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"Well, a man is dead," she said flatly "Killed--with a fa "Yes, we all know that Is so? I need to take a shower"

He was a fool, of course She was standing there; he was standing there He was naked beneath the towel; she wore flimsy pieces of a bikini beneath a terry robe He had never really fallen out of love, and he’d have to be a hell of a lot older or infirm to fall out of lust

But that wasn’t the point here

What was the point?

He didn’t knohy she was here He didn’t want to be used because he was convenient and her world was going to hell

Yes, I do want to be used! his ed

No

"Ashley, let ht with you," he said "I suggest you do the same You wear even river mud well, but I think you’ll be more comfortable without it"

He stepped back and forced himself to close the door

His shoas pure tor her phone, and wondering what she could say once she’d reached Jake Mallory She’d had such a crush on hiained him quite a reputation, and he’d played with some pretty extraordinary bands Everybody had a crush on Jake! And he’d just gotten better, really So football-hero types--were just downright pudgy now And Jake? He still had those probing eyes, that sculpted face, those shoulders… It had been soht at her--and not given her a thing

Well, she thought, pouting, he’d come around He was a man, and she kne to make a man come around

Her pout becaal Plantation, and he and Ashley Donegal had been quite a thing If he was sleeping with her again…

Hht not do it

Maybe she had to proh she would love it if there were athe ree to an interviehen the switchboard signaled a call for her

"Line four," the operator told her

"Who is it?"

"Soive you," the operator told her, bored "Look, I’h anything proot it, thanks"

She picked up the phone

"Marty?"

The voice was deep, quiet and husky

"Yes?" she said "Who is--"

"You want an interview You want to knohat’s really going on You want to break it free Well, I’ll do it for you"

Jake! It had to be Jake Oh, and he was FBI now, or so shots on the case But he did reh school, did remember that they’d flirted and teased and that she’d been the hottest thing in his class

"Oh, you sweetie!" she said "Thank you, thank you! Can you come in--"

"No, but you can come out," he said "I’ll tell you where to leave your car so that it’s not seen And I’ll tell you the easiest way to get to me No caet to the truth I can’t say more--you have to really solve this on your own after what I tell you But I won’t speak if there’s anyone else there, so co I can’t be involved in this when the news gets out"

"All right, all right Where should I be? When?"

She listened She hung up, delighted