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Joe leaned in, resting an elbow on the bar "Collectibles are big these days," he said, drawing Leslie’s attention back to the conversation "That includes artifacts that ht not have been worth much when they were new but are antiques now," he pointed out

Brad grimaced "I still don’t see the criical dig But, hey, Lay but his work and probably thinks everyone else lives for it, too Scary If I ever start turning into hi," she assured him Then she frowned as a flash suddenly went off in her face and turned to see as going on

"Hey!" Brad protested

"Sorry," the offending photographer said with co, y brown hair, a clean-shaven face and brown eyes He was dressed attractively enough in casual slacks and a tweed jacket, but he wasn’t quite up to the designer labels rinned and turned to hurry out--only to bethe customers," one of therapher protested

"Out!"

"The world wants to know," Joe repeated To Leslie’s surprise, he pushed away frorapher

Brad stared at her blankly "What the hell is he doing? What was that all about?"

"I guess we’re the most important noncelebrities in the place, and he’s froot that ?"

"I’ to wrestle the camera away and steal the film, is he?" Brad said worriedly

"I don’t think so" She s his picture in the papers

"Maybe I should go out there"

"Honestly, it’s all right Do you knohat I think?"

"What?"

"I think you should head back to your position at the bar or Ken is going to steal the lady of your choice"

He stared at her, then laughed "You know, you could be the love of my life And then I wouldn’t have to barhop"

"Brad, I don’t think anyone is going to be the love of your life, or at least not for a very long tireat partnership, would you?"

"Maybe I’rinned, then sobered, saying seriously, "Don’t go falling head over heels just because…well, because you’re trying to turn this guy into Matt I mean, he seems fine Dryer says he’s really respected, that people are willing to fly him all over the world for help, it’s just that…he isn’t Matt, and you can’t turn hi yourself up for…well, I don’t knohat I’ I care about you, that’s all"

"Thank you I care about you, too, and I’ll be all right Really And you don’t have to hang around until he coirl I’m okay at a bar by myself"

"I don’t want to desert you"

"It’s okay"

"Besides, I want to knohat he’s doing out there"

"Aha! The truth is out"

"Hey, there are wolves in this place I really don’t think I should leave you alone"

"Brad, you are one of the wolves in this place"

"Yeah, but not to you"

"Okay So hoork? Anything new?"

"Yeah, workuys Laymon approves of, and even then he spent half his day on top of theood thing she’d taken the day off She looked toward the door, wondering herself just what had gotten into Joe

The bouncers didn’t take the caet a little rough, Joe stepped in

"Hey, guys…you got rid of hi to protect you and your lady friend, buddy," one of them said

"And I appreciate it"

The kid stared at hi to take my camera?" he deo?"

"No Let’s take a little walk"

"Down a dark alley?"

"No You’re frorapher said carefully

"You’re Phil Brynner, aren’t you?" When the kid looked at him warily, he added, "I saw your picture next to your byline"