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Dr Fein started his ten es he’d had the night before in his car Her voice—like her body, so helpless, so fragile—only deep

ened the intensity of his desire for her He had promised to call her in ten minutes Dr Fein wanted to think about how he could help Lila—but it was i, sighing with pleasure, i around in his head like a kaleidoscope He finally gave in and, with a nervous glance at the clock, he locked his office door, grabbed a box of tissues, and indulged hiratification session he could recall having since puberty

When finished, he sat spent for aliered hiet the e for his files—to cover his ass, because Lord knows, her mind and story could shift like the wind He’d refer her to another therapist And after that he’d be free to help her in any way possible He would be free even to see her—if she wanted that And if she were grateful enough, it was quite conceivable that she would agree to see him Perhaps even welcome the chance to do so

After all, twenty grand could buy a whole lot of gratitude

Dr Fein proposed his solution Lila ary of taking his reed He e-ned and returned to him

They arranged to meet at a small park, about a forty- the cash in an old briefcase Dr Fein had it wired to hied to keep secret fro lawyer

Dr Fein picked up the cash at a Western Union office He carried the briefcase to his Lexus and set it on the passenger’s seat He save her, she’d be free again Or, to be s Her debt to hiratitude And he would never hold that over her, use it to hurt her

He wondered if she would be free for dinner that night Maybe Saturday

As he drove to the park, Dr Fein listened to an oldies station on the radio He loved oldies Sarah always called him “an old fart” and couldn’t understand why he refused to listen to more contemporary music But the old music reminded Dr Fein of better times A ti were clearer, better defined then Today the rules had been thrown out, and no one kne to act, what to do He knew that fro to his patients

Sarah’s taunting words ca to the Lovin’ Spoonful How can you listen to this all the tie the station just this once? He could al—except that the briefcase was there, whichhiave it to her

The thought of her breasts pressed against his body rin from ear to ear

Dr Fein parked the silver Lexus, grabbed the briefcase, and walked over a grassy knoll toward a bench near a stand of trees by a lake It was early afternoon, and the park looked deserted Dr Fein hiked down the gentle slope The day wasn’t overly war his shirt Dr Fein wasn’t in bad shape for a man in his early fifties, but his breath ca a sprint instead of strolling down a hill He was surprised at hoinded he felt by the time he’d reached the bench He’d seen only one car in the lot—an old Toyota that he assu for him

The bench was e the briefcase on his lap