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"Uh," the rooe"

Which is probably not the otten my point across But at least I know Ao, Cooper!" I urge hiot to kno!"

"Heather," Cooper says, looking frustrated "I swear to God, of all the people I’ve ever ot to be theto say it! Whatever it was he’d been about to say into say it now!

Except that back then--in my office, I mean--it had sounded like what he’d been about to say was co froh, I don’t think he’s about to say so nice about me In fact, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to hear his next words

Because, truthfully, the thing with Rachel is more important

Which is why I say, "This is stupid You know, there are trains to the Hao look up the schedule online and--"

I don’t know if he gave in because he realized it was the only way to shut ht doto placate the crazy injured girl

In any case, in the tiet dressed, Cooper has retrieved his car--a ’74 BMW 2002, a vehicle that invariably causes the drug dealers on ly, because, in their opinion, the only good BMW is a new one--fro In fact, I’ whatever impulse had prompted him to ask me to move in with him in the first place

And I feel bad about it I really do

But not enough to tell hiirl’s life is at stake

It’s easy to find the Allingtons’ weekend place I mean, they’re in the East Hampton phone book If they didn’t want people to drop in, they’d have had an unlisted nuate at the end of their driveith a built-in intercoe person to believe visitors were unwelcome

But I for one didn’t fall for it I hop out of the car and go to press on the buzzer And even when no one answers, I’ed Well, very much

"Heather," Cooper says, from the driver’sof his car, which he’s rolled down "I don’t think anybody’s going to--"

But then the intercom crackles, and a voice that is unmistakably Chris’s says, "What?"

I can understand why he’s so testy I’d sort of been leaning on the buzzer, knowing that eventually the person inside would be driven insane and have to answer It’s a trick I’d picked up from the reporters who used to stake out the place Jordan and I had shared

"Um, hi, Chris," I say into the interco annoyed

"You know," I say, trying to sound girlishly flirtatious "Let me in"

Then I add the three little words I’d learned from Justine’s files that few students--and that’s what Chris is, after all--can resist: "I brought pizza"

There’s a pause Then the gate slowly starts to open