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“This is right outside my house,” Lila said The photo noted the date and tio at 5:47 PM Lila clicked a button on the side to show hi day, around the saain—sale This one provided a rear view There appeared to be a bright red decal on the back , setting it apart fro the state of Maryland The ere darkly tinted The license plate was a standard black-on-white type—not a “Save the Bay” or colorful “Farm Preservation” plate He tried, without success, to read the tag number The characters were too blurred to make out, but they didn’t appear to be vanity plates

“And you know for a fact this vehicle is connected to the people youdid business with?” Dr Fein said

Lila looked at the floor and shook her head “I’ve never seen it before”

“Well,” Dr Fein said “There could be other explanations”

“I do soal Then this car turns up the next week—follows me home and sits outside my house for three days in a row And you think there’s no connection?” Lila looked incredulous “I think they’re watching uess”

The whole thing sounded absurd to Dr Fein Who had done this to Lila? Why would they do it? Why would they assume she’d tell anyone else? Surely it would only hurt her to do so He wanted to ask all these questions, but ti out

“Are you sure this vehicle was following you? Maybe so where you work happens to know one of your neighbors”

She shook her head “No I just know it’s theer”

Dr Fein shifted slightly in his seat, tensed and ready to rise and show Lila to the door His next client would be waiting “If you feel that way, m

aybe you should contact the police?”

“After what I’ve done?” Lila gave him a look that expressed a low opinion of Dr Fein’s IQ He could feel hiaffe

“They’ve paid al Now I’o to the cops for protection? And say what? That a bunch of crime? Because they think maybe I’ll tell the cops?!”

Dr Fein had no idea why the people who’d paid Lila would want to watch her and found her reasoning about the matter to be confused and twisted Even so, as her voice rose with each derisive comment, he could feel his embarrassment and disco hie

“I can see your dileest You live alone, don’t you?”

“Yes” The word came out as a sob “Now I do”