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"Water under the bridge," he said "Now Just so we understand each other, Jo, I did put up your bail h I door because I love your sister, although I do love her, obviously It’s because I have a business proposition for you, and I thought this ht be an opportunity to have your full and undivided attention while we discuss the details"

What kind of business did I have with Sarah’s boyfriend? I felt a growing sense of disquiet, and it wasn’t anything I could put entle, unaggressive His eyes were bright and his sht have been my own paranoia Yes, the trailer wasn’t a Malibu beach house, but it wasn’t exactly a horrifying dus-I was nearly sure of that-but that didn’t er to me, only to her

And yet And yet

"A business proposition," I repeated, locking gazes with Eamon "Go on I’ets that ht not recall, but I had a small business venture under way in Florida when you arrived back there and took up residence I was investing in construction with so to revive that effort, e I’d like to have your commit," I said "What with thea little short of cash Nothing personal"

So flashed in his eyes, and I had no idea why he’d find that funny "No indeed," he agreed "Not personal in the least Well, to be blunt, you do owe h obviously I have to consider that No, before you left Florida, you pro very rare and very special for reat deal As it turned out, you had a bit of a proble forthat I really wasn’t planning to give up But as you said, water under the bridge, and that’s certainly far downstreaed-perhaps not, in your case, for the better So please consider et back on your feet, in a sense, as well as a way to repay your debts to retfully, I’ll have to ask you to i on a funds transfer from Asia, but various political proble delays And, of course, I had to sink so for your te trial So perhaps you’d like to contact your bank and have them wire me about five thousand dollars That should tide us over"

In a trailer like this, in Ares, Nevada? I iined that five thousand would probably tide the habit orse than I thought "I’m sorry," I said "Even if I wanted to, I can’t I don’t have any cash No wallet, no credit cards, no checks Nothing I can’t even go to a bank and draw out cash with no identification If it makes you feel any better, I’m just as pissed about that as you are"

"Ah," Ea half-lidded and re to pay me back for your bail money, then, if you’re not interested in the investment and you can’t provide the cash?"

"It’s a temporary situation It’ll all-"

"Work out?" he supplied dryly "Yes I’s do seem to do that for you The favored, fortunate child, aren’t you just?" Ea smile, which he turned on my sister like a cannon, with about the saive us a one conclusion that she’d obey I ignored the intervening whines and concentrated on Eamon and on my environment What kind of trouble was I in? And what could I do about it?

Sarah finally left the room, went to the bedroom, and slao, his eyes intent and strangely fond, and without any change in his expression Eamon said, "I don’t want to alarm your sister, but I’ll warn you, if you try to pull any of your ical shit with me, I’ll make both of you pay for it Are we clear, then?"

It felt like he’d kicked me in the stomach I opened my mouth but didn’t quite knohat to say What the hell had just happened?

"Right," he said "Enough of our little dance, my dear You’re a puzzle to me at the moment-a not entirely unattractive one, but I have issues of my own to overcoh you certainly can’t believe so me, and I wonder what kind ofabout soto my benefit, I’et out of this town before I either goquite unpleasant to your dear sister Neither of us wants that, and I’m sure you’d like to helpSarah?" I asked I stood up-not because I meant to, just because my muscles tensed so badly I couldn’t sit still I stared at him, and he smiled, still entirely at ease

"Oh, yes," he said "Co, love; it was just foreplay to get there Noe’re down to the sweaty parts"

"Watch it"

"Well, you know that I do enjoy that as well," he said, and grinned like a wolf It et a decent read on him?

"Why’d you really bail ed and tossed back the rest of his drink in one neatto do, and I was curious about what you’d do and say; besides, I thought you ht be useful You had to know that I had her soe in that area Tell the truth Did you know I’d be with her? I know you were very serious about the threats you delivered last tihexcept that you do see, love? Finally drive away the last few people who cared about you?"

I felt a buzzing inht Erase any trace of this asshole It’d be a public service Except that I wasn’t a murderer, and I didn’t aspire to becoer and directed it in lessways "So tell ht her to this little paradise, or did you start her on that once you got her here, just to keep her occupied?" I asked "And don’t give me any you-didn’t-know bullshit I know, and-" And I justabout Ea me to keep my cards close to ht I saw a deep flash of soer? Appreciation? No idea He was pretty hard to read, all around His physical cues-a relaxed posture, friendly sestures-were all co on inside of hierous I was sure of that part

"Hardly my e her, but no, I didn’t stop her, either It keeps herrelatively content And I’ She’s always going on about how much she misses her old life, with all her country club friends and shopping sprees And while I’d love to give her that lifewell It’s not possible, given what I do"