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They’d wound up eating supper with Brad and Ken, though she’d been surprised when Ken had co fun at the bar and would probably be going ho hie to maintain "I keep my real women a secret," he’d told her with a wink She wasn’t sure exactly what that lad she’d never fallen for thereally bad about hi souing about the next election--soht Then Ken had talked about a new costume exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she found herself fascinated and anxious to see it Then, at last, they left, ostensibly heading home

"Details?" Joe asked her as he showed her into his car "There are no details"

"Have it your way," she said, not seeing any point in trying to force hi to see your prostitute, right?"

His brow furrowed "She’s not htly

"Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way"

"I think you’ll like her There’s so about her…"

"Don’t worry I have no intention of judging her," Leslie said

They drove slowly along the street

"There she is," Joe said "I’et a feel for the street"

He looked at her gravely "Don’t get into any trouble I’ll be right there"

"What trouble can I get into?" she asked

He pulled over to the curb and she hopped out She looked up and down the street They were very near Hastings House In fact, she could see the subway station she would have used if she’d needed to

She was surprised by the nu the area She never would have suspected it By day, this was a business area There were only a few hotels, and those e--in price Maybe not such a bad place to turn tricks after all, now that she thought about it

She didn’t look for Didi Dancer She just stood on the street and closed her eyes, trying to get a feel for soht?"

She looked up at the tall woman in the very short skirt who had stopped to talk to her Definitely dressed for business

"Fine, thanks"

"I thought you were going to pass out there, for a ht…" She hesitated, then shook her head "Honey, you look as innocent as a lamb Are you lost? You really shouldn’t be out here alone at night Itime in the City, but still…"

"Are you Didi Dancer?" Leslie asked

The woot out of the car and started walking in their direction Didi took another step back

"Didi," Joe said

She just waited, keeping her distance, a frown furrowing her features

Joe reached theot you that job interview," he reminded her softly

Didi looked at him "And it’s not till next week Gotta eat till then," shefor a three-way or so the wo to help Joe find the wo to find the rich girl," Didi said

"Hey, what’s the matter, Didi?" Joe asked "You said you wanted to help"

Didi let out a sigh, but her eyes were still suspicious when she looked at Leslie "There’s so about her…" she murmured

"Will you shohere the car was--the dark sedan--when Genevieve O’Brien got into it? Please?" Leslie said

"Right there" Didi pointed ten feet down the block "I reuy pulled over that any idiot would know not to even pretend to park there"

Leslie walked over to the spot as Didi and Joe just watched her

At first she felt nothing but the night air, heard nothing but the nor barked

A car backfired, and a horn blared

Rap music shook the pavement as so? she asked herself It’s not like I have ESP

But she closed her eyes anyway, saw the picture of Genevieve O’Brien in her ined the street as it ht She could see Genevieve, passionate, urgent, trying to convince Didi that she had to get out of this life and help herself And then…

She heard the car horn

Genevieve turned…

And recognized the person in the car

Not a friend!