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“Sah the croith ease “Mrs Ferris”

“Miss Tho her safely returned to her home, thanks, Sam?”

The polite professional expression didn’t falter for a second “Yes, sir Of course”

“Excellent”

Jihs that shook his whole body Then he started cackling, the noise vaguely reminiscent of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz If she’d been on crack or cocne or whatever Ji into, of course

These people, they ed here

“This way” Sahtly to the s Tiood-to-be-true dreahter got louder and louder, ringing in my ears, until suddenly it cut off I turned in tiround, his slick suit a asped Another chuckled and rolled her eyes

“Fuck’s sake,” growled Adrian, kneeling beside the unconscious man He slapped at his face “Ji around the fallen singer, blocking hiain,” Adrian ranted “Get the doctor in here Goddaht?”

Sam scowled at the scene “He’s probably just passed out It’s been happening a lot lately Shall we go?”

“Get me out of here, Sam Please”

I was back in Portland before the sun rose I didn’t cry on the trip It was as if ency and cauterized my emotions I felt nu traffic and I wouldn’t utter a peep I was done, frozen solid We went via theto the airport He put otme by myglance I’d ever seen Never said h, which I appreciated immensely

I sleepwalked my sorry self up the stairs to the apartarlic-scented hallway courtesy of Mrs Lucia downstairs, constantly cooking Peeling green wallpaper and ooden floorboards, scuffed and stained Lucky I’d put the Converse on or my feet would have been full of splinters This floor was nothing like the gloss and gleam of David’s house You could see yourself in that sucker

Shit I didn’t want to think of hied in a box buried in the back of ht of day

My key still fit the lock It co for years instead of days It hadn’t even been a week I’d left early Thursdayand noas Tuesday Less than six short days That was insane Everything felt different I pushed open the door, being quiet because of the early hour Lauren would be asleep Or she ht, in fact, be spread out over our suy stuffed his head beneath one of the old oversized T-shirts she slept in He buried his face in her cleage and tickled her Lauren squiruy’s pants were still on, whoever he was They were really into it, didn’t notice our entry at all

Sauy, the things he must have witnessed over the years

“Hi,” I said “Uuy up in her shirt as he fought to get free If she accidentally strangled hiiven the view