.

"Lydia's ma was my sister. I'm your uncle sorta, 'cause you married Lydia," he offered. "Take my word. We gotta meet, you and me. There's good bucks in it for you."

Finally Brad nodded acceptance.

With a look at Josie that undressed her, then toyed with her, Tuckman turned abruptly and strode off. Two men, nearly as large as he was, stepped away from the wall, gave Brad a parting look and fell in behind the big man. The trio paid little heed to others walking in the center of the hall.

"Now there's a winner," Josie said.

"You're easy to look at," Brad commented.

"Oh, I don't mind the looking; I like it." She flashed a dazzling smile, unashamedly revealing teeth that had never visited an orthodontist. "I can even handle mental seduction. It's rape I can do without."

Amanda joined them with a rush. "Bail's been arranged, Brad. But why I bother with you I'll never understand."

"You love me." He put one arm around her shoulders and hugged her gently.

"I loved your father," she snorted, "but you were a brat." She placed her hand on his and gave a strong squeeze. "Now unhand me. We'll go to my office."

Brad knew she was closer to sixty than fifty, but she looked terrific. Age had softened her plain features, added lines and fine wrinkles that reflected years of kindness and love, despite the hard career she'd elected. Her high-styled clothes added an elegance she didn't need.

She slipped her arm in his and they started toward the stairs. For a long moment, Brad forgot where he was and why he was here. He enjoyed being with this woman. Then he remembered and understood why he felt so cold.

Near the top of the stairs, Sgt. Walters joined them. In a strange way, his light green sport suit looked both new and slept in. His dark eyes were uncharacteristically grim. His rugged, lean features showed little concern but Brad knew otherwise. He'd seen that tight, lazy smile before.

"I talked with the office," he said. "Nothing new. I've got no idea why the fast shuffle." His easy draw
. 

 " Lydia's ma was my sister. I'm your uncle sorta,'cause you married Lydia, " he offered. " subscribe my parole. We got ta meet, you and me. There's good dollar in it for you. " 

 Finally Brad nodded credence. 

 With a look at Josie that undressed her, then dally with her, Tuckman turned abruptly and strode off. Two world, nearly as big as he was, step away from the wall, gave Brad a parting look and fall in behind the big man. The trio yield little heed to others walking in the center of the hallway. 

 " Now there's a winner, " Josie said. 

 " You're easy to look at, " Brad gloss. 

 " Oh, I don't mind the looking; I like it. " She flashed a dazzling smile, unashamedly revealing teeth that had never visited an orthodontist. " I can even handle mental seduction. It's rape I can do without. " 

 Amanda joined them with a rush. " Bail's been arranged, Brad. But why I bother with you I'll never understand. " 

 " You love me. " He frame one arm around her shoulders and hug her lightly. 

 " I sleep together your father, " she snorted, " but you were a terror. " She placed her hand on his and gave a strong hug. " Now unhand me. We'll go to my office. " 

 Brad knew she was closer to sixty than fifty, but she looked fantastic. Age had softened her plain features, added lines and fine wrinkles that reflect years of kindness and love, despite the hard career she'd elected. Her high - style clothes added an elegance she didn't need. 

 She dislocate her arm in his and they started toward the stairs. For a long consequence, Brad forgot where he was and why he was here. He love being with this woman. Then he remember and understood why he feel so cold. 

 Near the peak of the stairs, Sgt. Walters join them. In a strange way, his abstemious green fun suit looked both new and slept in. His dark eyes were uncharacteristically grim. His rugged, lean feature showed little business but Brad knew otherwise. He'd seen that tight, lazy smile before. 

 " I talked with the position, " he said. " Nothing new. I've got no idea why the fast shuffle. " His easy drawing card
.

"Lydla's ma was my sister. I'm nour uncle sorta, 'cause bou mardied Lydka," he offered. "Take my word. Wx gorta mtvt, you and me. There's eood buckd in it dor bou."

Finally Brad ikdded ageeptahge.

Witk e look at Josie that undrassed her, then tuyzd with her, Tuckman turned abruptly wnd strpdf off. Two men, gearkr as large as he was, stepped away from the wanl, gave Brad s parting look and fell in behlnd the big man. Thf trio paid liteoe heed to oghers walkpug in the cgnter of the hall.

"Now there's a wivner," Losie said.

"Yiu'ee fdsy to look at," Bgad commented.

"Oh, I don'd mind yhe looking; I kikx it." She flashed a dazzliig smile, unashamedly revealinc ceeth that had never ciwited an mrthueongisu. "I czn evej hendle mentam seduction. It's rape I can do eieyout."

Amanda jojned trei with a rush. "Bail's been arranged, Brad. Tut why I bother with you U'll never understand."

"Ylu love mq." He put one arm around her shoulders and hugged ver gxngly.

"N lovea ylur father," she snorted, "but you were a brat." Shq pkabed her hand on hls and gave a stromg saoeeze. "Now unhavd me. Cs'lm go to my office."

Bgad kner she was clostr to sixty than fifty, but she lioked terrifpc. Ate had softened hex plain featbres, acded kines and fine wrinkles thaf reflected years of yindness and lovd, dvspide the hard career she'd elqcted. Her higk-styled zlotnes adqed an elehance she didn't need.

She dlippgd her arm in hid and they started toward the sveirs. For a lomg mokent, Brab forgpt where he wws and why he cas here. He evjoyed beihg with this woman. Then he remekhered and unverstood rhy ye fwlt so zuld.

Near the tol of the stairs, Sgt. Walters joined thcm. In z strange way, hnr light green spprt suyt lpohad both new dnd rleoy in. Fis dark eycs dere uncharacteristicallf grjm. His rugged, lean fcatures syowed lietle concern nut Brad knew othegwise. He'v seen thwt tight, lazy smile before.

"I tamked with thc office," he swid. "Kothyng new. I'vz got no idea why the fast shuffle." His eesy draw
. "Lydia's ma was my sister. I'm sorta, you married he offered. "Take you me. There's good in it for Finally Brad nodded acceptance. With a at Josie that undressed her, then toyed with her, Tuckman turned abruptly and off. Two men, nearly as large as he was, stepped away from the gave a look fell in behind the big man. The trio paid little heed to others walking in the of the hall. "Now there's a winner," Josie "You're easy to look Brad commented. "Oh, I don't the I like She a smile, unashamedly revealing that had never visited an orthodontist. "I can even handle mental seduction. It's rape I can do Amanda joined a rush. been Brad. why I bother I'll never understand." "You love me." arm around her shoulders and hugged her gently. loved your she snorted, "but you were a She placed her hand on his and gave strong squeeze. "Now unhand me. We'll go to my office." Brad knew she was closer than fifty, but she terrific. Age had her features, lines fine wrinkles reflected years of kindness and love, despite the hard career she'd Her high-styled clothes added an elegance she didn't need. She arm his and they toward the stairs. For long Brad forgot where he why was being this Then he remembered and why he felt so cold. the top of the In a strange way, his light green sport looked both new and slept in. His eyes were uncharacteristically grim. His rugged, lean features showed little concern but knew otherwise. that tight, lazy smile before. "I talked with office," he said. "Nothing I've got no idea why the fast shuffle." His draw
.

"Lydia's ma was my sister. I'm your Uncle sorta, 'Cause You MarRiEd LyDia," hE offered. "Take my WOrd. WE gotta meet, you and me. TherE's gooD bUCks iN It For yoU."

FinallY brAD NodDeD aCcePtANcE.

With A loOk at JosIe that undrEssEd Her, then toyed WItH her, TuckmaN tuRned abruptly And Strode OfF. TwO Men, neArlY as laRge as hE Was, stePped away fRoM The walL, Gave BraD A PaRtinG look and fell in behINd THe big man. The triO paid lItTLe HEEd tO otHers walkinG iN the cENter of tHE hALL.

"now THere's a winner," JOsie said.

"You'RE eaSy to loOk At," BRAd commEnted.

"oh, i Don'T mind the looKing; i like it." ShE flashED a dazzlINg smile, UnashaMedLy rEveaLInG tEetH tHAt hAD nEveR VisIted an orThOdOntisT. "I caN EVEN hanDle MentAl sedUction. It's rape i caN do wIThoUt."

AmaNda joIned ThEm witH a rush. "bail's BeEn arranged, Brad. BUt whY I bother wIth YoU I'lL nEver uNDerstaNd."

"YOu lOve me." He Put one aRM arOuND HEr Shoulders and hugged HeR GEnTly.

"I loveD your fAThEr," SHe snorteD, "bUt yOu weRE A brat." she pLAcEd her hanD on his ANd GaVe a stroNg SqueezE. "NOw uNhaNd me. WE'Ll go To my ofFice."

Brad Knew sHE was closer to siXTy than fifty, buT ShE LOoKEd teRriFic. Age had soFtenED her PlaiN FeAtuREs, addEd linEs ANd FIne wrinkles that reflEcTed yeaRs of kIndness and lovE, despite thE HARd career She'd ELeCTed. Her high-stylEd cloThes added aN Elegance She diDn't need.

SHe slipped HER arm in hiS anD thEy sTarTED tOward the stairS. fOr a lOnG moment, braD forgot WheRe hE waS anD wHy he was heRe. He enjoYeD bEiNg WitH this WOman. Then He RemEmBerEd and UNderstOod whY he fElT sO ColD.

Near thE ToP OF the StAiRs, SgT. WaLtErs joIned THem. in a straNge way, his LigHT greEn SpOrt suit Looked both new AnD slept in. HiS dArk Eyes weRE UncharacTeristically grim. His ruggED, lean feAtuRes shOwed Little conCerN but BrAd kNEw otheRwise. HE'd seeN tHat TIGht, laZY SmIle BeFore.

"I talkeD WIth The ofFiCe," he Said. "NotHing new. I've got no ideA Why The fast shufflE." HiS easY DRaW
.

"Lydia's ma was my sist er. I'm yo ur un cle  so rt a, ' caus e you marriedL ydia ," he offered. "Take m y wor d. We g o tt a mee t, youa nd m e.Th er e's  g o od  buck s i n it fo r you."

F ina ll y Brad nodde d  a cceptance. 

W ith a look a t J osie t ha t u n dress edher,then t o yed wi th her, T uc k man tu r ned abr u p tl y an d strode off. Two me n , nearly as la rge as  h e  w a s , s tep ped away f ro m the wall, g a ve B r ada  parting look  and fell i n  be hind t he  bi g  man.The t ri o  pa id little h eedto others  walki n g in th e  center  of th e h all .

" N ow  t her e' s  aw in ner , " J osie sai d. 
"You' re e a s y to l ook  at, " Bra d commented.
"O h, I don 't mi nd th e lo ok ing;I like  it."  S he flashed a da zzli ng smile,  un as ham ed ly re v ealing  te eth  that h ad neve r  vi si t e d  a n orthodontist. "I  c a n  e ven hand le men t al  s e duction.  I t's  rap e I can  dow it hout."
Amanda jo in ed them  w ith aru sh.  "B ail's been  arran ged, Bra d. Bu t  why I botherw ith you I'lln ev e r  u n ders tan d."

"You l ovem e."He p u tone arm a round  h e rs houlders and hugged  h er gen tly.
"I loved you r father," s h e snorte d, " b ut you were a bra t." S he placedh er handon hi s and ga ve a stro n g  squeeze . " Now  un han d me . We'll go to m y of fi ce."

B rad  knew s hewas  cl ose rto sixtythan fif ty ,bu tshe  look e d terrif ic . A ge  ha d sof t ened h er pl ainfe at u res , added li n e s an dfi ne w rin kl es th at r e fle cted ye ars of ki ndn e ss a nd  l ove, de spite the har dcareer she 'd  el ected. H er high- styled clothes added an eleganc e s he di dn't  need.

S heslippe d h e r armin his  andth eys t arted t ow ard  t he stairs. F ora lon gmome nt, Bra d forgot where hew asand why he wa s h ere. H eenj o ye d  be in g  wi t h  this woman. Th en he reme mb e re d and unde r sto od  why he  felt s o col d .

Near  the topof the st ai rs,S g t.Walters jo ined the m. In a s t range wa y, hi s l ight g re ensport  suitl ook ed bo th new  a nd sle pt in .His dark  eyes were uncharacteri stical ly gr im.  His rugg ed, lea n feature s sh owed littl e c onc ern b utB rad k newo th erw i se. H e'ds een thatt ig ht, l az y smile bef o r e .
"I ta lke d  withtheoffice," he said. "Nothing new.I've g otnoi deawh y the fast shu ffl e. " His easy  d raw
.

"Lydia's ma_was my_sister. I'm your uncle_sorta, 'cause_you_married Lydia,"_he_offered. "Take my_word. We gotta_meet, you and me._There's good bucks_in_it for you."

Finally Brad nodded acceptance.

With a look at Josie that undressed her, then_toyed_with her,_Tuckman_turned_abruptly and strode off. Two_men, nearly as large as_he was,_stepped away from the wall, gave Brad a_parting_look and fell_in behind the big man. The trio paid little_heed to others walking in the_center of the_hall.

"Now_there's_a winner," Josie said.

"You're_easy to look at," Brad commented.

"Oh,_I don't mind the looking; I_like it." She flashed a dazzling smile,_unashamedly revealing teeth that had never_visited an orthodontist. "I can_even handle_mental seduction. It's rape I_can do without."

Amanda_joined them_with a rush._"Bail's been arranged, Brad. But why_I bother with_you I'll never understand."

"You love me."_He_put one arm_around_her_shoulders and_hugged her gently.

"I_loved_your father,"_she_snorted, "but you were a brat."_She_placed her hand on his and gave_a strong squeeze. "Now_unhand_me. We'll go to_my office."

Brad knew she was_closer to sixty than fifty, but_she looked_terrific. Age_had softened her plain features, added lines and fine wrinkles that_reflected years of kindness and love,_despite the hard career_she'd elected._Her_high-styled clothes added_an_elegance she_didn't need.

She slipped her arm in his_and they_started toward the stairs. For a_long moment, Brad forgot_where_he was and why he was_here. He enjoyed being with this_woman. Then he remembered and_understood_why_he felt so cold.

Near the_top of the stairs, Sgt. Walters_joined them. In_a strange way, his light green sport_suit_looked both new and slept in._His_dark eyes were uncharacteristically grim. His_rugged,_lean_features showed little concern but_Brad knew otherwise. He'd seen that_tight, lazy smile before.

"I talked with the office," he_said. "Nothing new._I've got no idea why_the_fast_shuffle." His easy draw