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"You sound a little blue"

"Do I? I think it's just that I' Now that it's over I feel like a puppet with the strings cut"

"You just need soht I have this superstitious sense that the trial was holding Will at bay, that he couldn't takeas I had work that had to be done Now all of a sudden I've got a bad feeling about the whole situation that I never had before"

"You just didn't allow yourself to feel it before"

"Maybe And oddam well I'll feel better after a drink"

"Most people do," I said "That's why they put the stuff in bottles"

"Well, I'enie out It'll be the first one today If you were here I'd pour you a club soda"

"I'll have one here," I said, "and think of you"

"Have a Coke Make it a real celebration"

"I'll do that"

There was a pause, and then he said, "I wish I knew you better"

"Oh?"

"I wish there were ht? I'm too tired to o to bed"

But he didn't skip the drink

Instead he went into the front roo to have a drink," he announced "I don't suppose I can talk you into joining h this ritual before "Mean my job if I did, Mr Whitfield"

"I wouldn't tell anybody," Whitfield said "On the other hand, I want you razor-sharp if our boy Will co drinks at you How about a soft drink? Or so in the kitchen I'll have some after you turn in Don't worry about lass from on top of the bar, went into the kitchen for ice cubes, calass and put the cap on the bottle

"Your nauard, "and I must have heard your last naren, sir"

"Now I reood job"

"You don't find it boring?"

"Boring's just fine withhappens I'm happy"

"That's a healthy attitude," Whitfield told hi Tony Furillo's car"

"Sir?"

"Never ht to drink this, wouldn't you say? I poured it, I ought to drink it Isn't that hoorks?"

"Up to you, Mr Whitfield"

"Up to ht"

He raised the glass in a wordless toast, then took a long drink Dahlgren's eyes went to the bookcase He was a reader, and there was a lot to read in this apart in a co yourself to coffee when you wanted it It was nice to get paid for so you'd do on your own ti when he heard the asp He turned at the sound and watched Adrian Whitfield clutch his chest and pitch forward onto the carpet

7

"It's like he saw it coren said He was a tall, broad-shouldered ht brown hair cropped close to his broad skull, his light brown eyes alert behind his eyeglasses He looked at once capable and thoughtful, as if he

"I was the last person to talk to hiht"