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A single eyebrow lasciviously lifted "Care to tell us her na Could they connect us? I’d paid for the tickets in cash and bought them separately to cover our tracks Our seats weren’t even next to each other’s; I’d planned to sort it out before we boarded

"I’entle like that"

Detective Reynaldo sentleman who runs off with another man’s wife Doubt you’ll win any prizes for that"

"I don’t claiave ed her ue of in with That’s really all there is to it"

For ten full seconds neither of us spoke--a gap I was obviouslyThank you for taking tiave ht?"

"I’ll do that, Detective"

"And I do "

I waited thirty , then took the subway ho did I have? Days? Hours? How et me into a lineup?

I could think of only one option I called Jonas’s office, then his cell, but got no answer I would have to risk an eht to your proposal Sorry it tookNot sure how n on When do you leave?--TF

I waited atthe Refresh button over and over Thirty hted We leave in three days Have already cleared your visa with State Don’t ever say I’m not a man with connections Howa flotilla of attractive fehten up the place

Move your ass, buddy We’re going to change the world--JL

23

There is not much more to say I went I was infected Of those infected, I alone survived And thus was built a race to establish doht when Jonas ca after my transformation, by which time I had adjusted to my circus having lost allin my captive state My plans ell under way I and my co-conspirators had identified the avenue of our escape The weak-minded men atched over us: day by day we had infiltrated their thoughts, filling theirthe; soon they would be ours

His voice came over the speaker: "Tim, it’s Jonas"

This was not his first visit Many was the tilass Yet he had not addressedThe last years had wrought startling changes to his appearance Long-haired, wild-bearded, crazed-eyed, he had becoht him to be

"I know you can’t talk Hell, I’m not even sure you can understand uely interested in what he had to say His disturbed conscience--what did I care? His visit had also interrupted h in life I had not a bad is happening I’ht

"God, I miss her, Tim I should have listened to her I should have listened to you If only you could talk to ot one more chance, Jonas I still believe this can work Maybe if I pull it off, I can get thearound"

Hope springs eternal, does it not?

"The thing is, it has to be a child" He was silent for a ht her in I don’t even want to knohat they did to get her here Jesus, Tiht Here was an intriguing wrinkle; no wonder Jonas despised hihted in his misery I had learned ho a man could sink; why shouldn’t he?