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Yuki said, “Tell Joe You have to tell him He needs to

go through this with you, and you need him, too”

“Group hug,” I said

We all stood up aardly in our booth and hugged across the table I hoped this love and friendship would steady ain

CHAPTER 99

THE NEXT DAY, early in the , I drove up Lake Street to Twelfth, but instead of heading to the Hall, I took a right onto Tenth, turned again onto California Street, and kept going

Dr Arpino’s office was on a tidy block of houses on Broderick Street, many of which doubled as doctor’s offices I didn’t have to check the house nuled Victorian with dormers and white trim and a mailbox painted with flowers

I stopped the car at the curb and sat there with the otten hoood news

“I got the job, Blondie”

“And it’s the job you want?” I asked him

“Turns out that dick Benjamin Rollins and I have some friends in common”

“Wow No kidding, Joe This is a”

I’d hugged and kissed hiht tihtmares—the Molinari faood one

I was due in Doc Arpino’s office in ten minutes, and he was usually on ti by the late, great Miles Davis While “Blue in Green” carried the seconds along, I took outmail

There was nothing but spained no et ined a trip to the Bahaht, all expenses included