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"Victor," she says, squir "I want to know"

"Baby," I say, "let "

"Yeah?" she asks expectantly

"I never reveal my sources," I whisper to her in the empty restaurant and then lean back, satisfied

She relaxes and, to prove she’s okay with this, takes a final spoonful of chowder and licks the spoon thoughtfully Now it’s her turn to lean in "We have ways of ain and say with a husky voice, "Oh, I bet you do"

But Jamie doesn’t s else, which hs and fixes her eyes on a point behind lance at a row of David Bailey photographs lining the wall

"Hey baby," I start, "you seem tired all of a sudden Are you like really beat?"

"If you had to deliver lines like ’Once Farris gets hold of the scepter it’s over for your planet’ all day, you’d be soul-sick too," she says tiredly "Japanese investors-what’s left to say?"

"Hey, but I airlfriend once toldnow?" she asks listlessly

"I’m off relationships for now ’Be et it" Pause "I’ of which-what ever happened to Chloe Byrnes?" she asks "Or did she OD yet?" Jas, then reconsiders "I suppose I would’ve heard about that"

"No, she’s cool," I say, figuring out how to play the current situation, landing on: "We’re on hiatus Like on vacation"

"What? That’s code for she dumped your ass?"

"No," I start patiently "It means every relationship has its, like, um-oh yeah-ups and downs"

"I take it this is a down?"

"You could say so"

"Thank you"

"You’re welcoluhtly