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I so spot on the street near Allison Lopez’s Beverly Hills apartment By near, I meant three blocks away, all of which I hoofed under the last rays of the setting sun

NorandEven in the setting sun

But now, all I felt was , I felt like I was co of weakness Mild apprehension

And so, I y as I couldthat in about twenty y in the world

Just twenty more minutes

I moved between opulent aparth, and all boasting glass and steel and s sun So with doors open, chauffeurs standing ready I saw no fewer than three Paris Hilton look-alikes, all texting while their dogs squatted on narrow strips of grass out front The dogs each looked up attheir little white teeth One of the its owner to drop her phone

Whew!

Dogs didn’t likelover But I was especially a wolf lover Except that thought, of course, depressed o

At Allison’s aparter and iven toour brief phone conversation just a few minutes earlier

I pressed the pound button on the caller box but nothing happened I pressed it again Nothing No response There was no sign that the da Frustrated, I dialed Allison’s cell number; it was busy Unlike New York apartments, few LA apartments have doorlass entryas empty

I stood there, frustrated

I looked around One of the Paris Hilton look-alikes was still texting, even though her dog had finished piddling o I looked over another shoulder No one

I looked back at the locked glass door There was no doorknob, just a handle A heavy deadbolt fastened the door to a thickfelt safe and secure in their posh apartments, as well they should This bolt was serious business, released only by the occupants within The sign above the handle said "Pull"

Two things happened simultaneously The first was that the sun had finally set I knew this because I suddenly feltThe second was that the deadbolt tore through the h the od-awful loud I looked casually back to the Paris look-alike She was still texting, oblivious to life beyond her smart phone screen I did, however, have the full attention of her little dog

I wiped the handle clean of h the dooraved to the security ca full well that I wasn’t wearing enough makeup to even show up on caood to be me