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“Either way, you’ve got the wrong number” I heard a click, and that was that

I kept going and hit pay dirt on the fourth try A worandmother answered When I asked for Katie, she said, “She’s away at college, dear”

“Would you ether a contact list for the next high school reunion” I figured the lie would protect Stuart Blaine

“Well, I don’t knowI’ll need to ask her mother”

“Is she there?” I pressed “Can I talk to her?”

“She’s out, but she should be back soon”

“How about if I check back in half an hour?”

“She h you may want to wait an hour, just to be sure”

“Aweso up

I had no intention of calling in an hour; I would go to the house instead

I started the car and headed toward a shopping center I had noticed on the way to see Blaine There was just enough ti by the Saunders’ house

I bought a Reuben on pumpernickel, which I wolfed dohile I scanned y I would need to visit the art school, of course, and I could swing by the coffee shop while I was there And a

s for Mr Kandinsky, I would deal with hiood time

As I ate and reviewed notes, I stayed alert as always to s Not that I expected anyone to attack me here, but old habits die hard Fortunately, this wasn’t the bar where some drunk had tried to feel me up I hadn’t expected that, either And he hadn’t anticipatedI hadn’t connected squarely I could have sht into his brain

That kind of behavior lands you in court Which leads to court-ordered anger ement therapy Which extends into talk therapy, ad infinituress