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"And that hurts your reputation?"

"I don't see it helping it any There's other things My girls are afraid Kiuy who did it is still out there Suppose he repeats?"

"Kills another prostitute?"

"Kills another of un and I don't knoho he's pointed at Maybe killing Kiirl ofMy business is hurting already I told irls not to take any hotel tricks, that's for starters, and not to take any new johns if there's anything funny about the them to leave the phone off the hook"

The waiter drifted over with a pot of coffee and refilled our cups I still hadn't touched eal I got him to take it away Chance addedwith Kiar

I said, "Whyto kill theive this his best shot is if he's earning my money for it"

"There's other people ork private You could hire a whole fir around the clock"

"I never did like teaot an inside track You knew the woives me"

"And I know you"

"Because you met me once?"

"And liked your style That counts so you know aboutBut I know more than that I kno you handle yourself And I've asked around, you know A lot of folks know you and s about you"

I was silent for a minute or two Then I said, "It could have been a psycho that killed her That's what he made it look like so maybe that's what it was"

"Friday I learn she wants out of irls Saturday I tell her it's cool Sunday some crazy man flies in froure?"

"Coincidences happen all the time," I said, "but no, I don't think it was coincidence" God, I felt tired I said, "I don't ht, Because I don't want to have to do anything I want to sit in a dark corner and turn the world off I want a drink, damn it

"You could use the otten all that e out of my last fee And my son Mickey needed braces on his teeth, and after that there'd be soot to think it over"

"All right"

"I can't concentrate right now I need a little tihts"

"How ht "A couple of hours I'll call you soht Is there a number where I can reach you or do I just call the service?"

"Pick a time," he said "I'll meet you in front of your hotel"

"You don't have to do that"

"It's too easy to say no over the phone I figure the odds are better face to face Besides, if the answer's yes we'll want to talk soed

"Pick a tiht," I said "If I had to answer now, it'd be no"

"Then it's good you got until ten"

He paid for the coffee I didn't put up a fight

I went back to the hotel and up to the rooht and couldn't I couldn't see fro why I hadn't given hi through the hours until ten o'clock and then finding the resolve to turn dohat he was offering

Without thinking tooI put on 's I walked in the door not knohat I was going to order I went up to the bar and Billie started shaking his head when he sawHe said, "I can't serve you, Matt I' in ry I said, "What are you talking about? Do I look drunk to you?"

"No"

"Then how the hell did I get to be eighty-six around here?"

His eyes avoidedyou're not welcome here Coffee or a Coke or a time customer But I'm not allowed to sell you booze"

"Who says?"

"The boss says When you were in here the other night-"

Oh, God I said, "I'm sorry about that, Billie I'll tell you the truth, I had a couple of bad nights I didn't even know I came in here"

"Don't worry about it"

Christ, I wanted to hide behind so "Was I very bad, Billie? Did I make trouble?"

"Aw, shit," he said "You were drunk, you know? It happens, right? I used to have this Irish landlady, I caized the next day, and she would say, 'Jaysus, son, it could happen to a bishop' You didn't make any trouble, Matt"

"Then-"

"Look," he said, and leaned forward "I'll just repeat what I was told He told uy wants to drink himself to death I can't stop him, and if he wants to co hi as said"

"I understand"

"If it was up to me-"

"I didn't come in for a drink anyway," I said "I came in for coffee"