l further disguised his concern. "We've been had." His dark eyes flashed angrily, but briefly.

"Not by the judge," Josie said.

Hank nodded agreement. "That.45 she gave me," he said, nodding toward Josie, "it checked out clean. It was Allison's piece and it wasn't used to kill him. That alone should have done it." He placed his slender hands on Brad's shoulders. "Givin' advice, it's not my way, but I've got some." His mellow base was pitched low.

Brad nodded.

"Three years ago you cut out. I mighta done the same. You've gotta be pissed and maybe scared with this latest crap. But it'd be a bad move to split now."

"Are you listening to the man?" asked Josie gently. Amanda tightened her grip on his arm. Brad said nothing.

Hank broke the silence, his dark eyes searching for a sign from Brad. "Somebody in the DA's office stiffed us. I can handle it." He waited with a patience one can only be born with.

Brad nodded, then gripped the hand his friend offered. As Hank walked away, Brad watched his receding figure. Every move spoke grandly of indifference, almost indolence, but Brad knew Sgt. Hank Walters had things to do and meant to get them done. He also knew he wouldn't want to be the one who got in the way. But the knowing didn't help. Icy fingers still tied his stomach into a grand knot. It was Amanda who turned him back toward the stairs.

"Who was that man in the back of the courtroom?" asked Josie.

"The fella that left?"

Josie nodded.

"Lt. Stratford. He arrested me. I didn't much like the look on his face."

"I could see that," Josie said. "You looked as though you wanted to beat him into the ground."

"Might be fun."

As Brad walked down the stairs with Amanda. Josie fell in step beside them. The elegant marble steps were broad. They also seemed haunted by hopes and dreams that had died here.

* * *

Amanda Pothmore's office reflected her heritage. It seemed more an exclusive European salon than the office of a bail bondsman. She maintained a
l further disguised his concern. " We've been take. " His blue eyes flashed angrily, but briefly. 

 " Not by the evaluator, " Josie said. 

 Hank nodded agreement. " That.45 she gave me, " he order, nodding toward Josie, " it checked out uninfected. It was Allison's piece and it wasn't used to toss off him. That alone should have done it. " He station his lissome hands on Brad's shoulders. " Givin' advice, it's not my direction, but I've got some. " His mellow foundation was pitched low. 

 Brad nodded. 

 " Three year ago you cut out. I mighta done the same. You've got ta be make and maybe frightened with this latest crap. But it'd be a bad move to cleave now. " 

 " Are you listening to the man? " asked Josie gently. Amanda stiffen her grip on his arm. Brad said nothing. 

 Hank broke the silence, his dark eyes searching for a sign from Brad. " Somebody in the DA's office stiffed us. I can manage it. " He waited with a patience one can entirely be digest with. 

 Brad nodded, then gripped the hand his supporter offered. As Hank walked away, Brad watched his recede figure. Every move spoke grandly of indifference, almost indolence, but Brad knew Sgt. Hank Walters accept things to do and meant to get them serve. He besides know he wouldn't want to be the one who got in the way. But the knowing didn't avail. Icy fingers still tie his abdomen into a grand knot. It was Amanda who turned him back toward the stairs. 

 " Who was that man in the spinal column of the courtroom? " asked Josie. 

 " The chap that left? " 

 Josie nodded. 

 " Lt. Stratford. He arrested me. I didn't much like the expression on his face. " 

 " I could visit that, " Josie said. " You looked as though you wanted to beat him into the ground. " 

 " Might be fun. " 

 As Brad walk down the stairs with Amanda. Josie fell in step beside them. The elegant marble steps were broad. They also seemed haunted by hope and dreams that had died here. 

 * * * 

 Amanda Pothmore's agency reflected her heritage. It seemed more an exclusive European salon than the office of a bail bondsman. She maintain a
l fkrther disguised his congern. "We've been hce." His vark eyss flashdd angrily, but briefly.

"Not by tye juege," Josie said.

Hank nodaed agreelent. "Thar.45 sht gave me," he said, nodding towars Josne, "it checked ouj clean. It wds Allison's piacd cnd it wasn't used to kill him. That ajone shpupd have done ij." He klased gps slender hands on Brad's shoulsers. "Ginin' advice, it's noy my way, but I've got some." Jis lellow base was pihched low.

Brqd njeded.

"Three yexrs ago yol cut out. I mighta done the same. You've gotga be pissed ane nayhg scared witi this latest crap. But it'd be a bsd move to spllt nox."

"Are you listening to the man?" asked Josie ggntly. Amanga tightened her grup on hhs asm. Bfqd rais iotging.

Hajk uroke the sjlence, his eark eyes searching fjg a sign from Brad. "Foiebody in the DA's office stiffed us. I cdn gandle it." He waited wity a patience one can lnly be bjrn with.

Brad nodded, then gripped the hand his friand ohfdreb. As Hxbk walked away, Brad watched his receding figure. Svtry move spoke grcndly of indiffetejcr, almost indolgnce, buc Bdad knew Sgt. Hank Aalters had rhings to do snd meant to get them done. Ye also knew ye wouldn't want to be the one who got on the way. But the knownng disn't help. Icj fingers rtill tied his sgomscv into a grand knot. It was Amanda wio tuxned him bacl towawd the stalrs.

"Who was that man in tje baek of the courtgoom?" asked Josie.

"The fella that left?"

Josie noddgd.

"Ld. Snratford. Ke arrcsted me. I didn'e much like thg look on his wace."

"I couls see tiat," Josie sayd. "You looked ws though yon wanted eo bwat yim intu the ground."

"Mignt be fun."

Cf Brqd walked down the stxjrs with Amanda. Jowie fell in stel bdsiqe tiem. Tra elegant masble stdls wefe broad. Thcy xlso seemed haunted by hmpes and dreams that hsd died hete.

* * *

Amandw Pothmore's ogfice reflected heg hermtage. Mt seeked more an exclusive European samon than hhe office of a baio bondsman. Ske maintained a
l further disguised his concern. "We've been dark flashed angrily, briefly. "Not by nodded "That.45 she gave he said, nodding Josie, "it checked out clean. It Allison's piece and it wasn't used to kill him. That alone should have it." He placed his slender hands on Brad's shoulders. "Givin' advice, it's not way, I've some." mellow base was pitched low. Brad nodded. "Three years ago you cut out. I mighta done same. You've gotta be pissed and maybe scared this latest crap. But be a bad move to now." you listening the asked gently. Amanda tightened grip on his arm. Brad said nothing. Hank broke the silence, his dark eyes searching for a from Brad. the DA's stiffed I handle it." He a patience one can only be nodded, then gripped the hand his friend offered. Hank walked Brad watched his receding figure. Every spoke grandly of indifference, almost indolence, but Brad Sgt. Hank Walters had things to do and meant to get them done. He also wouldn't want to be one who got the But knowing help. Icy still tied his stomach into a grand knot. It was Amanda turned him back toward the stairs. "Who was that man back the courtroom?" asked "The fella that left?" nodded. Stratford. He arrested me. much the face." could that," Josie said. "You as though you wanted to him into the ground." walked down the stairs with Amanda. Josie fell step beside them. The elegant marble steps broad. They also seemed haunted by hopes and dreams that had died * * Pothmore's office reflected her heritage. It seemed more exclusive European salon than office of a bail bondsman. She maintained a
l further disguised his conceRn. "We've been Had." HiS daRk eYeS flaShed Angrily, but brieFLy.

"NoT by the judge," Josie said.

HaNk nodDeD AgreEMeNt. "ThaT.45 she gavE Me," HE SaiD, nOdDinG tOWaRd JosIe, "iT checkeD out clean. IT waS ALlison's piece ANd It wasn't useD to Kill him. That aLonE shoulD hAve DOne it." he pLaced His sleNDer hanDs on Brad's ShOUlders. "gIvin' advICE, iT's noT my way, but I've got soME." HIS mellow base was PitcheD lOW.

BRAD noDdeD.

"Three yearS aGo you CUt out. I mIGhTA DOne THe same. You've goTta be pissed ANd mAybe scArEd wITh this LatesT cRAp. BUt it'd be a bad Move To split noW."

"Are yoU ListeniNG to the mAn?" askeD JoSie GentLY. AMaNda TiGHteNEd Her GRip On his arm. brAd Said nOthiNG.

hANk brOke The sIlencE, his dark eyes sEarChinG For A sign From BRad. "SOmEbody In the Da's offIcE stiffed us. I can hAndlE it." He waitEd wItH a pAtIence ONe can oNly Be bOrn with.

brad nodDEd, tHeN GRIpPed the hand his frienD oFFErEd. As Hank Walked AWaY, BRAd watcheD hIs rEcedING figuRe. EvERy Move spokE grandLY oF iNdifferEnCe, almoSt IndOleNce, buT brad Knew SgT. Hank WalTers hAD things to do and MEant to get them DOnE. hE aLSo knEw hE wouldn't wanT to bE The oNe whO GoT in THe way. but thE kNOwINg didn't help. Icy fingeRs Still tIed hiS stomach into a Grand knot. IT WAS Amanda wHo tuRNeD Him back toward tHe staIrs.

"Who was tHAt man in tHe bacK of the coUrtroom?" asKED Josie.

"ThE feLla ThaT leFT?"

joSie nodded.

"Lt. StRATforD. HE arrestEd mE. I didn't MucH liKe tHe lOoK on his facE."

"I could sEe ThAt," joSie Said. "YOU looked aS tHouGh You WanteD To beat Him inTo thE gRoUNd."

"MIght be fUN."

AS bRad wAlKeD dowN thE sTairs With aManDa. Josie Fell in steP beSIde tHeM. THe elegaNt marble steps WeRe broad. TheY aLso Seemed HAUnted by hOpes and dreams that had dieD Here.

* * *

AmaNda pothmOre's Office refLecTed her HerITage. It Seemed More aN eXclUSIve EuROPeAn sAlOn than the oFFIce Of a baIl BondSman. She Maintained a
l further disguised his co ncern. "We 've b een  ha d. " Hi s da rk eyes flashe d  ang rily, but briefly.

"N ot by  t h e ju d ge ," Jo sie sai d .H ank  n od ded  a g re ement . " That.45  she gaveme, "he said, nod d in g toward J osi e, "it check edout cl ea n.I t was  Al lison 's pie c e andit wasn't  u s ed tok ill him . Th at a lone should haved on e  it." He place d hissl e nd e r  ha nds  on Brad's  s hould e rs. "Gi v in ' a dvi c e, it's not m y way, butI 've  got s om e." His me llowba s e w as pitchedlow. 

Brad no dded."Threey ears ag o youcut  ou t. I mi gh tado n e t h esam e . Y ou've go tt abe pi ssed a n d  may bescar ed wi th this lates t c rap. But  it'd  be a  bad  m ove t o spli t now ." 

"Are you list enin g to theman ?"  as ke d Jos i e gent ly.  Am anda ti ghtened her  g r i p  o n his arm. Brad sa id n ot hing.

H ank br o ke  t h e silenc e,  hi s da r k  eyes  sea r ch ing fora sign fr om  Brad."S omebod yinthe  DA's offi ce sti ffed us.  I ca n  handle it." H e  waited witha  p a t ie n ce o necan only be  bor n  wit h.
B ra d n o dded,  then  g r ip p ed the hand his fri en d offe red.As Hank walke d away, Br a d watchedhisr ec e ding figure. E verymove spoke grandlyof in differen ce, almos t indolenc e,but  Br adk n ew  Sgt. Hank Wa l t ersha d thing s t o do an d m ean t t o g et  them don e. He al so  k ne whewould n 't wantto  be  t heone w h o gotin th e wa y.  B u t t he know i ng d idn' the lp.Icy  f inger s st i lltied hi s stomach  in t o agr an d knot.  It was Amand awho turned  h imback t o w ard thestairs.

"Who was thatm an in t hebackof t he courtr oom ?" ask edJ osie.
"Thefella  t hat l eft?" Jo sie  n odded.

"L t .  St ratfo rd . He  arrest ed me. I didn't mu c h l ike the lookonhisf a ce .""I cou ld see t hat," Josie sai d. "You lo ok e das thoughy ouwa nted to  beat h im in t o the g round."
"Might be  f un." AsBrad walke d down t he stairs withA ma nda.Jos ie fel linstepbeside the m. Th e eleg an t marb le st ep s were b road. They also seemedhaunte d byhop es and dr eam s  th at had di ed h ere.

* **
Ama nda P oth m ore's  off i ce  re f lecte d he r  heritage .  I t s e e me d more an e x c l usi ve Eu rop e an sal on t han the office of a bail bondsma n. S h e  ma int a ined  a 
l further_disguised his_concern. "We've been had."_His dark_eyes_flashed angrily,_but_briefly.

"Not by the_judge," Josie said.

Hank_nodded agreement. "That.45 she_gave me," he_said,_nodding toward Josie, "it checked out clean. It was Allison's piece and it wasn't_used_to kill_him._That_alone should have done it."_He placed his slender hands_on Brad's_shoulders. "Givin' advice, it's not my way, but_I've_got some." His_mellow base was pitched low.

Brad nodded.

"Three years ago you_cut out. I mighta done the_same. You've gotta_be_pissed_and maybe scared with_this latest crap. But it'd be_a bad move to split now."

"Are_you listening to the man?" asked Josie_gently. Amanda tightened her grip on_his arm. Brad said nothing.

Hank_broke the_silence, his dark eyes searching_for a sign_from Brad._"Somebody in the_DA's office stiffed us. I can_handle it." He_waited with a patience one can_only_be born with.

Brad_nodded,_then_gripped the_hand his friend_offered._As Hank_walked_away, Brad watched his receding figure._Every_move spoke grandly of indifference, almost indolence,_but Brad knew Sgt._Hank_Walters had things to_do and meant to get_them done. He also knew he_wouldn't want_to be_the one who got in the way. But the knowing didn't_help. Icy fingers still tied his_stomach into a grand_knot. It_was_Amanda who turned_him_back toward_the stairs.

"Who was that man in the_back of_the courtroom?" asked Josie.

"The fella that_left?"

Josie nodded.

"Lt. Stratford. He_arrested_me. I didn't much like the_look on his face."

"I could see_that," Josie said. "You looked_as_though_you wanted to beat him_into the ground."

"Might be fun."

As Brad_walked down the_stairs with Amanda. Josie fell in step_beside_them. The elegant marble steps were_broad._They also seemed haunted by hopes_and_dreams_that had died here.

* *_*

Amanda Pothmore's office reflected her heritage._It seemed more an exclusive European salon than the_office of a_bail bondsman. She maintained a