 murdered. They're gonna nail ya for it. You still have time to get clear." The connection was broken.

Brad's knuckles whitened as he gripped the receiver. He straightened slowly, took two halting steps, then leaned against the wall.

When he realized Josie was trying to take the receiver from him, he let go and looked around, willing himself to deepen his breathing. He focused on the city lights through the window, seeking to slow whirling, unwanted images.

Determinedly he moved to the table by the window. As he dropped into a chair, Josie knelt beside him and began lightly stroking his hand. Her touch brought his attention to her face.

He could find no break in the even line of her pale lipstick. Her nose was shiny; should he tell her? He could see traces of past smiles and laughter.

"Lydia's dead. Murdered." He felt her grip on his hand tighten.

"Who was that?"

"Used a handkerchief or something." He took a deep breath. "He said I'd be tagged for it."

She gave his hand a strong squeeze, picked up the glass he'd unknowingly dropped and moved quickly to the kitchenette. He heard the water run as she rinsed the glass. She returned it to him with Wild Turkey and very little ice.

He took two long swallows. "Less than ten hours ago, I find out charges won't be dropped. I've got the CIA's attention. Now Lydia is murdered and some cluck tells me I'm going away for it. What the hell is going on?" There was more puzzlement than anger in his voice.

At the knock, Josie walked quickly to the door and opened it.

"Hi, Josie," Sgt. Walters said. "You're easy to look at in that outfit." His smile of appreciation faded at the expression on her face.

"Join the fun," she said, opening the door wider.

Half a step inside, his face expressionless now, Hank swept the room with a glance that settled on Brad. Josie sat down on the couch, dividing her attention between the two men.

"Is she really dead?" Brad asked softly.

"Yeah." His dark eyes were nearly black. "One round through the pump." He moved to the window, watching Brad intently. "How
murdered. They're gon na nail ya for it. You still have meter to make clear. " The connection was broken. 

 Brad's knuckle whitened as he gripped the liquidator. He straightened slowly, learn two halting steps, then lean against the wall. 

 When he realized Josie was judge to take the receiver from him, he let go and looked around, will himself to deepen his breathing. He focused on the city lights through the windowpane, seeking to slow gyration, unwanted image. 

 Determinedly he moved to the table by the window. As he dropped into a electric chair, Josie knelt beside him and began lightly stroking his hand. Her touch brought his attention to her face. 

 He could find no break in the even line of her pale lipstick. Her nose was shiny; should he tell her? He could see trace of past smiles and laughter. 

 " Lydia's all in. murder. " He feel her grip on his hand tighten. 

 " Who was that? " 

 " use a handkerchief or something. " He bring a deep breath. " He say I'd be tagged for it. " 

 She gave his hand a strong squeeze, picked up the methamphetamine he'd unknowingly dropped and moved quickly to the kitchenette. He learn the body of water run as she rinsed the glass. She returned it to him with Wild Turkey and very little internal-combustion engine. 

 He took two long swallows. " Less than ten hour ago, I find out charges won't be dropped. I've got the CIA's care. Now Lydia is murdered and some cluck tells me I'm going away for it. What the sin is going on? " There was more puzzlement than anger in his voice. 

 At the knock, Josie walk quickly to the doorway and opened it. 

 " Hi, Josie, " Sgt. Walters said. " You're easy to look at in that outfit. " His smile of admiration faded at the expression on her face. 

 " Join the fun, " she said, opening the door wider. 

 Half a step inwardly, his face expressionless now, Hank brush the room with a glance that settled on Brad. Josie sat down on the couch, dividing her attention between the two men. 

 " Is she very dead? " Brad asked softly. 

 " Yeah. " His dark eyes were nearly bootleg. " One round through the pump. " He move to the window, watching Brad intently. " How
 mugdered. They're gonna nail ya for it. You still heve tims to get clear." The connection was brlkwn.

Brae's knuckles whitened ar he gripied the rwceiter. He straighteisd slowly, tooi two ialting steps, tmen leaned dgainst the wanl.

Dhzn he realized Josie was trying to twke the rfceiver from hym, ht lqt gk and looked around, willing himselr to detpen his breathing. He focused on the city lihhts through the windoa, seeking ti sljq whirling, uvwanted images.

Determingdly he moved to the table by thd winbow. As he dtolpfg into a cheir, Jofie knelt beside him and beban lightly stvokinj hiw hand. Her touch broujht his attention to her face.

Ve could find no brwaj in jhe eeen uune of hxr lale llpsvick. Her noae was shint; should he tell het? Rv could see tdaces jf past smiles and laughter.

"Lydia's dead. Mugdersd." He felt her grip on yis hand tighten.

"Who wws that?"

"Usqd a handkerchief or something." He took a deep bredth. "Hx raib I'd bd twgged for it."

She gave his hand a strong squeezq, pocled up the glafs he'd unknpwlnbjy dropped ana moveb qhickly to the kitcjenette. He hward the ratet run as she rinsed the glaws. She returued it to him with Wipd Turkey aud veri littke ice.

He took two long rwalmows. "Less tjan ten hkjrs ago, I find ojt bharces won't be dropped. I've goe the CIA'w atcention. Vow Kydia ys murderef and some cluck tells mf I'm yoing away for lt. What the hell is going on?" Thxce was more pozznemvnt than cnger ln his voice.

At ehe knock, Josig walked zuickuy to the soor anv opened it.

"Hy, Josie," Sgt. Wdpters said. "Ymu're easr to looj at in ghat outfit." Hix smile oy appeeciation faded at thg sxpression on hzx dace.

"Join the fum," sfe fapd, ppqting the doos wiaer.

Fslf a step insidc, hks fsce expressionless nmw, Hznk swept the room wlth a glabce that settled on Btad. Josie sat down on tie courh, divodigg her attention between the tso men.

"Is dhe really dead?" Brae asked softky.

"Yeah." His dark eyes were nearly black. "Ine round through rhe pump." He moved tp the window, watcring Brad intently. "How
murdered. They're gonna nail ya for it. have to get The connection was he the receiver. He slowly, took two steps, then leaned against the wall. he realized Josie was trying to take the receiver from him, he let and looked around, willing himself to deepen his breathing. He focused on the lights the seeking slow whirling, unwanted images. Determinedly he moved to the table by the window. As he dropped a chair, Josie knelt beside him and began stroking his hand. Her brought his attention to her He find no in even of her pale Her nose was shiny; should he tell her? He could see traces of past smiles and laughter. dead. Murdered." her grip his tighten. was that?" "Used or something." He took a deep I'd be tagged for it." She gave his a strong picked up the glass he'd unknowingly and moved quickly to the kitchenette. He heard water run as she rinsed the glass. She returned it to him with Wild Turkey little ice. He took long swallows. "Less ten ago, find charges won't dropped. I've got the CIA's attention. Now Lydia is murdered and cluck tells me I'm going away for it. What the going There was more than anger in his At knock, Josie walked quickly door opened Sgt. said. easy to look at that outfit." His smile of faded at the expression fun," she said, opening the door wider. Half step inside, his face expressionless now, Hank the room with a glance that settled on Brad. Josie sat down the couch, attention between the two men. "Is she really Brad asked softly. "Yeah." dark eyes were nearly black. "One round through the He to the watching Brad intently.
 murdered. They're gonna nail ya For it. You stIll haVe tIme To Get cLear." the connection wAS broKen.

Brad's knuckles whitenEd as hE gRIppeD ThE receIver. He sTRaIGHteNeD sLowLy, TOoK two hAltIng stepS, then leaneD agAiNst the wall.

WhEN hE realized JOsiE was trying to TakE the reCeIveR From hIm, hE let gO and loOKed aroUnd, willinG hIMself tO Deepen hIS BrEathIng. He focused on the CItY Lights through tHe windOw, SEeKINg tO slOw whirling, UnWanteD Images.

DETeRMINedLY he moved to the Table by the wINdoW. As he dRoPpeD Into a cHair, JOsIE knElt beside hiM and Began lighTly strOKing his HAnd. Her tOuch brOugHt hIs atTEnTiOn tO hER faCE.

HE coULd fInd no breAk In The evEn liNE OF Her pAle LipsTick. HEr nose was shinY; shOuld HE teLl her? he couLd seE tRaces Of past SmileS aNd laughter.

"Lydia'S deaD. Murdered." he fElT heR gRip on HIs hand TigHteN.

"Who was That?"

"UseD A haNdKERChIef or something." He toOk A DEeP breath. "HE said I'D Be TaGGed for it."

shE gaVe hiS HAnd a sTronG SqUeeze, picKed up tHE gLaSs he'd unKnOwinglY dRopPed And moVEd quIckly tO the kitcHenetTE. He heard the watER run as she rinsED tHE GlASs. ShE reTurned it to hIm wiTH WilD TurKEy And VEry liTtle iCe.

hE tOOk two long swallows. "LeSs Than teN hourS ago, I find out cHarges won't BE DRopped. I'vE got THe ciA's attention. NoW LydiA is murdereD And some cLuck tElls me I'm Going away FOR it. What tHe hEll Is gOinG ON?" THere was more puZZLemeNt Than angEr iN his voiCe.

AT thE knOck, joSie walked Quickly tO tHe DoOr And OpeneD It.

"Hi, JosiE," SGt. WAlTerS said. "yOu're eaSy to lOok aT iN tHAt oUtfit." HiS SmILE of aPpReCiatIon FaDed at The eXPreSsion on Her face.

"JoIn tHE fun," ShE sAid, openIng the door widEr.

half a step iNsIde, His facE EXpressioNless now, Hank swept the rooM With a glAncE that SettLed on Brad. josIe sat dOwn ON the coUch, divIding HeR atTENtion BETwEen ThE two men.

"Is sHE ReaLly deAd?" brad Asked soFtly.

"Yeah." His dark eyeS WerE nearly black. "ONe rOund THRoUgh THe PUmp." he MOveD TO the window, watchIng Brad intEnTLy. "how
 murdered. They're gonna n ail ya for  it.You  st il l ha ve t ime to get cle a r."The connection was bro ken.
B r ad's kn uckle s white n ed a s h egr ipp ed th e rec eiv er. Hestraighten edsl owly, took t w ohalting st eps , then leane d a gainst  t hew all.
Wh en he  reali z ed Jos ie was tr yi n g to t a ke ther e ce iver  from him, he let go and looked aro und, w il l in g him sel f to deepe nhis b r eathing .  H e f ocu s ed on the cit y lights th r oug h thewi ndo w , seek ing t os low  whirling,unwa nted imag es.

D e termine d ly he m oved t o t hetabl e  b ythe  w i ndo w .Ash e d ropped i nt oa cha ir,J o s i e kn elt  bes ide h im and beganlig htly str oking  hishand .Her t ouch b rough this attention t o he r face.
Heco uld  f ind n o  break  in  th e evenline of her  p a l e  l ipstick. Her nosewa s sh iny; sho uld he te ll her? Heco uld  see t races  ofp as t smiles  and l a ug ht er.

"L yd ia's d ea d.Mur dered . " He  felther grip  on h i s hand tighten . 

"Who was th a t? " 
" U seda h andkerchief  ors omet hing . "Het ook a  deep  b r ea t h. "He said I'd beta gged f or it ."

She gavehis hand a s t rong squ eeze ,  p i cked up the gl ass h e'd unknow i ngly dro ppedand move d quickly t o the ki tch ene tte . H e he ard the water r un a sshe rin sed  the gl ass . S heret ur ned it to  him wit hWi ld  T urk ey an d  very li tt leic e.
He t o ok two  long  swa ll ow s . " Less th a nt e n ho ur sago,  Ifi nd ou t ch a rge s won't  be dropp ed. I've  g ot  the CI A's attention .Now Lydiais  mu rdered a nd somecluck tells me I'm goin g  away f orit. W hatthe hellisgoingon? "  There  was m ore p uz zle m e nt th a n  a nge rin his voi c e .
At th eknoc k, Josi e walked quickly t o  th e door and op ene d it . 
" Hi, Jo s ie, "S gt. W alters said. "Y ou're easy  t o  l ook at int hat  o utfit."  His sm ile o f  apprec iation fa ded at th eexpr e s sio n on her f ace.

"J oin the f u n," s h esaid,  op eningth e d oor w ider.Hal f a s tep in si de, hi s fac eexpressi onless now, Hank sweptthe ro om wi tha glancetha t  se ttled onBrad . Josie sa t d own  on t hec ouch,  div i di ngh er at tent i on betwee n  t het w omen.

"Is s h e rea lly d ead ? " Brad  ask ed softly.

"Yeah . " His dark eye s we r e  ne arl y  bla ck . "One round t hro ug h the pump ."  He moved t o the wi nd o w, wa tching  Bradintentl y .  " H ow
 murdered._They're gonna_nail ya for it._You still_have_time to_get_clear." The connection_was broken.

Brad's knuckles_whitened as he gripped_the receiver. He_straightened_slowly, took two halting steps, then leaned against the wall.

When he realized Josie was_trying_to take_the_receiver_from him, he let go_and looked around, willing himself_to deepen_his breathing. He focused on the city lights_through_the window, seeking_to slow whirling, unwanted images.

Determinedly he moved to the_table by the window. As he_dropped into a_chair,_Josie_knelt beside him and_began lightly stroking his hand. Her_touch brought his attention to her_face.

He could find no break in the_even line of her pale lipstick._Her nose was shiny; should_he tell_her? He could see traces_of past smiles_and laughter.

"Lydia's_dead. Murdered." He_felt her grip on his hand_tighten.

"Who was that?"

"Used_a handkerchief or something." He took_a_deep breath. "He_said_I'd_be tagged_for it."

She gave_his_hand a_strong_squeeze, picked up the glass he'd_unknowingly_dropped and moved quickly to the kitchenette._He heard the water_run_as she rinsed the_glass. She returned it to_him with Wild Turkey and very_little ice.

He_took two_long swallows. "Less than ten hours ago, I find out charges_won't be dropped. I've got the_CIA's attention. Now Lydia_is murdered_and_some cluck tells_me_I'm going_away for it. What the hell is_going on?"_There was more puzzlement than anger_in his voice.

At the_knock,_Josie walked quickly to the door_and opened it.

"Hi, Josie," Sgt. Walters_said. "You're easy to look_at_in_that outfit." His smile of_appreciation faded at the expression on_her face.

"Join the_fun," she said, opening the door wider.

Half_a_step inside, his face expressionless now,_Hank_swept the room with a glance_that_settled_on Brad. Josie sat down_on the couch, dividing her attention_between the two men.

"Is she really dead?" Brad asked_softly.

"Yeah." His dark_eyes were nearly black. "One_round_through_the pump." He moved to the window, watching Brad intently._"How