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"Not a thing," Sally said, and Jah he knew she had to be

Thel She cackled, saying, "I like Jairl’s husband No, Jairl’s husband wouldn’t use that nice big gun James has under his coat No, he’d have one of those prissy little derringers No, he’s too slick for my tastes

"Now that James is here, Sally, I recommend that you use him That’s what my husband always said to me ‘Thelma,’ he’d say, ‘ht pneumonia, you know, back in 1956 Killed hihed and took another bite of chicken pararlic," Quinlan said after theya stomachache

"Yes, but it was delicious until Thelma mentioned Scott"

"He wants to take care of you"

"Oh, I’m sure he does"

He wished she’d tell him about her husband and what he’d done to her The fear in her voice wasn’t as strong as the bitterness When she’d gotten that phone call fro to be her father--now, that was fear She turned to face him She looked paler, if that were possible, and pinched, as if the life were being drained out of her "You’ve been kind tonow I can’t stay here any longer Now that he’s gotten on TV about ot to leave And you knohat else? Thel with me"

"No one will call because no one saw hi up in a flash, cackling all the while Yes, Thel you Look, Sally, no one else knoho you are All you are is Aer that if anyone did find out they wouldn’t say a word Loyalty--you knohat I mean?"

"Actually," she said, "I don’t"

Dear God, he thought as he stepped along with her, what the hell had her life been like? He didn’t remember a TV in his tower bedroom He hoped there was one He wanted to see Scott Brainerd pleading to his wife to return to hio," he said to her when they reached Ae "You know, it isn’t all that hard to be loyal if it doesn’t cost you anything There’s no need to Let things spin out, just stay out of it Besides, you don’t have any money, do you?"

"I have credit cards, but I’lad you didn’t use theton Let , okay?"

"What friends?"