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He took a deep breath “—rehire Judas Iscariot”

With hatred, he watched me replace the three cushions on the three easy chairs “Is that all you came to talk about?”

“For now” I turned the doorknob

“Whatta you heard from your friend Roy Holdstrom?” he said, suddenly

“I thought you knew!” I said, then stopped

Careful, I thought

“The fool just ran off,” I said, quickly “Took everything from his apartment, left town Stupid idiot No friend of mine, now Him and that damn clay Beast he made!”

Manny Leiber studiedbetter”

“Sure Fritz and Jesus”

“What?”

“Jesus and Fritz”

And I went out

33

I walked slowly back to randparents’ house somewhere in the past

“You sure it was Roy running by an hour ago?” asked Crumley