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"You holding out these days?"

In a flash of remembrance it all came back to him as he sat with his feet propped on the corner of the desk The day she left hi for her It was a long pause that said it all

"I haveout Holding out on a real job"

"You're still funny I'll give you that," she said

John wanted to ask her if she ended up getting her dreaot her stable family life, two beautiful children and a doctor for a husband A husband ould be there for her, and not have to work a crazy schedule that dealt with the dregs of society He could have seen hi doith Joyce if her approach had of been different As he reerous world of police work and give up on being a private eye And the very idea of playing music was out of the question She wanted herco to her talk, he couldn't have been anything but happy to hear her voice She had a definite knack of bringing out the softy in hi about you," he ad ?"

"Alht The Sundowner"

"That the name of your band?"

"That's e play Brad owns it Remember Brad?"

She was silent for a few seconds "I think I do He's tall, plays piano?"

"Keyboards now But right," John said "To tell you the truth, Joyce I hardly have any ti the way they are"

"You mean your business?"

"Private eye My drea to sound a little lad for you If anyone deserves success John, it's you"

She was starting to ease back under his skin Why the call out of the blue? Why was she being so cordial? Did she just find out from her doctor that she only has a feeeks to live? "Can I ask you so?"