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I’d had enough of this psycho-bully’s verbal fencing “What do you want?” I said, with a steely confidence I didn’t feel

“That delightful landlady of Cooper’s toldhis calendar and the ITN invoices I want you to givewith all the inforot from that private eye in Philadelphia Now don’t lie to me—I know the contents of that box were sent to you”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then you won’t be seeing your little friend alive again”

The evidence from Cooper’s room, which I had yet to take to the cops, linked Cooper to the embezzlement; and the calendar linked Cooper with Diesel and Powell Apparently, Diesel didn't realize the cops had other evidence of his involveotiate for Tina’s release

“Okay,” I said “Hoork this?”

“Bring all the documents to Calvert Road Park in half an hour,” he said “I believe you knohere that is”

The phone went dead

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Twenty-fivethe file as I waited for the black compact to appear

I had the radio on low I coulda request that so to feel that way about October The last couple of weeks had passed slowly aslot No other cars Nothing to duck behind, not in the lot anyway I swiveled round to scan the trees behind me At one end of the lot were restrooreen roof

I didn’t see anyone I tried to cal with Billy Joe

I watched a black car reach the entrance and turn into the lot

“Su “The in

nocent can never last”