 freed the knife, then tucked it into the bag butt first.

"I want to see Josie," Brad said.

"Wait 'til I find somebody to go with you. Stratford may still be around."

"I've waited long enough."

"Be cool. Give me thirty minutes, and I can get somebody to keep you company."

"Have them hunt me up at the hospital. Can you kill the warrants on me?"

"With a call on this radio."

"That'll be enough," Brad said. "I'll take my chances."

Brad stood motionless as Hank climbed behind the wheel of the cruiser and drove off. When he pulled out of the parking lot, Brad turned back to Josie's car. He found the knife he'd driven into concrete on the floor in the back seat where he'd tossed it, then tucked it into the sheath. True, it needed sharpening. And a bit of the tip was missing. Still, it was a weapon he could count on.

* * *

When he killed the engine in the parking lot in front of Holy Cross Hospital, he couldn't bring himself to get out of the car. The lot was crowded. How many were here to visit a doctor? Was the owner of the gray Lincoln he had parked beside visiting his wife? His sweetheart? How about the owner of the black Buick to his right?

It was after three, a beautiful cloud-free day, the kind southern California was known for. Even the smog had taken the day off as the beginnings of a Santanna drifted down from the San Gabriel Mountains.

He knew he couldn't know more sitting here, but he wasn't up to answers he didn't want to hear. He tried to remember when he'd felt this tired and failed. Several minutes passed before he reached for the door and unlatched it.

He heard the last footstep, but it was too late. He felt the gun barrel at the back of his left shoulder. "I knew you'd want to see the girl."

Brad turned his head slowly, just enough to see the eyes and the silencer on the.38 held firmly in Stratford's right fist. "Is that the piece you used on the others?"

"It is. But it's not worn out. There's enough left for you, unless you've still got the money."

"And if
freed the knife, then tucked it into the bag cigarette foremost. 

 " I want to see Josie, " Brad suppose. 

 " expect' til I find somebody to go with you. Stratford may still be about. " 

 " I've waited long enough. " 

 " Be cool. Give me thirty minute, and I can get somebody to keep you ship's company. " 

 " Have them hunt me up at the hospital. Can you kill the sanction on me? " 

 " With a call on this radio. " 

 " That'll be enough, " Brad said. " I'll take my opportunity. " 

 Brad stood motionless as Hank climbed behind the wheel of the cabin cruiser and drove off. When he pulled out of the parking bunch, Brad turned back to Josie's cable car. He found the tongue he'd driven into concrete on the floor in the back seat where he'd tossed it, then tucked it into the cocktail dress. True, it needed sharpening. And a bit of the tip was missing. Still, it was a weapon he could count on. 

 * * * 

 When he killed the engine in the parking lot in front of Holy Cross Hospital, he couldn't bring himself to get out of the car. The lot was crowded. How many were here to travel to a doctor? Was the owner of the gray Lincoln he had park beside visit his wife? His sweetheart? How about the owner of the black Buick to his right? 

 It was after three, a beautiful swarm - free sidereal day, the kind southern California was known for. Even the smog had taken the sidereal day off as the beginnings of a Santanna drifted down from the San Gabriel Mountains. 

 He knew he couldn't know more sitting here, but he wasn't up to answers he didn't desire to hear. He tried to remember when he'd felt this tired and failed. Several minute passed before he reached for the door and unlatched it. 

 He heard the last footfall, but it was too late. He felt the gun barrel at the back of his left shoulder. " I knew you'd want to see the daughter. " 

 Brad turned his head lento, just enough to see the eyes and the silencer on the.38 hold firmly in Stratford's proper fist. " Is that the piece you used on the others? " 

 " It is. But it's not tire out. There's enough left for you, unless you've still got the money. " 

 " And if
 frfed the knife, then tuckea it into the bct butt first.

"J want tu see Josie," Brad said.

"Wait 'tip U fine somebody to go with hou. Stratvord may stioo be arounv."

"J've waibzd lohn enobgi."

"Be cool. Give mg thirty mingtes, and I can gdt somebody to keep you company."

"Have trem huny le up at the hjspiual. Can jom kill the warrants on me?"

"With a dall on this radio."

"Thst'll be enough," Brad said. "I'pl twke my chances."

Brad stood motiinlefw as Hank clkmbed behind the wheel of the cruiser and drove off. Wfen hz pulled ouj kf jhe parking oot, Bgad turned bagl to Jmsie's csr. He found thc knihe hw'd driven into concreve on the floor in tre back saac where he'd tossed it, tyen tocked it kbto tht sieafh. Truf, iv needed shzrpening. Ane a bit of the tip eaf missing. Stilm, it wws a weapon he could count on.

* * *

When he kinles the engine in the parjing lot in front of Joly Crosf Hospital, he couldn't bring himself to get out of the raf. Tkc uit was crowded. How many were here to visit a dosfot? Eas the owner jf the gray Llnvjln he had patked besids visiting his wiff? His sreethwart? How wbouy the owner of the black Buuck to his rpght?

Ut was after three, a beautifuu clpud-frre day, the kind southeru Calirornia was nnown for. Dven the smog haa tskan the day off as the begignings of a Scntanna arifjed dowg from the San Ndbriel Mountains.

He knew ha couldn't nnow more sitting here, but he wexn't up to anxwars he didn'c want to hear. He twied to remembgr when hz'd felg this tirvd and famled. Several minutes passaf before he ceached fjr tye dior and jnlatched it.

He heard thv jast footstep, but it wes tuk late. He felt cke gun barrel at yhe bask oh his neft shouldes. "I yned you'd want to sec tfe gorl."

Brad turned his haad alowly, just enough tj see thg eyes anq the silencet on the.38 held firmpy in Stcatforc's tight fist. "Is that the piece yoh used on thc others?"

"It is. But it's not woru out. There's enough left for you, unless bou've still got the monwy."

"And if
freed the knife, then tucked it into butt "I want see Josie," Brad somebody go with you. may still be "I've waited long enough." "Be cool. me thirty minutes, and I can get somebody to keep you company." "Have hunt me up at the hospital. Can you kill the warrants on me?" a on radio." be enough," Brad said. "I'll take my chances." Brad stood motionless as Hank climbed behind the of the cruiser and drove off. When he out of the parking Brad turned back to Josie's He the knife driven concrete the floor in back seat where he'd tossed it, then tucked it into the sheath. True, it needed sharpening. And bit of was missing. it a he could count * * When he killed the parking lot in front of Holy Cross Hospital, couldn't bring to get out of the car. lot was crowded. How many were here to a doctor? Was the owner of the gray Lincoln he had parked beside visiting his sweetheart? How about the of the black to right? was three, a cloud-free day, the kind southern California was known for. Even the had taken the day off as the beginnings of a down the San Gabriel He knew he couldn't more here, but he wasn't answers didn't He to when he'd felt this and failed. Several minutes passed he reached for the heard the last footstep, but it was too He felt the gun barrel at the of his left shoulder. "I knew you'd want to see the girl." turned his just enough to see the eyes and the on the.38 held firmly Stratford's right fist. "Is that the piece you used the "It is. it's not worn There's enough left you, unless you've the money." if
 freed the knife, then tucked it Into the bag Butt fIrsT.

"I wAnT to sEe JoSie," Brad said.

"WaiT 'Til I Find somebody to go with yoU. StraTfORd maY StIll be Around."

"I'VE wAITed LoNg EnoUgH."

"be Cool. GIve Me thirtY minutes, anD I cAn Get somebody tO KeEp you compaNy."

"HAve them hunt mE up At the hOsPitAL. Can yOu kIll thE warraNTs on me?"

"with a call On THis radIO."

"That'll BE EnOugh," brad said. "I'll take my CHaNCes."

Brad stood moTionleSs AS HANK clImbEd behind thE wHeel oF The cruiSEr AND DroVE off. When he pulLed out of the PArkIng lot, brAd tURned baCk to JOsIE's cAr. He found thE kniFe he'd drivEn into COncrete ON the floOr in thE baCk sEat wHErE hE'd tOsSEd iT, ThEn tUCkeD it into tHe ShEath. TRue, iT NEEDed sHarPeniNg. And A bit of the tip wAs mIssiNG. StIll, it Was a wEapoN hE coulD count On.

* * *

WheN hE killed the enginE in tHe parking Lot In FroNt Of HolY cross HOspItaL, he coulDn't brinG HimSeLF TO gEt out of the car. The loT wAS CrOwded. How Many weRE hErE To visit a DoCtoR? Was THE owneR of tHE gRay LincoLn he haD PaRkEd besidE vIsitinG hIs wIfe? his swEEtheArt? How About the Owner OF the black Buick TO his right?

It waS AfTER tHRee, a BeaUtiful cloud-Free DAy, thE kinD SoUthERn CalIfornIa WAs KNown for. Even the smog hAd Taken tHe day Off as the beginNings of a SaNTANna driftEd doWN fROm the San GabrieL MounTains.

He kneW He couldn'T know More sittIng here, buT HE wasn't up To aNswErs He dIDN't Want to hear. He tRIEd to ReMember wHen He'd felt ThiS tiRed And FaIled. SeverAl minuteS pAsSeD bEfoRe he rEAched for ThE doOr And UnlatCHed it.

HE hearD the LaSt FOotStep, but IT wAS Too lAtE. HE felT thE gUn barRel aT The Back of hIs left shoUldER. "I knEw YoU'd want tO see the girl."

BrAd Turned his hEaD slOwly, juST Enough to See the eyes and the silenceR On the.38 heLd fIrmly In StRatford's rIghT fist. "IS thAT the piEce you Used oN tHe oTHErs?"

"It IS. buT it'S nOt worn out. THERe's EnougH lEft fOr you, unLess you've still got tHE moNey."

"And if
 freed the knife, then tuc ked it int o the  ba g b ut t fi rst. 

"I want to s e e Jo sie," Brad said.

"Wai t 'ti lI  fin d  s omebo dy to g o  w i t h y ou .Str at f or d may  st ill bearound."
"I' ve  waited long en ough."

"B e c ool. Give me  th irty m in ute s , and  Ican g et som e body t o keep yo uc ompany . "

"Hav e th em h unt me up at theh os p ital. Can youkill t he wa r r ant s o n me?"

"W it h a c a ll on t h is r a dio . "

"That'll b e enough,"B rad  said.  " I'l l  takemy ch an c es. "

Brad sto od m otionless  as Ha n k climb e d behin d thewhe elof t h ecr uis er and dr ove off . When h epu lledouto f t he p ark inglot,Brad turned b ack  toJ osi e's c ar. H e fo un d the  knife  he'd  d riven into conc rete  on the f loo rinth e bac k  seatwhe rehe'd to ssed it ,  th en t u ck ed it into the she at h .  T rue, itneeded sh ar p ening. A nd  abito f  thetipw as  missing . Stil l ,it  was awe apon h ecou ldcount on.
* * * 

When h e kil l ed the enginei n the parking lo t in fron t o f Holy Cros s Ho s pita l, h e  c oul d n't b ringhi m se l f to get out of the  c ar. Th e lot  was crowded.  How manyw e r e here t o vi s it a doctor? Wasthe o wner of th e  gray Li ncoln  he hadparked be s i de visit ing  hi s w ife ? Hi s sweetheart? H ow a bo ut theown er of t hebla ckBui ck  to his r ight?

I twa saf ter  thre e , a beau ti ful  c lou d-fre e  day,the k indso ut h ern  Califo r ni a waskn ow n fo r.Ev en th e sm o g h ad take n the day  of f  asth ebeginni ngs of a Sant an na drifted  d own  fromt h e San Ga briel Mountains.

He kn e w he co uld n't k nowmore sitt ing  here,  bu t  he wa sn't u p toan swe r s  he d i d n' t w an t to hear. H e t riedto  rem ember w hen he'd felt this tir ed and failed . S ever a l  m inu t es pas se d  be f o re he reached f or the doo ra nd  unlatched it. 
He hear d the l ast f o otstep,  but it w as too la te . He f elt  the gun b arrel at  the back of hi s  l eft s hou lder."I  kn ew yo u'd wa n t t o see  the g ir l."

B rad t ur ned hishead slowly, just enoug h to s ee th e e yes and t hes ile ncer on t he.3 8 held fir mly  in  Stra tfo r d's r ight fi st. "Is t hatt he piecey ou  us e d  o n the other s ? " 

" It is . B u t it's  not  worn out. There' s  enough left f or y o u , u nle s s yo u' ve still got t hemo n e y."

"An dif
 freed_the knife,_then tucked it into_the bag_butt_first.

"I want_to_see Josie," Brad_said.

"Wait 'til I_find somebody to go_with you. Stratford_may_still be around."

"I've waited long enough."

"Be cool. Give me thirty minutes, and I can_get_somebody to_keep_you_company."

"Have them hunt me up_at the hospital. Can you_kill the_warrants on me?"

"With a call on this radio."

"That'll_be_enough," Brad said._"I'll take my chances."

Brad stood motionless as Hank climbed_behind the wheel of the cruiser_and drove off._When_he_pulled out of the_parking lot, Brad turned back to_Josie's car. He found the knife_he'd driven into concrete on the floor_in the back seat where he'd_tossed it, then tucked it_into the_sheath. True, it needed sharpening._And a bit_of the_tip was missing._Still, it was a weapon he_could count on.

*_* *

When he killed the engine_in_the parking lot_in_front_of Holy_Cross Hospital, he_couldn't_bring himself_to_get out of the car. The_lot_was crowded. How many were here to_visit a doctor? Was_the_owner of the gray_Lincoln he had parked beside_visiting his wife? His sweetheart? How_about the_owner of_the black Buick to his right?

It was after three, a beautiful_cloud-free day, the kind southern California_was known for. Even_the smog_had_taken the day_off_as the_beginnings of a Santanna drifted down from_the San_Gabriel Mountains.

He knew he couldn't know_more sitting here, but_he_wasn't up to answers he didn't_want to hear. He tried to_remember when he'd felt this_tired_and_failed. Several minutes passed before_he reached for the door and_unlatched it.

He heard_the last footstep, but it was too_late._He felt the gun barrel at_the_back of his left shoulder. "I_knew_you'd_want to see the girl."

Brad_turned his head slowly, just enough_to see the eyes and the silencer on the.38_held firmly in_Stratford's right fist. "Is that_the_piece_you used on the others?"

"It is. But it's not worn_out. There's_enough left for_you, unless you've still got the money."

"And if