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"Okay," I said

By then Roy had returned from the restrooetting late," I said "Jill will probably be upset"

"It’s okay as long as I’m with you and not with … Well, you know"

"Claire What does Jis, not necessarily in that order, what do you think? Weren’t you ever twenty-two years old, Dyson?"

"Yeah, I was--just never that duer side of the car and waited for Roy to unlock the driver’s-side door While he did, I surfed e and all the woh to hook up with "Actually, I guess I was that dureed "We’re way smart, now"

Roy took me back to Lake Carl He had intended to drop hts were on inside the cabin and the yard was littered with cars, so he decided to stop to see as going on He went through the cabin door first and was hit by a big un to put Roy on his knees A wo room to Roy’s side Roy covered the back of his head with his hand I could see blood seeping between his fingers Theso that the gun was pointed at my throat He was shorter by a half-dozen inches yet didn’t seem to have a coun to his face I did not recognize hih I sure as hell wasn’t getting any pleasure out of the experience

"Be careful with that," I said "You ht hurt someone"

He snorted his contempt at ed to regain his feet He spun toward the gunun I stepped between them and wrapped Roy in my arms

"No, no, no, no, no," I chanted "That’s just his way of saying hello"

I pushed Roy backward three steps, not an easy feat, believe s Everyone was huddled in the living room--Josie, the old man, Dave, Liz, Jihtened Only Jill was looking at us The rest were staring at so past us in the kitchen I followed their eyes Fenelon was standing near the refrigerator, his hands behind his back, and leaning against the counter A second uely bored expression of so for the waitress to deliver it

"What’s this?" I asked "A party? You should have told me I would have worn a nicer sweatshirt"