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I glance down at my boots on the concrete “Do you think I should tell somebody?”

Gray thinks about that one for a moment “I have no idea,” he finally says, and he sounds very honest “I think this is probably one of those times where my mom would say you have to decide what you can live with, which is seriously one of ht answer” He shrugs “But I can tell you I’ll have your back no matter what you decide”

The train co into the station then, fast and noisy Gray reaches out and takes my hand

Twenty

Ion the very edge of his fake-leather visitor’s chair and tuckingIt’s a small office, cluttered: the desk is heaped with file folders A potted plant droops on the sill There’s a photo of Mr DioGuardi’s kids on the bookshelf, two college-aged guys with red hair and freckles clowning around at a cahter too

“Just, ah, give er and squinting at his co has let out in the sixto hack into a govern unsuccessfully to send an email attachment

“Take your ti the more I feel like I’m about to jump clear out ofmuscle and viscera in et Calm and quick, I remind myself

Finally Mr DioGuardi folds his hands on top of his keyboard, frowning and jerking back as he hits the space bar by s in protest, and I bite the inside of le

“So,” he says “Marin What can I do for you?”

I take a deep breath “Well—”

“I’ve been reading your editorials in the paper, by the way,” he tellshis eyebrows in a way that I’m not sure how to interpret, exactly “I hadn’t realized you had quite so ewater”

“Yeah” II’ve been thinking about lately, I guess”

Mr DioGuardi nods “So it would seem” He clears his throat “Now What’s on your mind?”

I s hard, digging my nails into my nylon-covered knees “It’s about Mr Beckett,” I admit

“Oh?” Mr DioGuardi’s eyebroitch, cautious “What about him?”