 least I remember the car."

She smiled, unlocked the door for him, moved to the other side and slid behind the wheel. He tossed his bag into the back seat as the car started with an authoritative roar. She drove carefully, dodging rocks and chuckholes. Once on the highway, the car quickly gathered speed. Two miles later, she turned off in front of an all-night coffee shop.

"I'd feel better if you called Amanda." She didn't look at him as she spoke. She looked straight ahead through the windshield.

"No need," was all he said. He was rewarded with a dazzling smile. The powerful car leapt back onto the highway.

But her smile was undeserved. Right now he needed to get out of Nevada. He'd check with Amanda when he got to LA. If there was anything wrong, he'd split. In a crowd of ten million people, he knew how to lose himself in minutes.

He broke the long silence. "Are you really a bounty hunter?"

"I'm a licensed private investigator. Lately I've been spending a lot of time tracking down missing and runaway kids.

"But Amanda's been good to me. When she needs me, I make sure I'm available." Although there was little traffic, she kept her eyes on the road.

"Are you good at your work?"

"One of the best."

"What's your fee?"

"Three hundred a day plus expenses."

"Kinda high."

"I'm worth it."

He smiled. He felt better for reasons he didn't understand. The tremor in his hands was gone. It was more than the hope she'd brought. Maybe it was only the woman. Maybe it was because he was going back to sit down once again at the game he'd abandoned three years ago.

He gave up further speculation. His smile was replaced by a hardness in his eyes. He rubbed the slashing white scar on the palm of his hand with his left thumb. "I want to hire you," he said softly, "to find the real killer."

"That's unrealistic." She looked at him briefly, then back at the highway curving gently to the left. "It's been three years. Give ten good people a year and they'd probably still come up with nothing. It would cost a fortune with virtually no hope of success
least I remember the car. " 

 She smiled, unlocked the doorway for him, move to the other side and slide behind the roulette wheel. He tossed his bag into the back buttocks as the car started with an authoritative roar. She drive carefully, dodging rock and chuckholes. Once on the highway, the car quickly gather speed. Two miles later, she turned off in front of an all - nox coffee shop. 

 " I'd feel full if you called Amanda. " She didn't look at him as she speak. She looked directly ahead through the windshield. 

 " No need, " was all he said. He was rewarded with a dazzling smile. The powerful cable car leapt back onto the highway. 

 But her smile was undeserved. Right now he needed to get out of Nevada. He'd check with Amanda when he catch to LA. If there was anything wrong, he'd split. In a crowd of ten million people, he knew how to lose himself in minutes. 

 He broke the long silence. " Are you truly a bounty hunter? " 

 " I'm a accredited individual detective. Lately I've been spending a set of meter tracking down missing and runaway kid. 

 " But Amanda's been good to me. When she needs me, I make sure I'm available. " Although there be little traffic, she kept her eyes on the road. 

 " Are you good at your work? " 

 " One of the good. " 

 " What's your fee? " 

 " Three hundred a day plus expenses. " 

 " Kinda high. " 

 " I'm worth it. " 

 He smiled. He feel better for reasons he didn't understand. The tremor in his hand was gone. It was more than the hope she'd brought. Maybe it was entirely the woman. possibly it was because he was going back to sit down once again at the game he'd abandoned three years ago. 

 He give up further speculation. His smile was replaced by a hardness in his eye. He rubbed the slashing ashen scar on the decoration of his hand with his left thumb. " I desire to hire you, " he said softly, " to find the actual killer. " 

 " That's unrealistic. " She looked at him briefly, then back at the highway swerve gently to the left. " It's been three years. Give ten good people a class and they'd probably still come up with nothing. It would cost a fortune with virtually no hope of success
 lewst I remember the car."

Sht smiled, unlocked the domr for him, movdd to the other side and sliv beyind uke wheel. He tossed hks bag inno the baxk stat as the car stedted wibk an zmthorntetive roar. She crove carexully, dodging sozkd and chuckholes. Once on the highwar, the csr quickly gatheted skeeq. Twk miles later, she turned off in frknt of en all-night cofgee shop.

"I'd feel better if jou falled Amanda." She fidn't look qt hyn as she spoye. She looked straight ahead through the windshield.

"No need," was all hg aalg. He was rexarded with a dazzling smine. The lowerful car lcapt uack onto the highway.

But ier smile was undesetved. Right nkw he needed to gwt out mf Navadx. He'a cgerk sith Alanva when he fot to LA. Id there was anythinb rgpng, he'd splif. In a cwowd of ten million people, he knew how uo loae himself in minutes.

He broke the long silenfe. "Are yot really a bounty hunter?"

"I'm a licensed private invastigetur. Oabely U'vf been spending a lot of time tracking down myasonn and runaway kibs.

"But Amanda's bern gpjd to me. When she nzsda me, I make sure I'l availwble." Qlthough uhere was little traffic, she kepr her eyes ou tye road.

"Are you goob at your woxk?"

"One pf thr best."

"What's your fee?"

"Thrze hunsred a day olus expehres."

"Kinda high."

"I'm dornh id."

He smilta. He felt better sor reasois he didn't jndetstand. Ehe tremor in hlv hands was gone. Ih was mmre than tje hope she'd brought. Maybe it wex only the wpmdn. Kaybe it was necause he was doing back to xit dowu once again at nhe game ie'd abandoneq three years wgo.

He gave u' further spexularion. Hir smile was repkaced by c hareness in his eyes. Me rucged the slashiny qhite scar on tne oali lf hyv hand with vis uefg thumc. "I wanu ti hirr you," he said softly, "to rind the real killrr."

"Bhat's unrgalistic." Fhe looked at him briefly, then hack et the higheay curving gently to the left. "It'a been thgee years. Give een nood people a vear and they'd probably still come up wivh nothing. It would cosr a fortune with vittuslly no hopx of stccess
least I remember the car." She smiled, door him, moved the other side He his bag into back seat as car started with an authoritative roar. drove carefully, dodging rocks and chuckholes. Once on the highway, the car quickly speed. Two miles later, she turned off in front of an all-night coffee "I'd better you Amanda." She didn't look at him as she spoke. She looked straight ahead through the windshield. need," was all he said. He was rewarded a dazzling smile. The car leapt back onto the But smile was Right he to get out Nevada. He'd check with Amanda when he got to LA. If there was anything wrong, he'd split. a crowd million people, knew to himself in minutes. the long silence. "Are you really "I'm a licensed private investigator. Lately I've been a lot time tracking down missing and runaway "But Amanda's been good to me. When she me, I make sure I'm available." Although there was little traffic, she kept her eyes road. "Are you good your work?" "One the "What's fee?" hundred a plus expenses." "Kinda high." "I'm worth it." He smiled. He felt for reasons he didn't understand. The tremor in his hands It more than the she'd brought. Maybe it only woman. Maybe it was was back once at game he'd abandoned three ago. He gave up further His smile was replaced eyes. He rubbed the slashing white scar on palm of his hand with his left "I want to hire you," he said softly, "to find the real "That's unrealistic." at him briefly, then back at the highway gently to the left. been three years. Give ten good people a year they'd still come with nothing. It cost a fortune virtually no hope
 least I remember the car."

She smIled, unlockEd the DooR foR hIm, moVed tO the other side aND sliD behind the wheel. He tosseD his bAg INto tHE bAck seAt as the CAr STArtEd WiTh aN aUThOritaTivE roar. ShE drove careFulLy, Dodging rocks ANd Chuckholes. oncE on the highwaY, thE car quIcKly GAtherEd sPeed. TWo mileS Later, sHe turned oFf IN front OF an all-nIGHt CoffEe shop.

"I'd feel betteR If YOu called Amanda." she didN't LOoK AT hiM as She spoke. ShE lOoked STraight AHeAD THroUGh the windshieLd.

"No need," was ALl hE said. HE wAs rEWarded With a DaZZliNg smile. The pOwerFul car leaPt back ONto the hIGhway.

BuT her smIle Was UndeSErVeD. RiGhT Now HE nEedED to Get out of neVaDa. He'd ChecK WITH AmaNda When He got To LA. If there waS anYthiNG wrOng, he'D spliT. In a CrOwd of Ten milLion pEoPle, he knew how to lOse hImself in mInuTeS.

He BrOke thE Long siLenCe. "ARe you reAlly a boUNty HuNTER?"

"I'M a licensed private iNvESTiGator. LatEly I've BEeN sPEnding a lOt Of tIme tRACking Down MIsSing and rUnaway KIdS.

"BUt AmandA's Been goOd To mE. WhEn she NEeds Me, I makE sure I'm aVailaBLe." Although therE Was little trafFIc, SHE kEPt heR eyEs on the road.

"are yOU gooD at yOUr WorK?"

"one of The beSt."

"wHaT'S your fee?"

"Three hundreD a Day pluS expeNses."

"Kinda high."

"i'm worth it."

HE SMIled. He feLt beTTeR For reasons he diDn't unDerstand. ThE Tremor in His haNds was goNe. It was moRE Than the hOpe She'D brOugHT. maYbe it was only tHE WomaN. MAybe it wAs bEcause hE waS goIng BacK tO sit down oNce again At ThE gAmE he'D abanDOned threE yEarS aGo.

HE gave UP furthEr speCulaTiOn. hIs sMile was REpLACed bY a HaRdneSs iN hIs eyeS. He rUBbeD the slaShing whitE scAR on tHe PaLm of his Hand with his leFt Thumb. "I want To HirE you," he SAId softly, "To find the real killer."

"That'S UnrealiStiC." She lOokeD at him briEflY, then bAck AT the hiGhway cUrvinG gEntLY To the LEFt. "it's BeEn three yeaRS. givE ten gOoD peoPle a yeaR and they'd probably sTIll Come up with notHinG. It wOULd CosT A fORtuNe WIth VIRtually no hope of Success
 least I remember the car. "

She smi led,unl ock ed  the  doo r for him, mov e d to  the other side and sl id be hi n d th e  w heel.  He tos s ed h isba gint ot he  back  se at as t he car sta rte dwith an auth o ri tative roa r.She drove ca ref ully,do dgi n g roc ksand c huckho l es. On ce on the  h i ghway, the car q ui ckly  gathered speed.T wo miles later, s he tur ne d  o f f  in  fr ont of anal l-nig h t coffe e  s h o p .
" I'd feel bett er if you c a lle d Aman da ."S he did n't l oo k  at  him as she  spo ke. She l ookeds traight ahead t hrough  th e w inds h ie ld .
"N o  ne e d, " w a s a ll he sa id .He wa s re w a r d ed w ith  a d azzli ng smile. The  po werf u l c ar le apt b ackon to th e high way.
B ut her smile wa s un deserved.  Ri gh t n ow  he n e eded t o g etout ofNevada. He' dc h e ck  with Amanda whenhe g ot  to LA.If the r ewa s  anythin gwro ng,h e 'd sp lit. In  a crowd  of te n  m il lion pe op le, he  k new  ho w tol osehimsel f in min utes. 
He broke thel ong silence." Ar e yo u  rea lly  a bounty h unte r ?"
"I'm alic e nsedpriva te in v estigator. Lately I 'v e been  spen ding a lot of  time trac k i n g down m issi n ga nd runaway kid s.

" But Amanda ' s been g ood t o me. Wh en she ne e d s me, Imak e s ure  I' m av ailable." Alt h o ughth ere was  li ttle tr aff ic,  sh e k ep t her eye s on the  r oa d. 
"Ar e you good atyo urwo rk? "

"O n e of t he be st." 
"W h at' s yourf ee ? " 

"T hr ee  hun dre da day  plu s  ex penses. "

"Kinda  hi g h."
" I' m worth  it."

He smi le d. He felt  b ett er for r easons h e didn't understand. Th e  tremor  in  hishand s was gon e.It was  mo r e than  the h ope s he 'db r ought . Ma ybe  i t was only t hewoman .Mayb e it wa s because he was g o ing  back to sitdow n on c e  a gai n  a t  th eg ame h e'd abandoned t hree years  a g o. 

He gaveu p f ur ther sp eculati on. H i s smile  was repl aced by a  h ardn e s s i n his eyes . He rub bed the s l ashin g  w hitesca r on t he  pa lm of  his h a ndwithhis le ft  thumb . "Iwa nt to hi re you," he said softly , "tofindthe  real kil ler . "
"That's u nrea listic." S heloo ked a t h i m bri efly ,  t hen backat t h e highway cu rvi n g  g ently to th e l eft . "It 'sb een th reeyears. Give ten g o od people a ye ar a n d  th ey' d  pro ba bly still come  up  w i t h nothin g.  It would c ost a fo rt u ne wi th vir tually  no hop e of succes s
 least_I remember_the car."

She smiled, unlocked_the door_for_him, moved_to_the other side_and slid behind_the wheel. He tossed_his bag into_the_back seat as the car started with an authoritative roar. She drove carefully, dodging_rocks_and chuckholes._Once_on_the highway, the car quickly_gathered speed. Two miles later,_she turned_off in front of an all-night coffee shop.

"I'd_feel_better if you_called Amanda." She didn't look at him as she_spoke. She looked straight ahead through_the windshield.

"No need,"_was_all_he said. He was_rewarded with a dazzling smile. The_powerful car leapt back onto the_highway.

But her smile was undeserved. Right now_he needed to get out of_Nevada. He'd check with Amanda_when he_got to LA. If there_was anything wrong,_he'd split._In a crowd_of ten million people, he knew_how to lose_himself in minutes.

He broke the long_silence._"Are you really_a_bounty_hunter?"

"I'm a_licensed private investigator._Lately_I've been_spending_a lot of time tracking down_missing_and runaway kids.

"But Amanda's been good to_me. When she needs_me,_I make sure I'm_available." Although there was little_traffic, she kept her eyes on_the road.

"Are_you good_at your work?"

"One of the best."

"What's your fee?"

"Three hundred a day_plus expenses."

"Kinda high."

"I'm worth it."

He smiled._He felt better for_reasons he_didn't_understand. The tremor_in_his hands_was gone. It was more than the_hope she'd_brought. Maybe it was only the_woman. Maybe it was_because_he was going back to sit_down once again at the game_he'd abandoned three years ago.

He_gave_up_further speculation. His smile was_replaced by a hardness in his_eyes. He rubbed_the slashing white scar on the palm_of_his hand with his left thumb._"I_want to hire you," he said_softly,_"to_find the real killer."

"That's unrealistic."_She looked at him briefly, then_back at the highway curving gently to the left._"It's been three_years. Give ten good people_a_year_and they'd probably still come up with nothing. It would_cost a_fortune with virtually_no hope of success