F A JOB ,I DID
MAYBE TWO YE>S AGO4 ,I'D FOLL[$ HM =
,GRE5 ,9T]N,NAL4 ,T'S ! SECUR;Y \TFIT
9SIDE ( ,,IGP ,SY/EMS4 ,! H1D HON*O1
,RAKUBIAN1 WANT$ 9=M,N ON 8 "D-TO-"D
ACTIVITIES4 ,!Y H A REGUL> =M Y FILL \4
,/R5G?S4 ,W1K;SES4 ,HO2IES4 ,"T P] WEEK
SP5T )! KI4IES4 ,! WIFE4 ,DOES HE LOOK
AT BABES ON ! /REET8 ,DRUGS8 ,ALCOHOL8
,DOES HE EXCE$ ! SPE$ LIMIT8 ,DON'T ASK
ME :Y !Y 7 9T]E/$4 ,I'VE D"O A HUNDR$ (
^? SURVEILL.E GIGS = ,GRE5 ,9T]N,NAL1 &
,I N"E H>DLY KNEW :AT ANY ( !M 0 AB40
  8,Y N"E TOLD ME ANY ( ?10 ,I SD4
  8,Y SIGN A PL$GE ( 3FID5TIAL;Y4 ,2SS1
X WASN'T /UFF 6BRAG OV]4 ,"S ( MY AS-
SIGN;TS 9CLUD$ SABOTAG+ ,JOE ,BL['S C>
?REE NI<TS RUNN+4 ,AIR \ (! TIRES "O
NI<T4 ,BAD GAS 9 ! TANK ! NEXT4     #AGI
,FUCK UP 8 W9D%IELD WIP]S )A RAZOR !
NEXT40
  8,:O'S ,JOE ,BL[80
  8,ANYBODY ! -PANY WANTS 6UNBAL.E4 ,"S-
"TS "!'S NO 4C]NI# R1SON4 ,MAYBE "SBODY
9 ! (FICE HAS A GRUDGE4 ,I M1N1 !Y 7 .T
CAVALI] AB X4 ,I DID A SURVEILL.E ONCE
ON ! L1D NEGOTIATOR =A UNION T 0 GIV+ "O
( _! PR9T+ PLANTS A R\< "T4 ,I FOLL[$ M5
& ,I FOLL[$ WOM54 ,I SPI$ ON HOMOSEXU-
ALS4 ,"EY?+ Y C IMAG9E40
  8,PR9T+ PLANTS80 ,KA?Y ASK$4
  8,!Y GOT A FOODS DIVI.N4 ,A TRUCK+
DIVI.N4 ,A PLANT T MAKES AIRPLANE "PS4
,TWO OR ?REE DOZ5 -PANIES MAYBE4 ,_WWIDE
!Y CLAIM CLOSE 6HALF A MILLION EMPLOY-
EES4 ,&) ,RAKUBIAN1 Y N"E KNEW : -PANY Y
7 DO+ A JOB =1 OR :Y4 ,"QS W]5'T TOL]AT-
$4 ,Y DID ! JOB4 ,Y TOOK ! M"OY4 ,Y KEPT
QUIET40
  8,& ,B>B]80
  8,AN EXECUTIVE ,I WROTE A REPORT ON A
C\PLE ( YE>S AGO4 ,I SP5T MAYBE TWO1
?REE WEEKS ON X4 ,PICTURES1 VIDEOS1
MAPS4 ,I EV5 BU7$ 8 C> & LI/5$ TO   #AHJ
3V]S,NS HE _H ON 8 CELL PH"O40
  8,:AT'D Y F9D80
  8,HE "W$ =A TRUCK+ \TFIT ,,IGP [N$4
,LEFT = "W AT EI<T4 ,SKIPP$ LUN*ES 6RUN
! TRACK AT ! ,WA%+TON ,A?LETIC ,CLUB4
,GOT HOME AT SIX OR SEV54 ,"S"TS LAT] IF
!Y 7 BUSY4 ,! ONLY VICE ,I CD PUT MY F+]
ON 0 ,LOTTO TICKETS40
  8,:AT'S ! RE/80
  8,"! .IS NO RE/4 ,I MADE MY REPORT4 ,T
0 X4 ,AB A YE>1 A YE> &A HALF LAT] ,I
SEE HM 9 A S\P L9E4 ,? IS A GUY :O _H 8
H\SE ALM PD (F4 ,[N$ A BR&-NEW MOTOR
HOME FREE & CLE>4 ,_H PROP]TY &A CAB9
OV] ON ,LAKE ,ROOSEVELT4 ,A H1L?Y /OCK
PORTFOLIO4 ,A NICE WIFE4 ,TWO GRT KIDS4
,N[ ,I SEE HM 9 A S\P L9E ) "EY?+ HE [NS
WRAPP$ UP 9 A NEWSPAP]40
  8,:AT HAPP5$80
  8,F :AT ,I CD PIECE TGR1 HE W5T NUTS
OV] "S WOMAN4 ,8 WIFE CAU<T HM1 & !N
:ILE !Y 7 PAT*+ X UP1 HE LO/ 8 3C5TR,N &
/>T$ GETT+ SLOPPY AT 8 JOB & !Y CANN$
HM4 ,AL HE GOT 96"S SORT ( ,PONZI S*EME4
,M1DE IS S* A WUSS1 S ANXI\S 6GET   #AHA
SUCK]$4 ,EV5 8 KIDS PU% HM >.D4 ,J 2F HE
GOT FIR$1 HE FAIL$ 6F9I% A REPORT HE
NE$$ =A BIG NEW A3.T 'CAUSE HE CDN'T GET
8 KIDS (F ! HOME -PUT] S'S HE CD "W ON
X4 ,!N HE 0 CAU<T )A SECRET>Y OR "SBODY1
& 8 ASS 0 GRASS40
  8,Y DIDN'T CALL 8 WIFE & TELL H] %E CD
F9D HM AT A C]TA9 MOTEL )A WOMAN80
  8,X WASN'T ME4 ,T HAPP5$ AF40
  8,DID ,JO,ANNE ,B>B] TELL Y ! WOMAN %E
SAW AT ! MOTEL 0 ! SAME "O :O DI$ 9 YR
B$80
  ,SNAKE LOOK$ AT ME & !N AT ,KA?Y4 8,Y
%ITT9' YR OLD FR1 ,?OMAS80
  8,T'S :AT %E SD40
  8,M1DE ,B>B] 0 "P (! F]TIL;Y PROGRAM80
  ,KA?Y & ,I EX*ANG$ LOOKS4 ,SNAKE 0 S
DELU.NAL1 X 0 H>D 6"K : "P ( 8 /ORY 0
WOR?:ILE & : 0 BATTY4
  8,KA?Y1 DE>10 SD ,SNAKE AF HE'D F9I%$
8 M1L4 8,Y ?9K IF A WOMAN TELLS Y %E
LOVES Y B Y'VE ONLY "KN H] SIX H\RS1 X'S
LEGIT80
  8,SIX H\RS80 ,KA?Y SD1 SI<+4 ,%E'D BE5
"? ? 2F4 8,WAS %E DRUNK80           #AHB
  8,SEV5 BE]S 0 ALL4 ,%E CD WALK40
  8,X'S N LEGIT1 ,ELM]40
  8,:AT IF ,I'M ) "O LADY1 EXCEPT ,I
KEEP ?9K+ AB ANO!R LADY8 ,DOES T M1N
,I'M 9 LOVE )! O!R LADY80
  ,:5"E 8 LOVE LIFE TOOK A BRUIS+1 ,ELM]
%[$ UP AT \R H\SE ASK+ 6SEE ,KA?Y4 ,!Y
WD SIT UP = H\RS1 %E PATI5TLY LI/5+ &
C\NSEL+1 HE SNIVEL+ & :9+4 ,EV5 ?\< "!
_H N"E BE5 ANY LOVE LO/ 2T ! TWO1 ? _H
2COME A SORRY RITUAL4
  ,I W&]$ 96! O!R ROOM & TRI$ 6R1D A
BOOK1 AB&ON$ T 6WAT* AN OLD MOVIE ON
VIDEO1 .,HOBSON'S .,*OICE4 ,F "T 6"T
,KA?Y %U%$ MY LAU<T] F ! O!R ROOM4









                  #AI               #AHC

  ,! NEXT MORN+ ,I CALL$ ,>NOLD ,HALDE-
MAN AT ! ,S1TTLE ,POLICE ,DE"P;T1 4P5S$
)! PL1SANTRIES1 & ASK$ AB ,CA!R9E
,SAMAN?A ,MC,FLEEGLE4
  8,DON'T WORRY YRF OV] H]4 ,WE'LL LET Y
"K :5 WE F9D \ ANY?+4 ,Y'RE ON \R LI/ TO
CALL40
  8,?ANKS40
  ,X 0 EI ! NON*AL.E 9 ,HALDEMAN'S T"O
OR ! >ROG.E1 OR MAYBE X 0 ! M5;N ( 2+ ON
A LI/ T PROMPT$ ME 6MAKE ANO!R CALL1 ?
6AN OLD FR 9 ! ,,SPD :O _H =M]LY "W$ 9
,HOMICIDE_/,ASSAULT4 8,RALPH8 ,? IS
,BLACK4 ,LI/51 ,I'M CALL+--0
  8,I ?9K ,I "K :Y4 ,! D1D WOMAN'S "N IS
,ROB]TA ,CAP%AW ,SAMS4 ,T'S ) "O ;,M4
,NOBODY "KS :Y %E 0 US+ ! ,MC,FLEEGLE
ALIAS40
  8,Y HE> AB ? ALR80
  8,A LL40 ,HE GAVE ME AN A4RESS ON ,S\?
,F]D9& ,/REET4 8,"O ( H] NEI<BORS J GOT
BACK F VAC,N1 0 GO+ "? H] NEWSPAP]S1 &
SAW ! PHOTO4 ,HALDEMAN'S GO+ 6OP5 UP !
H\SE Z SOON Z HE GETS A C\RT        #AHD
ORD]40
  8,:5 ,I CALL$ HM A M9UTE AGO1 HE SD HE
DIDN'T "K :O %E WAS40
  8,I CDN'T TELL Y AB T40
  ,I DIAL$ MY 9=M,N BROK] 9 ,OREGON &
GAVE H] ! "N & A4RESS ,RALPH _H GIV5 ME4
8,"EY?+ Y C DIG UP1 ,HILDA40
  8,IS ? ! WOMAN Y 7 HUNT+ 2F80
  8,T'S H]40
  ,X 0 A %ORT WALK 6! ,M1NY ,HOTEL4
,5T]+ "? ! NOR? DOOR1 ,I W5T D[N A HALL-
WAY PA/ MEET+ ROOMS & 96! FOY]1 ": A "Y
MAN & WOMAN AT ! DESK 7 *ECK+ 9 A GR\P (
BUSI;S TRAVEL]S4 ,! R1D] BO>D NE> ! ELE-
VATORS >.D ! CORN] GAVE ! ONLY CLUE T
,,IGP ,SY/EMS _H ANY (FICES 9 ! BUILD+4
,ON TWELVE "! 0 A .,G4,I4 LI/$4 ,GRE5
,9T]N,NAL8 ,,IGP ,SY/EMS1 Z ,I RECALL$1
/OOD = ,9T]N,NAL ,GRE5-,TURTLE ,PROD-
UCTS1 ?\< ! FULL "N 0 R>ELY US$4 ,ON
TWELVE ,I WALK$ D[N A C>PET$ HALLWAY &
F.D SUITE #ABJA4
  ,A "Y WOMAN 9 A NAVY BLUE SUIT ANSW]$
! DOOR4 8,YES80
  8,MY "N IS ,?OMAS ,BLACK4         #AHE
,I'M--0
  8,-E IN40
  ,%E WALK$ 9 FRONT ( ME4 ,TRIM1 ( M$IUM
HEI<T1 %E 0 "Y & WELL GROOM$ )A WIDE RE>
& FULL CALVES "W+ NAVY PUMPS4 ,%E /EPP$
>.D A DESK & SAT1 H] %ORT D>K HAIR BI-
SECT$ 0A WIRE.S H1DPH"O4 ,H] BR[N EYES 7
D>K1 SLI<TLY LIQUID1 & H1VILY MADE UP4
,IF %E 0 ! SEXY -PUT] VOICE ON ! PH"O1
,I CDN'T TELL X4 ,! "N PLAQUE ON ! CORN]
( H] DESK R1D .,CYN?IA .,WE2]4
  ,%E H&$ ME A %1F ( PAP]S ON A CLIPBO>D
& SD1 8,PL1SE FILL ^! \40 ,%E 5T]$ MY "N
&! "T ON A *ECK-IN %EET AT H] DESK1 & !N
:5 A LI<T ON H] PH"O 3SOLE LIT UP1 %E
ANSW]$1 8,GRE5 ,DIVI.N40
  ,!Y WANT$ 6"K E PLACE ,I'D "E "W$1 !
/REET A4RESS ( E H\SE ,I'D LIV$ 9 S9CE
BIR?1 ANY TR\# )! LAW 9CLUD+ TRA6IC
TICKETS1 MY S]VICE RECORD1 S*OOL+1 =MAL
CLASSES S9CE COLLEGE1 &! FULL "NS & AD-
DRESSES ( ALL CLOSE RELATIVES4 ,"! 0 EV5
A SEC;N ON HO2IES4
  ,_H X N BE5 = ,ELM]'S 9VOLVE;T "H1 ,I
WD H WALK$ \1 = ,I F.D ! "QNAIRE    #AHF
9TRUSIVE1 Z IF ,I 7 2+ *ECK$ \ =A N,NAL
SECUR;Y CLE>.E--OR QUIZZ$ 0A F/ DATE :O
0 ALR MAK+ PLANS =! RE/ ( MY LIFE4
  ,FIFTY-TWO M9UTES LAT] ,I PASS$ ! =MS
BACK 6,MS4 ,WE2]1 :O ASK$ ME 6SIT & RE-
LAX4
  ,! SUITE 3SI/$ (! L>GE MA9 ROOM1 A RE/
ROOM1 & TWO BACK ROOMS1 _! DOORS CLOS$4
,! L>GE ROOM 3TA9$ ,WE2]'S DESK1 A SEC-
OND DESK ) V LL ON X1 TWO S(AS & ?REE
*AIRS 9 FRONT (A SET ( W9D[S SPORT+ A
PANORAMIC VIEW 6! WE/4 ,I CD SEE ,GRE5
,LAKE4 ,! ZOO4 ,! FREEWAY4 ,ELM]'S NEI<-
BORHOOD4 ,A *UNK ( BR[N-R$ AIR ROO/+ ON
! C;Y4 ,I /OOD 9 ! CORN] & TRI$ 6SPOT MY
NEI<BORHOOD1 B ! ANGLE 0 WR;G4 ,X 0 A
/RANGE WAIT+ ROOM1 N A MAGAZ9E OR TROPI-
CAL FI% 9 SI<T1 NO?+ 6KEEP ! CU/OM]S
AMUS$ B ! VIEW &A PRIM ,CYN?IA ,WE2] )
H] BACK TURN$4
  8,MR4 ,BLACK80
  ,HE'D SN1K$ UP ON ME1 A G5IAL-LOOK+
MAN 9 8 FIFTIES2 E>LY OR LATE1 X 0 H>D
6TELL4 ,HE LOOK$ W1!R$ & FIT & GRIPP$ MY
H& L A T]RORI/ SIZ+ UP A CAPTIVE4   #AHG
8,MR4 ,RAKUBIAN80
  ,HE SMIL$4 8,NO1 NO4 ,I'M AFRAID ,I'M
ONLY "H Z A 3SULTANT4 ,>T DOES ! HIR+ &
FIR+4 ,I "W D[N/AIRS40 ,HE _H MY PAP]"W
9 8 H&S1 B ,I'D N HE>D HM -E 96! ROOM &
WASN'T SURE H[ L;G HE'D BE5 "!4 8,WE H
HIR+ AUTONOMY 9 EA* ( \R DE"P;TS1 B !
BIGWIGS L U 6BR+ ANO!R MANAG] 96! ROOM
:5 WE 9T]VIEW4 ,A MATT] ( POLICY40
  8,S Y'RE ON ! SAME LEVEL Z ,RAKUBIAN1
ONLY 9 A DI6]5T SEC;N (! -PANY80
  8,RAKUBIAN'S ABV ME ACTU,Y4 ,& HE "WS
9 ,GRE5 ,DIVI.N4 ,I "W 9 ,DIESEL ,"WS
,MATT]S40
  8,! TOY -PANY80
  8,ORD9>ILY ,RAKUBIAN WDN'T *OOSE ME TO
SIT 9 ON A HIR+ 9T]VIEW1 B ,I'M AFRAID )
ALL ! SUMM] VAC,NS &! \-(-/ATE 3F];ES "!
>5'T _M ( U 6*OOSE F4 ,ANYBODY ELSE WD H
6FLY UP F \R H1DQU>T]S 9 ,SAN ,FRANCIS-
CO40
  8,I C'T 2LIEVE ,,IGP [NS A TOY -PANY4
,Y MAKE ^? LL COLOR$ DO7IE-CL[N PUZ-
ZLES80
  8,"!'S A L;G /ORY 2H ^?1 B ,I     #AHH
WON'T BORE Y ) X4 ,!Y [N ,BREL,CO TOO4
,0! WAY4 ,MY "N'S ,FITT4 ,]NE/ ,FITT4 ,X
SAYS "H Y RIDE BICYCLES4 ,Y "E RACE80
  8,MY FRS D4 ,DID Y SAY !Y [N$ ,BREL-
,CO80 ,FITT SMIL$ & NO4$4 ,8 R.D H1D
GAVE ! IMPRES.N ( *U2I;S1 ?\< 8 FACE 0
ET*$ ) "* L9ES & 8 SUIT HUNG LOOSELY1 8
NECK L1N & MUSCL$4 ,HE _H HALF-MOON TAN
M>KS ON ! BACKS ( 8 H&S SIMIL> 6! "OS
IMPR9T$ 0MY CYCL+ GLOVES4
  8,! GRT ADVANTAGE ( "W+ = ? -PANY
ISN'T ! PAY4 ,X'S ! P]KS4 ,Y C SCRAT* UP
! AIRF>E1 ! -PANY'LL PUT Y UP 9 ,MAJORCA
9 ,JANU>Y & Y C RUB %\LD]S )! ,BREL,CO
CYCL+ T1M :ILE !Y'RE PUTT+ 9 W9T] MILE-
AGE4 ,Y GET TE/$ 0T1M TRA9]S1 RUN A
,,VO,'-TWO MAX TE/ ON AN ]GOMET]4 ,HELL1
!Y'LL EV5 ANALYZE YR TURDS40 ,HE GAVE ME
A LL-BOY GR94
  8,": D ,I SIGN UP80
  8,"! 7 TWELVE ( U LA/ YE>4 ,DYK/RA F !
FILM DIVI.N4 ,ME4 ,"S O!RS F ! PLANTS 9
,CALI=NIA4 ,WE _H A BLA/40
  8,S Y RIDE TOO80
  8,2F ! ,MAJORCA TRIPS MY FA/E/    #AHI
TW5TY-FIVE 0 A "O-OH-?REE4 ,9 ! LA/ ?REE
YE>S ,I'VE GOTT5 X D[N 6A L;G FIFTY-
SEV540 ,-P>A# 6! MILE = RUNN]S1 A TW5TY-
FIVE-MILE "T TRIAL 0 A UNIV]SAL Y>D/ICK
= CYCLI/S4 ,DO+ TW5TY-FIVE MILES 9 "U AN
H\R 0 ! R\< EQUIVAL5T 6A F\R-M9UTE MILE1
& ,FITT CLAIM$ 6H B1T AN H\R 0M ?AN TWO
M9UTES4 ,AT 8 AGE1 EV5 ON A TRICK$-\
BIKE1 X 0 N LIKELY4
  ,! DOOR 2H U OP5$ &A SATURN9E MAN 9 A
VE/ &A B[ TIE DA2$ 8 T;GUE 6HIS LIPS &
LOOK$ U OV]4 ,LOOK$ ME OV]4
  ,RAKUBIAN 0 A SMALL1 ?9 MAN )! RU4Y
-PLEXION & WEBS ( EXPLOD$ VE9S 9 8 FACE
L ^? (A H1VY DR9K]4 ,8 :ITE HAIR 0 BRU%$
/RAI<T BACK & GROOM$ CLOSE 6HIS SKULL4
,HE _H AN ERECT MILIT>Y BE>+4 ,X WASN'T
UNTIL HE SPOKE &! ,BRITI% A35T MAT]IAL-
IZ$ T ,I RECALL$ ,ELM] TELL+ ME ,RAKUBI-
AN _H SP5T TW5TY YE>S 9 ,,MI#F1 ! ,BRIT-
I% 9TELLIG;E AG5CY4
  8,MR4 ,BLACK4 ,WON'T Y PL1SE /EP
9SIDE80
  ,X 0 A SMALL (FICE ) ?REE *AIRS1 "O 2H
! DESK1 "O AL;GSIDE X1 & "O SIX     #AIJ
OR EI<T FEET \ 96! ROOM1 A P[] >RANGE;T1
C>E;LLY LAID \ 9 ADV.E & PROBABLY US$ ON
ALL GUE/S4 ,AL;G "O WALL /OOD A BOOKCASE
FILL$ ) ?ICK TOMES RELAT+ 6,U4,S4 & 9T]-
N,NAL TAX CODES1 SU7E/+ T ! (FICE 0 US$
0"S"O ELSE1 ?\< ,I _H ! FEEL+ X 0 N4 ,!
DESK 0 OLD & SC>R$ & _H A LAMP1 AN A%-
TRAY1 & "O P5CIL ON X4 ,! A%TRAY 0 HALF
FULL4
  ,AF WE 7 S1T$1 ,>?UR ,RAKUBIAN L1N$
BACK 9 8 SWIVEL *AIR & P]US$ ! /ACK (
=MS ,I'D FILL$ \4 ,F "T 6"T HE WD MAKE
SMALL S.DS 9 8 ?ROAT1 B HE DID N LOOK
UP4 ,]NE/ ,FITT SAT />+ AT ! C>PET )A
SMILE ON 8 FACE 2FITT+ A MANAG] 9 ! TOY
DIVI.N4
  ,ADMIR+ _! 9T]VIEW /RATEGY1 ,I WAIT$4
,F/ X 0 ! GD-COP1 BAD-COP R\T9E1 ,FITT
TAK+ ON ! ROLE ( GD COP1 ,RAKUBIAN PUTT+
! SCREWS 6ME ) 8 SIL;E4 ,!Y'D PROBABLY
_H A PROFES.NAL -E 9 & ADVISE !M ON EX-
ACTLY ": 6PLACE ! *AIRS1 H[ L;G 6R1D !
PAP]"W1 :E!R OR N 6F>T4 ,A SMALL /]EO
AG/ ! WALL PLAY$ ,MAHL]1 OR "S?+ T S.D$
Z IF X CD H BE5 ,MAHL]4             #AIA
  8,S10 ,RAKUBIAN SD :5 HE'D F9I%$ EI<T
M9UTES LAT]4 8,NO?+ SURPRIS+ "H4 ,(
C\RSE "! WDN'T BE4 ,WE'VE BE5 KE5 ON Y =
"S "T1 ,MR4 ,BLACK4 ,DID Y "K T80
  8,NO1 ,I DIDN'T40
  8,M ?AN "O ( \R OP]ATIVES 9 ! >EA HAS
RECOMM5D$ Y4 ,T5ACI\S B H"O/ IS :AT
WE'VE HE>D4 ,& T 9T]E/S U4 ,Y SEEM 6H A
CODE ( E?ICS4 ,N _M D ^! "DS40
  8,?ANK Y40
  8,D Y H ANY IDEA :AT WE D "H AT ,GRE51
,MR4 ,BLACK80
  8,I H AN IDEA40
  8,& :AT IS X Y ?9K WE D80
  8,9DU/RIAL SECUR;Y40
  8,CLOSE4 ,:AT WE REQUIRE ( Y1 IF Y
DECIDE 6"W ) U1 IS ABSOLUTE LOYALTY4 ,Y
W N 4CUSS YR "W ) ANYBODY1 N EV5 YR
WIFE4 ,"U/OOD80
  8,C]TA9LY40
  8,YR ASSIGN;TS W -E "? ? (FICE4 ,I W
GIVE !M1 OR ,MS4 ,WE2] W4 ,%D X 2 4COV]$
Y'VE SPOK5 \ ( TURN1 H["E OBLIQUELY1 Y W
2 4MISS$ =?)4 ,"U/OOD80
  8,YES40                           #AIB
  8,%D ! POLICE "Q Y AB ANY JOB Y'RE P]-
=M+ OR H P]=M$ = U1 Y'RE 63TACT ? (FICE
IMMLY4 ,A LAWY] W 2 ASSIGN$40
  8,I'M N 9 ! HABIT ( BR1K+ ! LAW OR GO+
6JAIL40
  8,NO4 ,( C\RSE N4 ,^! >E EXTREME-AC;N
CLAUSES & >E R>ELY1 IF "E1 9VOK$40
  8,0! WAY4 ,DID ,ELM] ,SLEZAK RECOMM5D
ME80
  ,RAKUBIAN LOOK$ H>D AT ME1 FOLD$ 8 H&S
TGR1 & PROPP$ !M "U 8 *94 ,HE _H A SMALL
M\?1 A N>R[ NOSE1 & E>S T /UCK \ L W9D
CUPS ON A W1!R /,N4 ,HE APPE>$ 6BE AN
EMO;N.S MAN1 & ,I CD R1DILY 2LIEVE HE'D
ONCE "W$ = ,,MI#F4
  8,I _C 4CUSS ,SLEZAK ) Y 9 ! SAME WAY
T ,I _C 4CUSS Y ) HM4 ,F TOP 6BOTTOM ?
IS A QUIET %OP40
  ,RAKUBIAN SAT BACK & PUT 8 ?UMBS 96HIS
VE/4 ,FITT %U6L$ 8 FEET4 ,TWICE N[
,RAKUBIAN _H FUM#D =A PACK ( CIG>ETTES &
?"\ BETT] ( X1 REFRA9+ ON ,FITT'S 2HALF
NO D\BT4 ,I _H ! FEEL+ T IF X _H BE5 J !
TWO ( U1 8 LUNGS WD 2 FILL$4
  ,RAKUBIAN WAT*$ ME =A FEW SEC-    #AIC
ONDS4 8,WE'VE PREP>$ AN (F] = Y40 ,HE
PULL$ OP5 A DRAW] & TOOK \ A S+LE %EET (
PAP]4 8,AN ATTORNEY 9 ,SPOKANE "ND ,G>Y
,P>SONS4 ,FOLL[ HM4 ,WE H /&>D =MS = Y
6FILL \4 ,X MI<T HELP 6R1D "? !M 2F Y
2G9 S Y "K :AT WE'RE LOOK+ =4 ,"D-&-NI<T
SURVEILL.E F N[ UNTIL ,W$NES"D MORN+4
,FILL \ ! PAP]"W4 ,RETURN X 6ME OR ,MS4
,WE2] 0,?URS"D MORN+4 ,X'S A RELATIVELY
SIMPLE JOB40
  8,I %D H EXPLA9$4 ,I'M N AVAILA# ! F/
"P ( ? WEEK40
  ,! ROOM GREW QUIET4 ,EV5 ! ,MAHL] ON !
/]EO SEEM$ S(T]4 ,RAKUBIAN SL[LY TRAC$ 8
LIPS ) 8 T;GUE4 8,WE HAV5'T 4CUSS$ !
FEE4 ,= TWO "DS X W 2 V CLOSE 6FIVE ?\S&
DOLL>S40
  8,I'M "W+ ON A CASE ? WEEK4 ,I'LL H TO
PASS40
  8,IF ! M"OY'S N SU6ICI5T '''0
  8,! M"OY'S GRT4 ,I H--0
  8,T5 ?\S&10 ,RAKUBIAN SD4 8,T'S FIVE A
"D40
  8,I H ! O!R CASE40
  8,Y H OBLIG,NS & Y M/ HONOR !M4   #AID
,WE RESPECT T4 ,WE'LL CALL40 ,HE SD X 9
A WAY T 9TIMAT$ HE N"E WD4 ,I _H BE5
4MISS$4
  8,I LOOK =W>D 6X10 ,I SD1 9 A MANN] T
H9T$ ,I KNEW HE N"E WD CALL4 ,I WASN'T
SURE EXACTLY :AT 0 GO+ ON1 B ,I DIDN'T
WANT 6SEEM L A RUBE4
  ,]NE/ ,FITT WALK$ ME 6! DOOR :ILE ,RA-
KUBIAN LIT A CIG>ETTE & R1D "S PAP]S 9 8
LAP4 ,I _H BE5 TURN$ OV] 6AN "UL+1 %OO$
\ ! DOOR ON A WAVE ( SMOKE & 5NUI4 ,X 0
H>D 6TELL :AT _H TAK5 PLACE4 ,_H ,I AP-
PLI$ =A JOB OR _H ,I P]=M$ A SUBTLE 9T]-
ROG,N ( ,SNAKE'S =M] EMPLOY]S8 ,_H !Y (-
F]$ ME A JOB1 OR _H !Y ONLY CONN$ ME 9TO
WRIT+ D[N E FACT & REF];E !Y NE$$ 6*ECK
\ MY LIFE8 ,! SURVEILL.E (F] A FEW M9-
UTES E>LI] _H SEEM$ G5U9E 5\<1 B ,RAKU-
BIAN'S 4MISSAL _H BE5 SWIFT & SELF-
3SCI\SLY BOORI%4
  ,9 ! ANTEROOM NE> ! FRONT DOOR ,FITT
%OOK MY H& AG1 N Z VIGOR\SLY Z ! F/ "T4
,8 SMILE 0 W>M4 8,LOOK10 HE SD4 8,:Y 7 Y
ASK+ AB YR FR80
  8,NO R1SON40                      #AIE
  8,-"P;TALIZ,N IS :AT ,RAKUBIAN'S SEC;N
IS AB4 ,I SUPPOSE ANO!R ^W = X IS SECRE-
CY4 ,:AT 0 YR FR'S "N AG80
  8,ELM] ,SLEZAK40
  8,:AT"E Y'VE GOT GO+1 Y'D BETT] GET
RID ( X4 ,:AT Y GOT "H IS A NICKEL HOLD+
UP A DOLL>1 SON4 ,TOO BAD4 ,YR 2+ BUSY4
,I 0 HOP+ Y MI<T H "T 6G RID+4 ,S9CE ,I
GOT 96T[N1 ,I HAV5'T _H T _M P 6RIDE )40
  8,:AT "T DID Y H 9 M9D80
  8,? AFN8 ,? EV5+8 ,I'LL 2 "H UNTIL AB
EI<T1 B ,I'D L 6GET \ =A C\PLE ( H\RS
"S": 9 ! MI4LE4 ,MY BIKE'S "H 9 ! (-
FICE40
  8,I'LL GIVE Y A CALL4 ,IF Y DON'T HE>
F ME 0F\R1 G )\T ME40
  8,I DON'T HE> F Y1 ,I'LL PROBABLY "W
/RAI<T ON "?40
  ,I'D SE5 8 K9D 2F4 ,A FIFTY-SEV5-M9UTE
TW5TY-FIVE-MILE "T TRIAL8 ,N LIKELY4 ,HE
0 ! TYPE :O B"\ A F\R-?\S&-DOLL> BIKE &
WORE A BR&-NEW T1M J]SEY F ,BREL,CO &!
F/ "T WE CAME 6A HILL HE'D GET \ (! SAD-
DLE & ATTACK1 P$AL+ Z H>D Z HE CD1 ?RU/+
8 BIKE BACK & =? 2T 8 LEGS4 ,X      #AIF
WDN'T D HM A BIT ( GD4 ,8 K9D ?"\ =TY
MILES A WEEK 0 A REGIM54
  8,0! WAY10 ,FITT SD1 L[]+ 8 VOICE Z WE
/EPP$ 96! HALL4 8,>T RUNS ? :OLE S*ME> L
"S SORT ( SPY OP],N4 ,DON'T LET T FOOL
Y4 ,X'S MO/LY 9DU/RIAL-9=M,N GA!R+4
,8,"K ?9E 5EMY40' ,H>M.S /UFF40
  8,I FIGUR$ Z M*40
  ,AF ,I'D WALK$ HOME1 ,I DROVE D[NT[N
6,SECOND ,AV5UE1 ": ,I DROPP$ 9 AT !
BAIL BOND -PANY T _H PO/$ ! BOND = ,EL-
M]4 ,_! DESCRIP;N (! MAN :O'D BR"\
SEV5TY-FIVE ?\S& DOLL>S CA% 96_! (FICE 0
VAGUE1 DELIB]ATELY VAGUE ,I ?"\4 ,A :ITE
MALE 9 A SUIT1 !Y SD4 ,MI<T H BE5 AN AT-
TORNEY4 ,A SMALL MU/A*E4 ,M$IUM HEI<T4
,M$IUM WEI<T4 ,M$IUM AGE4 ,BR[N & BR[N4
,HE'D CLAIM$ HE 0 A RELATIVE ( ,SLEZAK'S
F BACK ,EA/ & WANT$ 6SURPRISE HM4 ,N[1 T
"P ,ELM] _H N M5;N$1 B !N1 MAYBE !Y
_HN'T TOLD HM4 ,! DESCRIP;N MI<T H FIT A
LOT ( P4 ,WD H FIT ,RAKUBIAN1 = 9/.E4


                  #BJ               #AIG

  ,DAUNT$ AT ! PROSPECT ( TALK+ 6,KA?Y
AB H] LA/ NI<T'S T@ETE-@A-T@ETE ) ,ELM]
--ALW A MESSY BUSI;S--& WANT+ 6GIVE
,HILDA M "T 2F PE/]+ H]1 ,I RAN ]R&S &
!N R1D ! LA/ *APT] (A NOVEL ,I'D BE5
TRY+ 6F9I% =A WEEK1 ? :ILE EAT+ AT !
C.T] AT ,MIT*ELLI ,TRATTORIA D[N/AIRS F
\R (FICE4
  8,": H Y BE580 ,KA?Y ASK$ :5 ,I GOT 6!
(FICE4 8,X'S ALM "O O'C40 ,PRESS+ H]
F+]TIPS 6MY *E/1 %E WALK$ ME BACKW>D
96MY (FICE1 CLOS$ ! DOOR1 & =C$ ME 96MY
*AIR1 !N KICK$ (F H] %OES & SAT ON MY
DESK )A FOOT ON EI ( MY *AIR >MS4 8,I "K
"S?+40
  8,T'S N A V LAWY]LY POSI;N10 ,I SD4
  ,%E PRESS$ A /OCK+$ FOOT G5TLY AG/ MY
CROT*4 ,H] FOOT 0 COLD4 8,IS ? BETT]80
  8,X'S BETT]1 B X'S N V LAWY]LY EI40
  8,I J ASK$ IF X 0 BETT]4 ,Y "K1 ,EL-
M]'S BE5 9 MY (FICE ) ,ELL5 ALL MORN+40
  8,ELL5 ,BURGESS8 ,! PSY*OLOGI/80
  8,RUNN+ A BATT]Y ( TE/S4 ,I'VE GOT !
E>LY RESULTS4 ,HE'S RECANT$40       #AIH
  8,:AT D Y M1N .RECANT$80
  8,HE ADMITS ! ALI5 BUSI;S 0 BALONEY4
,SD HE 0 SEE+ H] J L ! NEI<BORS SD HE 0
SEE+ H]4 ,=A P]IOD ( TWO WEEKS40
  8,H[ DOES HE EXPLA9 H] D1?80
  8,HE DOESN'T4 ,NOR DOES HE "K H] R1L
"N4 ,B LI/5 6:AT ,ELL5 SAYS AB HM40
,KA?Y R1*$ OV] 6A FOLD] %E'D C>RI$ 9 )
H]4 8,HE HAS A BORD]L9E N>CISSI/IC P]-
SONAL;Y40
  8,I CD H TOLD Y T40
  8,HE'S 9SECURE B DOESN'T WANT ANYBODY
6"K HE'S 9SECURE40
  8,I CD H TOLD Y T40
  8,HE SP5DS M* ( 8 "T MA9TA9+ A FALSE
FRONT1 & HE'S P>ANOID4 ,T'S :Y HE WE>S
ALL ^? GUNS4 ,8 REL,N%IPS ) WOM5 >E AM-
BIVAL5T4 ,ON ! O!R H& HE IS USU,Y G5]\S
& (T5 ?9KS ( O!RS4 ,HE HAS A HI<-A*IEV]
P]SONAL;Y1 B HE'S ADOPT$ A LIFE/YLE T
MAKES HI< A*IEVE;T CLOSE 6IMPOSSI#4
,HE'S GOT AN A4ICTIVE P]SONAL;Y TOO4
,PROBABLY AN ALCOHOLIC4 ,C]TA9LY A
SEXAHOLIC40
  8,I CD H TOLD Y T40               #AII
  8,-E ON4 ,DON'T RU9 X = ME4 ,HE
DOESN'T H A :OLE LOT ( IMAG9,N4 ,HE "WS
H>D :5 HE "WS B SP5DS A LOT ( 8 LIFE
FIGUR+ \ H[ N 6"W4 ,HE %IES AWAY F RO-
MANTIC 5TANGLE;TS & TR1TS WOM5 Z TRO-
PHIES4 ,HE HATES 8 "F 6! EXT5T T IF HE
SAW HM AG1 HE CLAIMS HE WD KILL HM4 ,HE
HATES 8 "M1 :O PROBABLY _H BIPOL> 4ORD]
--MANIC DEPRES.N--& HAS BE5 MISS+ = NE>-
LY TW5TY YE>S40
  8,I KNEW T40
  8,Y DID80
  8,SNAKE GETS DRUNK1 HE TELLS Y ALL ?
/UFF4 ,ELL5 %D H GOT HM DRUNK40
  8,%E _H H] *.E4 ,HE ASK$ H] \40
  8,:AT'D %E SAY80
  8,:AT D Y M1N1 :AT'D %E SAY8 ,%E'S M>-
RI$4 ,HE'S A PATI5T4 ,%E TOLD HM Z M* &
HE SD HE'D QUIT Z A PATI5T1 WDN'T TELL
H] HUSB&40
  8,N"O ( ? EXPLA9S ! ALI5 FOOLI%;S4 ,Z
=! GUNS1 !Y >5'T 5TIRELY IMAGE4 ,HE'S
BE5 %OT F\R "TS40
  8,!N HE %D 2 WE>+ A BULLETPRO( VE/1 N
C>RY+ GUNS4 ,OH4 ,ELL5 SAYS HE      #BJJ
HAS A ,JOHN ,WAYNE -PLEX40
  8,I KNEW T40
  8,N[ Y .H RU9$ X40
  8,:AT "T DID Y GET 6B$ LA/ NI<T1
,SI/]80
  8,?REE-FIFTE540
  8,?REE-FIFTE560
  8,HE NE$$ 6TALK40
  8,:AT DID Y TALK AB80
  8,! SAME Z LA/ "T4 ,8 SEV5 GIRLFRS40
  8,T'S D[N A LL F :5 ,I F/ MET HM4 ,I
?9K HE TOLD ME HE _H N9E40
  8,9CLUD+--N[1 DON'T Y D>E SAY ANY?+ TO
H]--,BEULAH1 \R RECEP;NI/1 :OM HE RAT-
TLES AB ONCE E SIX MON?S4 ,T'S :AT HE
CALLS X1 .RATTL+40
  8,COLOR;L1 A9'T HE80
  8,%E ALW CALLS HM1 HE N"E CALLS H]1 &
%E BR+S A PORNOGRAPHIC MOVIE OV] & !Y
WAT* X TGR & !Y DR9K RUM & !N '''0
  ,I PUT MY ?UMBS 9 MY E>S & />T$ BA2L+1
KEPT X UP UNTIL ,KA?Y PULL$ MY H&S AWAY
& :ISP]$1 8,OKAY4 ,OKAY4 ,I'LL SP>E YR
S5SITIVE S\L ! GRUE"S DETAILS4 ,HE WANTS
6BE M>RI$4 ,T'S 8 PRO#M4 ,HE        #BJA
WANTS A WIFE &A H\SE &A LIFE4 ,HE ?9KS
HE'S GETT+ OLD & HE WANTS A WIFE >.D :5
X HAPP5S4 ,HE'S L"OLY40
  8,MO/ GUYS :O LIVE L HM >E4 ,S :AT AB
! PSY*OSIS OR DELU.NS OR :AT"E8 ,:AT DID
,ELL5 SAY80
  8,L ,I SD1 HE'S AB&ON$ 8 ALI5 /ORY4
,NO SIGNS ( DELU.NAL ?9K+4 ,NO SIGNS (
PSY*OSIS4 ,: DOESN'T M1N %E C'T 2 FOOL$4
,ESPECI,Y AF ONLY "O VISIT4 ,%E WANTS TO
SEE HM AG 9 A FEW "DS40
  ,I TOLD ,KA?Y :AT ,I'D LE>N$ AB \R D1D
NON-ALI5--T H] R1L "N 0 ,ROB]TA ,CAP%AW
,SAMS & %E _H LIV$ 0,LAKE ,WA%+TON ON
,F]D9&4 ,I TOLD H] AB ,>NOLD ,HALDEMAN'S
LIES1 AB ,GRE5 ,9T]N,NAL1 & AB ,FITT
WANT+ 6RIDE BIKES ) ME4
  8,:AT D Y "K AB ? ,SAMS80
  8,N A ?+4 ,I'VE GOT ,HILDA "W+ ON X4
,I'M GO+ D[N LAT] 6TALK 6! NEI<BORS40
  8,I KEEP ?9K+ AB T SEV5TY-FIVE ?\S& 9
BAIL M"OY4 ,:O WD PUT T UP8 ,:O CD AF=D
TO8 ,& ? ,RAKUBIAN P]SON HAS CLE>LY ASK$
,FITT 6SCOPE Y \4 ,I ?9K Y %D G RID+ )
HM40                                #BJB
  8,I W1 B ,I H A FEEL+ HE'S N GO+ 6SP1K
\ ( TURN40
  8,D ME A FAVOR TOO1 WD Y80
  8,:AT1 MY LOVE80
  8,TAKE ,ELM] AWAY40
  8,OH1 -E ON1 ,KA?Y40
  8,HE'S "UFOOT "H 9 ! (FICE1 & IF HE
GOES \ 0HMF1 ,I'M AFRAID HE'LL GET 9TO
TR\#40
  8,IF HE'LL GET 96TR\# 0HMF1 HE'LL GET
96TR\# ) ME40
  8,NO1 HE WON'T4 ,Y WANT HM >RE/$ AG80
  8,OKAY4 ,I'LL TAKE HM4 ,HE C GIVE ME
TIPS ON H[ 6KEEP N9E GIRLFRS40
  8,Y ALR H ."O GIRLFR1 BIG GUY40
  8,NO4 ,I H "O WIFE4 ,! GIRLFRS >E
EXTRA4 ,MAYBE ,I'LL HOLD X D[N 6SEV54
,NO1 WAIT4 ,I NE$ N9E4 ,O!RWISE ,I WON'T
H 5 =A S(TBALL T1M40
  ,%E SMIL$ & PLAC$ H] FOOT AG/ MY CROT*
ONCE M4 8,SURE Y CD H&LE N9E M L ME80
  8,OH1 !Y WDN'T 2 ANY?+ L Y4 ,^! WD 2
9F]IOR1 M L ''' SIX-FOOT ,SW$I% MAS-
SEUSES4 ,Y "K4 ,T TYPE40
  ,%E KISS$ ME 9 ! C5T] ( MY        #BJC
=EH1D & /EPP$ 96H] %OES4 8,I'LL S5D HM
IN4 ,2 NICE4 ,HE ?9KS ! TWO ( Y >E "W+
ON ! CASE TGR40
  ,HILDA CALL$ J Z ,SNAKE CAME 96! (FICE
& COLLAPS$ 96! R$ *AIR4 8,%E [N$ ! H\SE
ON ,F]D9& FREE & CLE>10 SD ,HILDA4
8,PAY+ ! TAXES H]F4 ,%E'D 2 TW5TY-TWO ?
WEEK4 ,! BIR?"D ON H] PHONY DRIV]'S LI-
C5SE 0 A3URATE4 ,%E ATT5D$ ! ,UNIV]S;Y (
,CALI=NIA AT ,IRV9E & 0 9 ! DRAMA DE"P;T
UNTIL %E 0 CA/ 9 A SMALL TELEVI.N MOVIE
= ,MIRAMONT4 ,%E DROPP$ \ ( S*OOL !N &
AB SIX MON?S LAT] MOV$ 6! ,NOR?WE/40
  8,:Y WD A "Y ACTRESS MOVE 6,S1TTLE8
,DON'T !Y ALL MOVE 6,L4,A4 OR ,NEW
,YORK80
  8,MIRAMONT'S BUILD+ A /UDIO 9 ,BALL>D1
,I 2LIEVE4 ,X MI<T H 6D ) T4 ,%E -ES F A
FAMILY ) EI<T *N & 0 ON F9ANCIAL GRANTS
GO+ 6,,UC1 S ,I DON'T "K H[ %E GOT !
H\SE4 ,IF "! 0 A M>RIAGE "S":1 ,I HAV5'T
TRAC$ X4 ,H] ,SOCIAL ,SECUR;Y C>D1
DRIV]'S LIC5SE1 & ALL H] CR$IT C>DS >E
"U ! "N ( ,ROB]TA ,CAP%AW ,SAMS40
  8,Y H A NEXT ( K980               #BJD
  8,I'M "W+ ON X4 ,! *N 9 H] FAMILY _H
S"EAL "FS1 AC 6:AT ,I'M F9D+ \1 ALL
DI6]5T LA/ "NS1 &! "M DI$ LA/ YE>4 ,!Y 7
RAIS$ 9 ,FRESNO4 ,AT L1/ T 0 ! LA/ AD-
DRESS 2F H] FRE%MAN YE>40
  8,HILDA8 ,Y HAPP5 6"K :O [NS ,MIRA-
MONT80
  8,A -PANY "ND ,BREL,CO40
  8,BREL,CO ! BICYCLE-RAC+ T1M \ ( ,BEL-
GIUM80
  8,N[1 T ,I WDN'T "K4 ,! LA/ "T ,I 0 ON
A BICYCLE1 MY BUTT 0 SORE =A WEEK40
  8,D ME A FAVOR4 ,KEEP AF ,SAMS4 ,&
,I'D L "S BASIC 9=M,N ON ,BREL,CO &
,MIRAMONT4 ,!Y'RE 3NECT$ 6,,IGP ,SY/EMS
"SH[4 ,I WANT 6"K H[4 ,& :O RUNS !M40
  8,SURE1 ,?OMAS4 ,X MI<T 2 A "D OR TWO4
,I'VE GOT "S O!R A3.TS ,I'M "W+ ON40
  8,:5"E40
  8,?OMAS ME BOY10 ,SNAKE SD1 :5 ,I'D
RACK$ ! RCVR4 8,YR PRETTY WIFE1 ,KA!R9E1
TELLS ME Y H "S L1DS40
  8,%E TELLS ME Y'VE TAK5 BACK YR /ORY
AB ! ALI5S40
  ,ELM] SCRAT*$ 8 H1D1 HUN*$ 8      #BJE
%\LD]S1 GL.ED >.D ! ROOM1 & %RU7$4 ,HE
LOOK$ L ,JAMES ,D1N 9 .,GIANT4 ,HE PUT
ON A LOOK T 0 ALM A SMIRK & SD1 8,I
DON'T ?9K ,ELL5'S GOT A S+LE \NCE (
SILIC"O 6H]4 ,I 2LIEVE 9 MY HE>T %E'S
ALL WOMAN40
  8,I BET Y D4 ,S TELL ME H[ L;G Y KNEW
! D1D WOMAN40
  8,A C\PLA WEEKS40
  8,:Y DID Y SAY O!RWISE80
  8,3FUS$8 ,DRUNK8 ,I DUNNO4 ,?OMAS4 ,Y
?9K ,DESIREE WD MAKE A GD WIFE80
  8,NO4 ,-E ON4 ,LET'S G40
  ,BUMP+ 96ME AT ! DOOR1 ,SNAKE SD1
8,":'RE WE GO9'80
  8,6D "S 9T]GALACTIC RESE>*40








                  #BA               #BJF

  ,F]D9& D1D-5D$ TWO BLOCKS (F ,LAKE
,WA%+TON ,B\LEV>D ,S\?4 ,F ! MI4LE (!
/REET Y CD CAT* A N>R[ GLIMPSE (! *OPPY
LAKE & 2Y T ! LUMPY GRE5 P59SULA ( ,SEW-
>D ,P>K ACR ! WAT]4 ,ON ,F]D9& X 0 A
MIX$ BAG ( OLD] BUNGAL[-TYPE H\SES & RE-
MODEL$ JOBS4
  ,SAMS'S PLACE 0 A S+LE-/ORY /U3O /RUC-
TURE1 ! LAWN POCK$ ) GRAY LOLLIPOPLIKE
D&ELIONS GO+ 6SE$1 ! %ADES PULL$ ALL >.D
9 ! H\SE4 ,^! TWO BLOCKS ON ,F]D9& RE-
M9D$ ME (A NEI<BORHOOD 9 S\!RN ,CALI=-
NIA4 ,MAYBE X 0 ! /U3O OR MAYBE X 0 !
BR[N LAWNS4
  ,P>K+ ON ! /REET1 WE GOT \ & WALK$ 6!
H\SE4 ,! POLICE 7 G"O4 ,ELM] _HN'T SD A
^W ON ! DRIVE & ,I _HN'T EI4 ,WE'D PASS$
,BEULAH1 \R RECEP;NI/1 )\T A LOOK OR ^W
EX*ANG$1 _! A6AIR HI45 2H A FA@CADE (
EXA7]AT$ 9DI6];E4
  8,? ! JO9T80 ,SNAKE ASK$1 CAT*+ ME ON
! WALKWAY4 8,? 2L;G 6,SAMS80
  8,YES4 ,& Y 2 GD40
  8,%E A9'T GO+ 6BE HOME40          #BJG
  8,D1D P USU,Y >5'T40
  8,NO1 ,I M1NT ''' ,OH1 %IT40
  ,WE KNOCK$ AT ! FRONT DOOR = DECORUM'S
SAKE1 !N W5T >.D ! H\SE 6A SMALL F;E 9 !
BACK4 ,Z ,I /EPP$ OV] X1 ,SNAKE SD1 8,WE
GONNA BR1K IN8 ,I DON'T H MY PICKS40 ,I
IGNOR$ HM4 ,%E 0 NO G>D5]1 ?\< A HUMM+-
BIRD FE$]1 SADLY DRA9$ & DRY1 0 HANG+
NE> ! KIT*5 W9D[4 ,I /OOD ON TIPTOE &
PE]$ IN4 ,X 0 A NICE LL UNIT1 ALL NEW
APPLI.ES1 A HALF-FILL$ W9E RACK ON !
C.T]4 ,I NOTIC$ "! W]5'T ANY DOODADS
/UCK 6H] REFRIG]ATOR3 NO NOTES1 WANT$
PO/]S1 OR REPORT C>DS4
  8,MAY ,I HELP Y80 ,! WOMAN 0 /&+ 9 AN
ADJO9+ BACKY>D FILL$ ) LOG PLAYGR.D AP-
P>ATUS4 ,?REE TO4L]S B\NC$ >.D 2H H]4
,%E WORE %ORTS OV] A BA?+ SUIT & 0 9 H]
E>LY ?IRTIES1 A PL1SANT-LOOK+ WOMAN )
HAZEL EYES & S&Y HAIR TI$ UP 9 A FR[ZY
PONYTAIL4
  8,DID Y SEE ! POLICE "H80 ,I ASK$4
  8,!Y LEFT AB HALF AN H\R AGO40
  8,!Y TAKE ANY?+ ) !M80
  ,"O (! *N 2H ! WOMAN FELL &       #BJH
2GAN CRY+4 ,AF %E -=T$ ! *1 ,I GAVE H]
MY C>D4 8,WE'RE LOOK+ 96! D1? ( ,MS4
,SAMS10 ,I SD4 8,"W+ =! DEF5SE40
  ,! TO4L] /OPP$ CRY+ & />$ AT U4 ,SNAKE
9S]T$ 8 ?UMBS 96HIS M\? & MADE FACES T
SEEM$ 6FASC9ATE ! "Y/]2 T OR %E 0 TOO
T]RIFI$ 6CRY4 8,WE GOT HOME F ! ,COLORA-
DO ,ROCKIES TWO "DS AGO1 & X WASN'T UN-
TIL LATE LA/ NI<T ,I W5T "? ALL \R NEWS-
PAP]S4 ,POOR ,ROB]TA4 ,:Y WD ANYBODY D
X80
  8,HELL ONLY "KS10 ,SNAKE SD4
  ,I SD1 8,MRS4 '''80
  8,G"USON4 ,G5EVIEVE ,G"USON4 ,Y'RE A
PRIVATE 9VE/IGATOR80
  8,WE BO? >E1 MA'AM10 SD ,SNAKE4
  8,I SEE40
  8,DID Y TALK 6! POLICE80 ,I ASK$4
  8,NO40
  8,Y "K ,MS4 ,SAMS V WELL80
  8,N WELL4 ,NO4 ,MR4 ,P\LIDOR [N$ !
H\SE 2F H]4 ,RAYMOND 0 S* A SWEET OLD
GUY4 ,HE US$ 6SIT ON ! POR* 9 A /RAW
BOAT]4 ,HE 0 GETT+ ON 9 YE>S1 & HE KEPT
SETT+ FIRE 6HIS /OVE4 ,HE 0 D1?LY   #BJI
AFRAID ( NURS+ HOMES & REFUS$ 6G 6"O1
EV5 =A VISIT1 B HE 0 EV5 M AFRAID ( DY+
9 A FIRE4 ,9 ! 5D HE W5T 96! G>AGE "O
EV5+ & %OT HMF4 ,MY HUSB& F.D HM40
  8,I'M SORRY 6HE> T4 ,DID ,MS4 ,SAMS "E
TALK AB H] "W80
  8,%E 0 AN ACTRESS4 ,%E'D BE5 9 A C\PLE
( MOVIES1 B MO/LY %E "W$ 9 LOCAL !AT]4
,I DON'T "K :AT ! LA/ PLAY WAS1 B X 0 "S
"T AGO40
  8,%E H AN ACTIVE SOCIAL LIFE80
  8,N :AT ,I'D CALL ACTIVE4 ,%E _H A
SI/] OR TWO :O WD VISIT F ,CALI=NIA4 ,AT
L1/ !Y _H ,CALI=NIA PLATES4 ,& %E US$ 6H
A BOYFR4 ,AN OLD] MAN4 ,=A L;G "T WE ?"\
HE 0 H] "F40
  8,Y "K 8 "N80
  8,%E DIDN'T TALK AB HM M*4 ,I ?9K 8 F/
"N 0 ,JUD40
  8,:AT'D HE LOOK L80
  8,WE ONLY SAW HM F A 4T.E4 ,!N "! 0 A
"Y] G5TLEMAN :O DROVE A LIMO4 ,I'M N
SURE :AT _! REL,N%IP WAS4 ,B NEI ( !M H
BE5 >.D = "S "T40
  8,H[ L;G'S %E LIV$ "H80           #BAJ
  8,TWO YE>S ? SUMM]4 ,%E B"\ ! H\SE "R
AF ,RAYMOND DI$4 ,%E _H X REMODEL$ &
MOV$ IN40
  8,Y DON'T HAPP5 6H A RELATIVE'S "N1 D
Y8 ,ANY K9D ( 3TACT80
  8,I ONLY WI% ,I DID40
  ,Z WE LEFT ,SAMS'S Y>D A BLACK C> )
F\R M5 9 X DROVE 0ON ! /REET4 ,:5 ,ELM]
PULL$ \ A GUN & PO9T$ X AT ! VEHICLE1 ,I
GRA2$ 8 >M 2F HE LET ANY L1D FLY4 ,X 0 !
SAME REVOLV] ,I'D 3FISCAT$ LA/ NI<T4
8,DAMN X1 ,SNAKE4 ,:AT ! HELL D Y ?9K
Y'RE DO+80
  8,I PUT "S BULLETS 9 _! BRIT*ES !Y'D 2
%ITT+ S& 9/1D ( SA%AY+ >.D L BUZZ>DS AF
A BATTLE40
  8,Y C'T %OOT /RANG]S 2C !Y'RE DRIV+ BY
ON ! /REET40
  8,I ?9K ^? >E ! P :O BE5 TAIL9' ME4
,LET'S FOLL[ 'EM40 ,! BLACK C> 0 AT !
CORN] N[1 MAK+ A SL[ "R TURN ONTO ,LAKE
,WA%+TON ,B\LEV>D4
  8,=GET X4 ,I'M N *AS+ A C>;L ( MIDG-
ETS4 ,I DON'T C>E :O !Y >E40
  8,DW>FS4 ,!Y'RE DW>FS40           #BAA
  8,Y / 2LIEVE Y 7 SCREW+ ALI5S1 DON'T
Y80 ,HE GAVE ME A DUMB LOOK4 8,Y 7 TRY+
6LOOK D[N T WOMAN'S CL1VAGE1 W]5'T Y80
  8,*ECK+ = TATTOOS40
  8,Y / 2LIEVE X ALL4 ,! ALI5S4 ,! BRE$+
PROGRAM40
  8,Y _H ANY BRA9S Y'D 2 LOOK+ AT TITS
TOO40
  8,Y LI$ 6,KA?Y40
  8,I LI$ 6T DAMN$ PSY*OLOGI/4 ,& 2C !Y
GOT A H\SE = ? "O1 T DON'T M1N %E WASN'T
AN ALI54 ,!Y'LL D A PAP] TRAIL 63FUSE
Y40
  8,Y HE>D T WOMAN BACK "!4 ,SAMS HAS
BE5 "H TWO YE>S4 ,H[ D Y EXPLA9 T80
  8,I GOT NO WAY 6EXPLA9 X4 ,N YET4 ,&
HEY4 ,%E WASN'T BAD1 0 %E8 ,! LADY )!
KIDS4 ,G5EVIEVE4 ,H['D Y L H] 6WAX YR
BAT80
  8,GIVE ME A BR1K1 ,ELM]40
  8,*RI/ 0 A CORPORAL4 ,%E 0 PACK$ 9 "!
L A SACK ( WET MICE40


                                    #BAB