 bright, seatless toilet. The two-foot bunk was the only other feature. There were nine steel bars in the door, with six more on either side. The three-inch bolt was electrically operated from outside the cellblock. He tried to ignore the dull gleam of the bars.

He concentrated on taking slow even breaths, as he lay full length on the bunk. He listened for the crashing splat of a drop of water on damp, gray clay, but he could hear it only in memory. He had covered his eyes with an arm, but it did not dim the brightness much. It was a constant battle to subdue fear. He tried desperately to think of Josie, to keep her image before him as a symbol, as a sufficient reason for being here.

He remembered the way her dress had inched up her thigh as she had dozed while he'd driven across the desert. The traffic of the city had awakened her. Following her directions, he had pulled up in front of the Holiday Inn on Roscoe Boulevard, just east of the San Diego Freeway in the San Fernando Valley.

Inside the hotel, he had discovered Amanda Pothmore had a great deal of confidence in Ms. Botsworth. She'd reserved the room for a week.

The door opened into a nicely appointed sitting area. The bed was beyond the furniture, tucked against the back wall beside a well-appointed roomy bath. To the left was a small kitchenette.

After the quick tour, Josie had opened a cabinet in the kitchen and pointed to a bottle of Wild Turkey. "Compliments of Amanda," she had said with a smile. "Get some rest. I'll reserve a table for us downstairs at seven. Amanda will join us; she's anxious to see you."

When Brad had nodded approval, Josie had smiled encouragingly, then left. The room had become suddenly empty.

Later he had settled in at the small table at the window with a drink and gazed out at the city. He had never been good at waiting; he wasn't doing better now. As he had often done, he had tried to focus on things he might do once he was free. But as always, he had become distracted, wondering if it would ever happen.

* * *

Dinner had been macro-managed by Amanda Pothmore. She had dominated all with her cheery confidence. Josie had smiled a lot, but
bright, seatless toilet. The two - foot bunk was the lone early feature. There were nine sword bars in the doorway, with six more on either side. The three - inch dash was electrically manoeuver from outside the cellblock. He tried to dismiss the dull gleam of the bars. 

 He digest on taking slow even breath, as he lay full length on the bunk. He listened for the crashing splat of a cliff of water on damp, gray clay, but he could listen it only in memory. He had covered his eyes with an arm, but it did not blind the brightness much. It was a constant battle to subdue fear. He tried urgently to think of Josie, to keep her image before him as a symbol, as a sufficient reason for being here. 

 He remembered the way her attire had inched up her thigh as she had dozed while he'd driven across the desert. The traffic of the city had awakened her. Following her directions, he had pulled up in front of the Holiday Inn on Roscoe Boulevard, merely east of the San Diego Freeway in the San Fernando Valley. 

 Inside the hotel, he had discovered Amanda Pothmore had a big deal of confidence in Ms. Botsworth. She'd reserved the room for a week. 

 The doorway opened into a nicely appoint sitting area. The seam was beyond the furniture, tucked against the back wall beside a well - appointed roomy bath. To the left was a modest kitchenette. 

 After the quick tour, Josie had opened a cabinet in the kitchen and pointed to a bottle of Wild Turkey. " regard of Amanda, " she had said with a smile. " catch some rest. I'll reserve a table for us downstairs at seven. Amanda will join us; she's anxious to see you. " 

 When Brad had nod approval, Josie had smiled encouragingly, then left. The room had become suddenly empty. 

 Later he had settled in at the small table at the windowpane with a drink and gazed out at the city. He had never been good at waiting; he wasn't doing well now. As he had frequently done, he had try on to focus on thing he might do once he was free. But as constantly, he had become distracted, wondering if it would always happen. 

 * * * 

 Dinner had been macro - managed by Amanda Pothmore. She had dominated all with her cheery assurance. Josie had smiled a lot, but
 brlght, seatless toilet. The two-foot bunk wcw the mnly ofher feagure. There were nine steel bers un tht door, with six mord on eithvr side. Tye tiree-inch bolt was electrleally lperctxd from outside the cellbnock. He tried do iynore the dull gleam of the bars.

He cjncentrstfd on taking sjow tveg brsaths, as he lay full length on the bunk. Ht listened for the crashing splat of a drop lf wwter on damp, gray flay, but he couje hear it onuy in memogv. He had cobered his eyes with an arm, but kt dib not dim tye brlchtness muci. It wws a constanb battla to sundue fear. He tvied vespwrately to think of Jmsie, to keep her iiage befose him as a symbol, qs a suxfichent eearon fpr being hece.

He remembsred the wat her dress had incneq up her thigh as shq rad dozed while he'd driven across the dtsert. The traffic of the citt had awakened her. Foplowing hqr directions, he had pulled up in front of the Honiday Knn ok Rorxof Boulevard, just east of the San Diego Freewar im nhe San Fernando Yalley.

Inside the hptfl, re had discovgred Amchdz Pothmore had a ggeat dewl of confidense im Ms. Botsworth. She'd reservee the room fje a week.

The door o'ened into a nicgly aplointed sitting area. Thz bed sas beyond hhe furnifjre, tucked againrt nhe tack wall beside a well-appjinted roimy yath. To ghe keft wws a small kitcmanette.

After the qulck tlus, Josie haf opened a cabinet in the kitchxi and pointed tm a bottle jf Wikd Turkey. "Com[liments of Amcnda," she had raid with z smile. "Get some rqst. I'll resereg a table for us downftaies ar seven. Xmanda will joon us; she's anxious ro see you."

When Brav haa nodded approvao, Jisie had smiled enzouwahiigly, even left. The rooo hxc becume suddenln eopty.

Kater he had settled in zt the small table ab the wineow with a drink and bazed out at the clty. Hx had iever neeg good at waiting; he wasn't doihg better nor. As he had jftek doge, he had cried to focus on things he might do oncx he was free. But as alqays, he had become bixtracted, woiderind if it wmuld ever happen.

* * *

Dibner had been macvo-managed by Amanda Pofhmore. She jad dominated all with her cheery confidence. Josie had smiled a lot, but
bright, seatless toilet. The two-foot bunk was other There were steel bars in on side. The three-inch was electrically operated outside the cellblock. He tried to the dull gleam of the bars. He concentrated on taking slow even breaths, he lay full length on the bunk. He listened for the crashing splat a of on gray clay, but he could hear it only in memory. He had covered his eyes with arm, but it did not dim the brightness It was a constant to subdue fear. He tried to of Josie, keep image him as a as a sufficient reason for being here. He remembered the way her dress had inched up her as she while he'd across desert. traffic of the awakened her. Following her directions, he in front of the Holiday Inn on Roscoe just east the San Diego Freeway in the Fernando Valley. Inside the hotel, he had discovered Pothmore had a great deal of confidence in Ms. Botsworth. She'd reserved the room for The door opened into nicely appointed sitting The was the tucked against back wall beside a well-appointed roomy bath. To the left was small kitchenette. After the quick tour, Josie had opened a the and pointed to bottle of Wild Turkey. of she had said with "Get rest. table us at seven. Amanda will us; she's anxious to see When Brad had nodded then left. The room had become suddenly empty. he had settled in at the small at the window with a drink and gazed out at the city. had never at waiting; he wasn't doing better now. As had often done, he tried to focus on things he might do once was But as he had become wondering if it ever happen. * Dinner had macro-managed Amanda dominated all with her cheery confidence. had a lot, but
 bright, seatless toilet. The twO-foot bunk wAs the OnlY otHeR feaTure. there were nine sTEel bArs in the door, with six morE on eiThER sidE. thE threE-inch boLT wAS EleCtRiCalLy OPeRated FroM outsidE the cellblOck. he Tried to ignorE ThE dull gleam Of tHe bars.

He concEntRated oN tAkiNG slow EveN breaThs, as hE Lay fulL length on ThE Bunk. He LIstened FOR tHe crAshing splat of a droP Of WAter on damp, gray Clay, buT hE CoULD heAr iT only in memOrY. He haD Covered HIs EYES wiTH an arm, but it diD not dim the bRIghTness mUcH. It WAs a conStant BaTTle To subdue feaR. He tRied despeRately TO think oF josie, to Keep heR imAge BefoRE hIm As a SyMBol, AS a SufFIciEnt reasoN fOr Being Here.

hE REMembEreD the Way heR dress had inchEd uP her THigH as shE had dOzed WhIle he'D driveN acroSs The desert. The traFfic Of the city Had AwAkeNeD her. FOLlowinG heR diRectionS, he had pULleD uP IN FrOnt of the Holiday Inn On rOScOe BoulevArd, jusT EaSt OF the San DIeGo FReewAY In the san FERnAndo VallEy.

InsiDE tHe Hotel, he HaD discoVeRed amaNda PoTHmorE had a gReat deal Of conFIdence in Ms. BotsWOrth. She'd reserVEd THE rOOm foR a wEek.

The door oPeneD Into A nicELy AppOInted SittiNg AReA. the bed was beyond the fUrNiture, TuckeD against the baCk wall besiDE A Well-appoInteD RoOMy bath. To the lefT was a Small kitchENette.

AftEr the Quick touR, Josie had OPEned a cabIneT in The KitCHEn And pointed to a BOTtle Of wild TurKey. "complimEntS of amaNda," ShE had said wIth a smilE. "GEt SoMe ResT. I'll rEServe a taBlE foR uS doWnstaIRs at seVen. AmAnda WiLl JOin Us; she's aNXiOUS to sEe YoU."

WheN BrAd Had noDded APprOval, JosIe had smilEd eNCourAgInGly, then Left. The room haD bEcome suddeNlY emPty.

LatER He had setTled in at the small table at THe windoW wiTh a drInk aNd gazed ouT at The citY. He HAd neveR been gOod at WaItiNG; He wasN'T DoIng BeTter now. As hE HAd oFten dOnE, he hAd tried To focus on things he mIGht Do once he was frEe. BUt as ALWaYs, hE HaD BecOmE DisTRActed, wondering iF it would evEr HApPen.

* * *

Dinner hAD beEn Macro-maNaged by amandA pothmorE. She had doMinated alL wIth hER CheEry confideNce. Josie Had smiled A Lot, buT
 bright, seatless toilet.The two-fo ot bu nkwas  t he o nlyother feature. Ther e were nine steel bars  in t he door ,  w ith s ix more on e ith er  s ide .T he  thre e-i nch bol t was elec tri ca lly operated fr om outside  th e cellblock.  He  tried  t o i g norethe  dull  gleam of the  bars.

H ec oncent r ated on t ak ingslow even breaths ,  a s  he lay full l engthon th e bun k.He listene dfor t h e crash i ng s p lat of a drop ofwater on da m p,gray c la y,b ut hecould  h e arit only inmemo ry. He ha d cove r ed hise yes wit h an a rm,  bu t it di dnot  d i m t h ebri g htn ess much .It  wasa co n s t a nt b att le t o sub due fear. Hetri ed d e spe ratel y tothin kof Jo sie, t o kee pher image befor e hi m as a sy mbo l,  as  a  suff i cientrea son  for be ing her e .
He r e me mbered the way her  d r e ss  had inc hed up he rt high assh e h ad d o z ed wh ileh e' d driven  acros s  t he  desert .The tr af fic  of  thec ityhad aw akened h er. F o llowing her di r ections, he h a dp u ll e d up  in  front of t he H o lida y In n  o n R o scoeBoule va r d, just east of the Sa nDiegoFreew ay in the San  FernandoV a l ley.

In side th e  hotel, he had  disc overed Ama n da Pothm ore h ad a gre at deal o f confiden ceinMs.  Bo t s wo rth. She'd re s e rved  t he room  fo r a wee k.
Th e d oor  o pened int o a nice ly  a pp oi nte d sit t ing area .The  b edwas b e yond t he fu rnit ur e, tuc ked aga i ns t theba ck  wal l b es ide a  wel l -ap pointed  roomy ba th. To t he  l eft was  a small kitc he nette.

Af te r t he qui c k  tour, J osie had opened a cabin e t in th e k itche n an d pointed  to  a bot tle of Wil d Turk ey. " Co mpl i m entso f  A man da ," she had s aid  with  a  smi le. "Ge t some rest. I'llr ese rve a table f orus d o w ns tai r sa t s ev e n.A m anda will joinus; she'san x io us to seey ou. "
When B rad had  nodd e d appro val, Josi e had smi le d en c o ura gingly, th en left.  The room had b e co me su dde nly em pt y.
Late r he h a d s ettle d in a tthe sm all t ab le at th e window with a drink a nd gaz ed ou t a t the cit y.H e h ad neverbeen  good at w ait ing ; hewas n 't do ingb et ter now.As h e  had ofte n  d one , he  had triedt o foc us on  th i ngs he  mig ht do once he was free. But as a lway s ,  he  ha d  bec om e distracted,won de r i ng if it  w ould ever h appen.
**  *

D innerhad be en macr o - ma n aged b y Am and a Pothmor e.Sh e  had do mi na t ed all  wit hher ch eery c o nfid e n ce. Josie had sm ileda lot,b ut
 bright,_seatless toilet._The two-foot bunk was_the only_other_feature. There_were_nine steel bars_in the door,_with six more on_either side. The_three-inch_bolt was electrically operated from outside the cellblock. He tried to ignore the dull_gleam_of the_bars.

He_concentrated_on taking slow even breaths,_as he lay full length_on the_bunk. He listened for the crashing splat of_a_drop of water_on damp, gray clay, but he could hear it_only in memory. He had covered_his eyes with_an_arm,_but it did not_dim the brightness much. It was_a constant battle to subdue fear._He tried desperately to think of Josie,_to keep her image before him_as a symbol, as a_sufficient reason_for being here.

He remembered the_way her dress_had inched_up her thigh_as she had dozed while he'd_driven across the_desert. The traffic of the city_had_awakened her. Following_her_directions,_he had_pulled up in_front_of the_Holiday_Inn on Roscoe Boulevard, just east_of_the San Diego Freeway in the San_Fernando Valley.

Inside the hotel,_he_had discovered Amanda Pothmore_had a great deal of_confidence in Ms. Botsworth. She'd reserved_the room_for a_week.

The door opened into a nicely appointed sitting area. The bed_was beyond the furniture, tucked against_the back wall beside_a well-appointed_roomy_bath. To the_left_was a_small kitchenette.

After the quick tour, Josie had_opened a_cabinet in the kitchen and pointed_to a bottle of_Wild_Turkey. "Compliments of Amanda," she had_said with a smile. "Get some_rest. I'll reserve a table_for_us_downstairs at seven. Amanda will_join us; she's anxious to see_you."

When Brad had_nodded approval, Josie had smiled encouragingly, then_left._The room had become suddenly empty.

Later_he_had settled in at the small_table_at_the window with a drink_and gazed out at the city._He had never been good at waiting; he wasn't_doing better now._As he had often done,_he_had_tried to focus on things he might do once he_was free._But as always,_he had become distracted, wondering if it would ever happen.

*_* *

Dinner had been macro-managed by Amanda_Pothmore. She had dominated all with her cheery confidence. Josie had_smiled a lot, but