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Finally it was over

Laymon had ordered pizzas for everyone anted to stay, so, still dirty and very tired, they crowded into the trailer, ate and called it a day

"I’ll walk you home," Brad told her

"I live down the block," she reminded him

"I know I’ll walk you"

"I’m a New Yorker and can take care of ht ahead "I don’t know Matt always called you a rebel"

"You remember that?"

"Sure But I want to walk you home just because…well, I don’t care how street-smart you are I’ll see you in, and then I can stand on the curb and pray for a cab or just wander over to Broadway and get one And thanks, by the way"

"For what?"

"You tossed all the press attention in ain"

"We’re partners"

"Yeah, but you’re the one who always knohere to dig Anyway, the liht finds you no eous, and you dig up the dead That kind of thing fascinates people"

"I don’t dig up the dead, I dig up history," she said

He shrugged

"And besides, you’re young and gorgeous, too"

"Thanks for noticing," he told her, laughing

She laughed, too, and they walked arm in arm to the house

He saw her to the door and left her The one, she dialed Robert’s nuht?" he asked is House, I ood zoo, though"

"Sure I guess So…what’s up?"

"Uht "You haven’t started seeing ghosts, have you?"

"What?" He sounded astonished--and then worried again "Leslie, what are you talking about?"

"Who was thatto"

"Leslie, I talked to dozens of men today"

"This afternoon Out on the sidewalk near the site"

Did he hesitate for just a second? Was she i that he sounded suspicious when he answered?

"I think you know most of the people I talked to today Hank, Dryer… to him? Let’s see, I talked with Brad a couple of tirad student--but she was no rad student, so a double-parked limo…"

"Okay, sorry Never reat Actually, I’ry--we had pizza I’o to bed But enough about reat No, no, I’m not," he said, and she could hear the rueful humor in his voice "Half the tiain, I’ I’ll tell you what When I take you to dinner, I’ll pour my heart out, how’s that?"

"Sounds fine," she assured hiht, then You callAnytime"

"You’re a doll And you knoill Thank you"

She clicked off, then stood in the entryway and looked around The house was so quiet it seemed almost unnatural