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“Not unless they’re diamonds,” I said

“Hah,” said Conklin

I said, “Rich, in my humble opinion, you and Tina are at flowers and dinner That’s safe, sweet, and her mother won’t send out invitations”

“Okay And do I sign the card love or not?”

I couldn’t help it I rolled h

“Richie, do you love her? Or don’t you? You have to figure that one out”

He laughed

“Could you stop giggling?” I said

He gave eant Boxer, ma’am And could you put in for a sense of humor?”

“You’re asking for it,” I said

I gave hihed so cars that were inching forward and passengers ere getting out, shouting curses into the fog

My cell phone rang again

Claire said, “Hurry up, okay? I can’t hold off the daer The tow truck is here”

TWO

THE SCENE WAS surreal, and I don’t use the terhtly

From what I could see, a late-model red Jeep had lost control in the outside northbound lane and then careered across five lanes before hitting the ay barrier and sla to accommodate the Jeep’s front end

All but one lane had been closed, and a narrow ribbon of traffic was open to alternating northbound and southbound traffic that crawled past the Jeep, which ed by fog up to its tail lights

Law enforcee Authority SUVs, Fire Department, CHP vehicles, black-and-whites, and personnel to match were all clumped up around the Jeep I saw people I knew fro pictures of the accident A traffic cop heaved over the railing