Page 4 (1/2)

"Maybe the rest of it will come back to you if you’ve remembered this much"

"But that’s just it," he said "What if it does coht now is the fact that I can’t reaze flicking off to one side His anxiety was infectious and I feltto keep my voice low so our conversation couldn’t be overheard

"Have you actually been threatened since this whole thing came up?" I asked "No Un-un"

"No anony his head "But I a this way for weeks I need help" "Have you tried the cops?"

"Sure, I’ve tried As far as they’re concerned, it was an accident They have no evidence a crime was committed Well, hit-and-run They know soe, but premeditated murder? Come on And even if they believed n I’m just an ordinary citizen I’m not entitled to police protection twenty-four hours a day" "Maybe you should hire a bodyguard-" "Screw that! It’s/you I want"

"Bobby, I’ I won’t help you Of course I will I’ about your options It sounds like you need more than et to the botto on I want to knohy somebody’s after me and I want theuard or anything else" He claitated He rocked back

"Fuck it," he said He shifted restlessly and got up He pulied a twenty out of his wallet and tossed it on the table He started for the door with that lilting gait, his li and caught up with hio back to my office and we’ll type up a contract"

He held the door open for me and I went out

"I hope you can afford my services," I said back over my shoulder

He s toward the parking lot

"Sorry I lost ive a shit"

"I wasn’t sure you’d take me seriously," he said