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He didn’t know if she was dead He didn’t particularly care He said between gritted teeth as the nausea began to get to hiun Be sure to stay clear of any hands that could grab you The rest of you, drop all your weapons Ease those old bones of yours down to the floor We’re going to stay here nice and quiet until uys arrive"

Thelma Nettro said, "Did you kill her, Mr Quinlan?"

"I don’t know," he said, the pain still roiling through his groin

"Martha’s like a daughter to me Don’t you remember? I told you that once" She raised a pistol from her lap and shot him

In the next instant, the front door burst open Sally, as running to Quinlan, heard a man shout, "Nobody move! FBI!"

33

"MR QUINLAN, CAN you hear me?"

"Yes," he said very clearly "I can hear you, but I don’t want to Go away I hurt and I want to hurt alone My Boy Scout leader told o that men didn’t whine or moan, except in private"

"You’re a trooper, Mr Quinlan Now, I’ll o away How bad is it?"

"On a scale froroan in peace"

The nurse smiled over at Sally "Is he always like this?"

"I don’t know This is the first time I’ve ever been around hiain"