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Da to be bad--why else would he have braved the traffic this far into the West Village?--but I don’t think he ever thought it was going to be this bad A boe dormitory--Isimilar had happened at Yale, and it had made CNN, and been a lead story on all the local networks, even though it had turned out to have nothing to do with terrorism

And the fact that one of the victims of this bomb is a former teen pop sensation? Well, that just makes the story that much juicier My disappearance froone unnoticed, and the reason behind it--including raphically public I could just see the cover of the Post:

BLOND BOMBSHELL

Former Pop Star Heather Wells

Nearly Blown to Bits

at low-paying job she was forced to take at New York College in order to support herself after her music career tanked and she was thrown out by forht

Still, I can understand Dr Jessup’s concern Having two of his e

But a bomb in one of his dormitories--Iin which the president of the college lives? What’s he going to tell the trustees? The poor guy probably thinks he’s watching his vice presidency slip away

I don’t bla ot kids All I’ve got is a dog

"Heather," Dr Jessup begins again "I’ht our residence halls are out of control--"

To my surprise, it’s Detective Canavan who interrupts the assistant vice president Noisily clearing his throat, then looking around unsuccessfully for a place to spit, Detective Canavan sighs, then ss

Then he says, "Hey Hate to break this up, but the longer Ms Wells here sticks around, the harder it’s gonna be for my boys to maintain crowd control out there"

I feel an ar up, I’s to Cooper He isn’t looking atat the door

"Coht their car They parked it down below, in the garage They’ll give us a lift hoes Her beautiful face is filled with distaste "I hate hospitals, and I hate reporters even more" Her dark, almond-shaped eyes slide toward Dr Jessup, and she looks as if she’s about to add, And I hate uptight bureaucrats most of all, but she refrains, entirely for my sake, I’m sure, since I choose thather to let out a little yelp of pain

After I say good-bye to Pete and Magda--who proet to see Julio--a hospital ade, as if any sacrifice she can o, all the reporters--will be orth it

All I can think the whole way to the car is, Oh God I a, Oh God, what’s with the arm? about Cooper, that is

Except that once we’re safely in the car, Cooper re to worry about

"Oh God," I can’t help saying miserably, a catch into fireto fire you, Heather," Cooper says "The guy’s just looking out for his own interests"

"That onna hafta deal with rowls, froht alressive--driver, which is why she, instead of Frank, does all the driving when they’re in the city She leans on the horn as a yellow cab cuts her off "Nobodyback at ive you his jacket?"

I look down at the leather coat still wrapped around my shoulders It smells of Cooper, like leather and soap I never want to take it off, not ever again But I know I’et home