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I tuned into the conversation at the table Neil and I had been seated with two underwriters and their wives, a foursoathered they’d just returned froe-oriented cruise in which baby slaourmet foods were served up in equal measure Much talk of no-truies they were debating Since neither Neil nor I played, ere left to our own devices, a possibility Vera had probably calculated well in advance

At close range, the h I saw no particular evidence of all the virtues Vera had ascribed to him Nice hands Nice ht have been discoance I noticed that e talked about professional matters (his work, in other words) he exuded confidence When it came to his personal life, he was unsure of hiround By the tih various conversational ga about for coo to school, Kinsey?"

"Santa Teresa High"

"I e"

"Oh really? That surprises h"

"People don’t hire me for ’smart’ They hire me because I’m too dumb to knohen to quit Also, I’hed I wasn’t being funny so I gave a little shrug

He pushed his dessert plate aside and took a sip of coffee "If you got a degree, you could write your own ticket, couldn’t you?"

I looked at hiuess"

"Then I’d have to go to work for the government or the local cops I already did that and hated it I’m better off where I am Besides, I hated school, too All I did was smoke dope" I leaned toward him "Now can I ask you one?"

"Sure"

"How did you and Veraslightly in his seat "A o We’ve been seeing each other ever since… just as friends, of course Nothing serious"

"Oh yeah, right," I said "So what do you think?"

"About Vera? She’s terrific"