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Dimly, I are that Dietz had opened the front door and stepped out into the backyard When I finished my cereal, I washed my bowl and spoon and left them in the dish rack Hesitantly, Ilike a housebound cat discovering that a door has inadvertently been left ajar Was I allowed outside?

Theto dissipate, but the yard had that bleached look that aintermittently-a calf separated fro scent of seawater saturated the yard So at the curb out front

Dietz was hunkering near the flower beds Henry had put in some bare root roses the year before and they were in full bloo no clue about the final effect "Aphids," he said "He should buy soainst the doorframe, too paranoid to venture all the way out into the yard "Are we going to talk about security again or did we cover it last night?"

He got to his feet, turning his attention toappointe, beauty salon?"

"Do I look like so appointment at a beauty salon?"

He studied my face with curiosity, but refrained from comment "The point is, we don’t want your movements predictable"

I rubbed athered as much Okay, so I cancel my masseuse, bikini wax, and the weekly pedicure Nohat?"

He smiled "I appreciate your cooperation Makeskilled," I said "I do need to go in to the office"

"What tiet some bills paid Minor stuff really, but I don’t want to put it off"

"No proble to go back inside

"Kinsey? Don’t forget the body arht Make sure you wear yours, too"

Upstairs, I dutifully stripped offthe Velcro straps into place Dietz had told me this particular vest offered threat-level-one protection, which was good against a38 Special or less Apparently, he was assu a hit man wouldn’t use a 9-arrotes, head wounds, blasted kneecaps, the penetrating power of ice picks-any one of a number of assaults not covered by the oversize bib I wore