 small cubbyhole office near each of the principal jails in the city. But she handled important clients here, largely those who controlled major California money.

The highly polished oak floor was covered with oriental rugs, bold in their design and beautifully executed. Brad remembered Amanda's desk had been hand tooled out of walnut, more than a hundred years ago. As she seated herself behind it, he settled himself in a dainty-looking antique chair that was surprisingly sturdy and comfortable.

"You told Sgt. Walters you'd stay. Will you?" she asked.

"If it weren't for your money..." His voice trailed off.

"Oh, posh," she interrupted. "That didn't stop you three years ago. And I'm two hundred thousand dollars better off today. Don't give it a thought."

"When I signed those papers, I thought I owned my folk's home."

"I know; it wouldn't have mattered had I known otherwise. But you didn't answer my question. Are you staying?"

"I feel as if someone's out there again. And I don't like steel bars."

"That's perfectly natural, don't you think?"

He rose abruptly and moved to the window. He watched the flurry of cars and people four floors below on Wilshire Boulevard. The traffic sounds were hushed by the heavy windowpane. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed the city that had been his home until he had returned to it. Now he wondered if it would ever be home again.

The scream of the siren on a hook-and-ladder rig brought him back. Amanda was standing beside him, also watching the flow of traffic. She looked up at him.

"Nothing's easy, is it?" he asked.

"Only for fools," she answered.

He sighed and turned back to his chair, aware of Josie's close scrutiny. Amanda again sat down behind the desk.

"I've never understood why you went to get Gerald," Amanda commented.

"I'm not sure myself." He tugged on his ear. "But when Lydia asked, I went. When the jerk pulled that.45, I took it and left. That was enough for me."

He was silent for several moments. "When Lydia said she'd seen me kill him, I didn't know
small cubbyhole office near each of the principal jails in the city. But she cover authoritative clients here, largely those who controlled major California money. 

 The highly polished oak floor was cover with oriental rugs, bold in their blueprint and beautifully executed. Brad remembered Amanda's desk had been hired hand tooled out of walnut, more than a hundred years ago. As she seat herself behind it, he settled himself in a dainty - looking age-old chair that was surprisingly sturdy and comfortable. 

 " You told Sgt. Walters you'd stay. Will you? " she asked. 

 " If it weren't for your money... " His articulation trailed off. 

 " Oh, posh, " she interrupted. " That didn't intercept you three years ago. And I'm two hundred thousand dollars better off today. Don't yield it a thought. " 

 " When I signed those papers, I thought I owned my folk music's home. " 

 " I know; it wouldn't have mattered had I known otherwise. But you didn't answer my question. Are you staying? " 

 " I feel as if someone's out there again. And I don't like steel bars. " 

 " That's perfectly natural, don't you think? " 

 He rose abruptly and affect to the window. He watched the bustle of car and multitude four floors below on Wilshire Boulevard. The dealings sounds were hush by the heavy windowpane. He hadn't realized how much he'd miss the city that had been his home until he had returned to it. Now he wondered if it would ever be home again. 

 The scream of the siren on a hook - and - ladder rig brought him back. Amanda was stand beside him, besides determine the flow of traffic. She looked up at him. 

 " Nothing's easy, is it? " he ask. 

 " Only for fools, " she answered. 

 He sigh and turned back to his chair, aware of Josie's close examination. Amanda again sat down behind the desk. 

 " I've never understood why you went to get Gerald, " Amanda commented. 

 " I'm not certain myself. " He tugged on his auricle. " But when Lydia asked, I went. When the jerk pulled that.45, I take it and left. That was enough for me. " 

 He was silent for several moments. " When Lydia say she'd seen me kill him, I didn't know
 smwll cubbyhole office neav each of the prnbcipal jails in the zity. But she handled importait coientw here, largely those wfo contropled majir Celifornia money.

Tis highln poljdhed iak floor was govered witv oriental rugv, copd in their design and beautifully qxecutec. Hrad remembereq Amsgda's desk had been hand tooled out of salnut, kore than a hindred years ago. As she sewted herself behind it, he settled himfwlf in a daivty-looking antique chajr that was surprisingly sturdy and eomfortable.

"Ioh hmld Sgt. Walvers yju'd stay. Will you?" sha asked.

"Of it weren't fpr bour money..." His voice trained off.

"Oh, posh," she interrupdeb. "That didn't stop you tyree iears ago. Qnd I'm txo gundref tiousand dolmars better off today. Don't givt ie a thought."

"Wheh I sidnqd those papers, I thought I owned my fonk's home."

"I know; it wouldn't yave mattered had I kjown othewwise. But you didn't answer my question. Are you stdying?"

"M weeo wr iv someone's out there again. And I don't like stqsl bsrs."

"That's perfegtly natural, don't uok yrink?"

He rose acruptlv ahd moved to the wijdow. He watcyed the fjurru of cars and people four fooors below jb Wilshire Boulevaxd. The traffnc soumds wrre hushed by the heavy winsowpane. He jadn't reamkzed how much he'a mpsseg the ciuh that had been hys home uitil ke had rdturmed to it. Now he wondcsed if it would evfr be hmme again.

Tje scream of the siren on a hook-and-ladder rig bsoucht him yack. Akanda was stagding beside hnm, also catchivg the flos of treffic. She lojked up at hik.

"Jothing's easb, is it?" hq asjed.

"Obly for wools," she answrred.

He siyked and tyrned back to his ghair, zware of Josie's clise scrutiny. Amsndx adapn xae down behind the derl.

"I've vever underwgood why you went to get Gerzld," Amanda commentrd.

"L'm not sute myself." He tugged on his ear. "But when Pydia asyed, I wegt. When the jerk pulled that.45, I took it wnd left. That wws ekougr for me."

He was silent for several moments. "When Lyvia said she'd seen me kull him, I didn't knoc
small cubbyhole office near each of the in city. But handled important clients major money. The highly oak floor was with oriental rugs, bold in their and beautifully executed. Brad remembered Amanda's desk had been hand tooled out of more than a hundred years ago. As she seated herself behind it, he himself a antique that was surprisingly sturdy and comfortable. "You told Sgt. Walters you'd stay. Will you?" she asked. it weren't for your money..." His voice trailed "Oh, posh," she interrupted. didn't stop you three years And two hundred dollars off Don't give it thought." "When I signed those papers, I thought I owned my folk's home." "I know; it wouldn't mattered had otherwise. But didn't my Are you staying?" as if someone's out there again. like steel bars." "That's perfectly natural, don't you He rose and moved to the window. He the flurry of cars and people four floors on Wilshire Boulevard. The traffic sounds were hushed by the heavy windowpane. He hadn't realized he'd missed the city had been his until had to Now he if it would ever be home again. The scream of the on a hook-and-ladder rig brought him back. Amanda was standing also the flow of She looked up at "Nothing's is it?" he asked. fools," answered. turned to chair, aware of Josie's scrutiny. Amanda again sat down the desk. "I've never get Gerald," Amanda commented. "I'm not sure myself." tugged on his ear. "But when Lydia I went. When the jerk pulled that.45, I took it and left. was enough He was silent for several moments. "When Lydia she'd seen me kill I didn't know
 small cubbyhole office near eAch of the prIncipAl jAilS iN the City. but she handled iMPortAnt clients here, largely tHose wHo COntrOLlEd majOr CalifORnIA MonEy.

thE hiGhLY pOlishEd oAk floor Was covered WitH oRiental rugs, bOLd In their desIgn And beautifulLy eXecuteD. BRad REmembEreD AmanDa's desK Had beeN hand toolEd OUt of waLNut, more THAn A hunDred years ago. As she SEaTEd herself behinD it, he sEtTLeD HImsElf In a dainty-lOoKing aNTique chAIr THAT waS Surprisingly sTurdy and comFOrtAble.

"YoU tOld sGt. WaltErs yoU'd STay. will you?" she aSked.

"if it weren'T for yoUR money..." HIS voice tRailed Off.

"oh, pOsh," sHE iNtErrUpTEd. "THAt DidN'T stOp you thrEe YeArs agO. And i'M TWO hunDreD thoUsand Dollars better Off TodaY. don'T give It a thOughT."

"WHen I sIgned tHose pApErs, I thought I ownEd my Folk's home."

"i knOw; It wOuLdn't hAVe mattEreD haD I known OtherwiSE. BuT yOU DIdN't answer my question. arE YOu Staying?"

"I Feel as IF sOmEOne's out tHeRe aGain. aND I don'T likE StEel bars."

"THat's peRFeCtLy naturAl, Don't yoU tHinK?"

He Rose aBRuptLy and mOved to thE windOW. He watched the fLUrry of cars and PEoPLE fOUr flOorS below on WilShirE boulEvarD. thE trAFfic sOunds WeRE hUShed by the heavy windoWpAne. He hAdn't rEalized how mucH he'd missed THE City that Had bEEn HIs home until he hAd retUrned to it. NOW he wondeRed if It would eVer be home AGAin.

The scReaM of The SirEN On A hook-and-laddeR RIg brOuGht him bAck. amanda wAs sTanDinG beSiDe him, also Watching ThE fLoW oF trAffic. sHe looked Up At hIm.

"notHing's EAsy, is iT?" he asKed.

"ONlY fOR foOls," she aNSwEREd.

He SiGhEd anD tuRnEd bacK to hIS chAir, awarE of Josie's CloSE scrUtInY. Amanda Again sat down bEhInd the desk.

"i'vE neVer undERStood why You went to get Gerald," AmandA CommentEd.

"I'M not sUre mYself." He tuGgeD on his Ear. "bUt when lydia aSked, I WeNt. WHEN the jERK pUllEd That.45, I took iT ANd lEft. ThAt Was eNough foR me."

He was silent for sEVerAl moments. "When lydIa saID ShE'd sEEn ME kiLl HIm, I DIDn't know
 small cubbyhole office ne ar each of  thepri nci pa l ja ilsin the city. B u t sh e handled important cl ients  h e re,l ar gelythose w h oc o ntr ol le d m aj o rCalif orn ia mone y.

The hi ghl ypolished oak fl oor was co ver ed with orie nta l rugs ,bol d  in t hei r des ign an d  beaut ifully ex ec u ted. B r ad reme m b er ed A manda's desk hadb ee n  hand tooled o ut ofwa l nu t ,  mo rethan a hun dr ed ye a rs ago. As s h e s e ated herselfbehind it,h e s ettled  h ims e lf ina dai nt y -lo oking antiq ue c hair that  was s u rprisin g ly stur dy and  co mfo rtab l e. 
"Yo ut old Sg t.W alt ers you' dst ay. W illy o u ? " sh e a sked .

"I f it weren'tfor  you r  mo ney.. ." Hi s vo ic e tra iled o ff.
"O h, posh," she i nter rupted. " Tha tdid n' t sto p  you t hre e y ears ag o. AndI 'mtw o h un dred thousand doll ar s be tter off  today .  D on ' t give i ta t houg h t ."

" When Isigned t hose p a pe rs , I tho ug ht I o wn edmyfolk' s  hom e."

" I know;it wo u ldn't have mat t ered had I kn o wn o th e rwis e.But you did n'ta nswe r my qu est i on. A re yo us ta y ing?"

"I feel as i fsomeon e's o ut there agai n. And I d o n ' t like s teel ba r s."

"That's p erfec tly natura l , don'tyou t hink?"
He rose a b r uptly an d m ove d t o t h e  w indow. He wat c h ed t he  flurry  of  cars a ndpeo ple  fo ur  floors b elow onWi ls hi re  Bo uleva r d. The t ra ffi csou nds w e re hus hed b y th ehe a vywindowp a ne . He h ad n' t re ali ze d how  muc h  he 'd miss ed the ci tyt hatha dbeen hi s home untilhe  had retur ne d t o it.N o w he won dered if it would everb e homeaga in.
Thescream of  th e sire n o n  a hoo k-and- ladde rrig b rough t hi m b ac k. Amandaw a s s tandi ng  bes ide him , also watching th e  fl ow of traffic . S he l o o ke d u p  a t  hi m. 
"N o t hing's easy, is  it?" he a sk e d. 

"Only fo r  fo ol s," she  answer ed.
H e sighe d and tur ned backto  his c hai r, aware o f Josie' s close s c rutin y .Amand a a gain s at  do wn be hind t h e d esk.
"I've  n ever u nders to od why y ou went to get Gerald,"  Amand a com men ted.

"I' m n o t s ure mysel f."He tuggedonhis  ear.  "B u t whe n Ly d ia  as k ed, I  wen t . When th e  j erk p ul led that.45 , I  to ok it  an d  left.  Tha t was enough form e."

He was si lent f orsev e ralmo ments. "When L ydi as a id she'd  s een me kill  him, Idi d n't k now
 small_cubbyhole office_near each of the_principal jails_in_the city._But_she handled important_clients here, largely_those who controlled major_California money.

The highly_polished_oak floor was covered with oriental rugs, bold in their design and beautifully executed._Brad_remembered Amanda's_desk_had_been hand tooled out of_walnut, more than a hundred_years ago._As she seated herself behind it, he settled_himself_in a dainty-looking_antique chair that was surprisingly sturdy and comfortable.

"You told_Sgt. Walters you'd stay. Will you?"_she asked.

"If it_weren't_for_your money..." His voice_trailed off.

"Oh, posh," she interrupted. "That_didn't stop you three years ago._And I'm two hundred thousand dollars better_off today. Don't give it a_thought."

"When I signed those papers,_I thought_I owned my folk's home."

"I_know; it wouldn't_have mattered_had I known_otherwise. But you didn't answer my_question. Are you_staying?"

"I feel as if someone's out_there_again. And I_don't_like_steel bars."

"That's_perfectly natural, don't_you_think?"

He rose_abruptly_and moved to the window. He_watched_the flurry of cars and people four_floors below on Wilshire_Boulevard._The traffic sounds were_hushed by the heavy windowpane._He hadn't realized how much he'd_missed the_city that_had been his home until he had returned to it. Now_he wondered if it would ever_be home again.

The scream_of the_siren_on a hook-and-ladder_rig_brought him_back. Amanda was standing beside him, also_watching the_flow of traffic. She looked up_at him.

"Nothing's easy, is_it?"_he asked.

"Only for fools," she answered.

He_sighed and turned back to his_chair, aware of Josie's close_scrutiny._Amanda_again sat down behind the_desk.

"I've never understood why you went_to get Gerald,"_Amanda commented.

"I'm not sure myself." He tugged_on_his ear. "But when Lydia asked,_I_went. When the jerk pulled that.45,_I_took_it and left. That was_enough for me."

He was silent for_several moments. "When Lydia said she'd seen me kill_him, I didn't_know