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"Itsa crisis "

"Ill be there in twenty," Tully said without hesitation

For the first ti with Tully would help; it always had Fifteen rabbed her purse, and left her office

Outside, the sun was a pale white ball in a washed-out blue sky A few hardy tourists walked up and down Pioneer Square Across the street, the homeless people who lived in Occidental Park lay sprawled out on the cobblestoned ground and the ironwork benches, huddled beneath filthy blankets and old sleeping bags The trees around them were in full bloom

Kate buttoned up her coat just as Tully pulled up in her brand-new metallic-blue Corvette convertible

As always, the car made Kate both shake her head and smile It was so damnedphallic, and yet somehow Tully fit it perfectly Her wool pants and silk blouse were even the same color blue as the car

Kate hurried around to the passenger side and got in

"Where do you want to go?"

"Surprise me," Kate answered

"You got it "

In no tih the don traffic, rocketed over the West Seattle Bridge, and arrived at a restaurant on Alki Beach On this faded spring day the place was e the steely Sound

"Thank God you called," Tully said "This was the week fro to every aruy in Cheney whos built a truck that runs on wood I kid you not He has a stove in the bed thats the size of an aircraft carrier and it takes a half a cord a week I could barely see the dah the black smoke it belched out, and he wanted me to report that hed discovered the future Too to Lyn-den to interview some Hutterite chick on thirty-two blue ribbons at the fair Yippee Oh, and last week—"

"Inant "

Tullysme?"

"Do I look like I?"