 further. She grabbed a glass and poured a hefty dose of bourbon.

"As you said, she wasn't a very nice woman. To put it kindly, she should have been put away." She handed him one of the diaries and pointed. "As near as I can determine, she wrote this about three years ago."

Brad willed himself to look where she had pointed. He read aloud, "When he came to the car window, I reached beyond his hands, grabbing his wrists." Brad looked up at Josie, pleading. She was looking at the pool in the backyard; she would not meet his glance.

He bent his head and continued reading silently. He had trouble identifying even simple words. "It seemed like years passed before Luie fired three times. I was filled with the feel of it, the greatest high ever. The shots sounded like one continuous rolling crash of thunder. Blood exploded all over the blue silk shirt I'd bought him for his birthday."

Brad could not continue. He remembered the blue shirt. It had been one of Gerald's favorites. He'd been wearing it when Brad had taken the.45 from him in the bar the night he was killed. He felt cold, even as sweat beaded on his forehead. He also looked out at the pool, not wanting to look at Josie. "Her own brother?"

"It would seem so." Josie shivered slightly. Her voice was cold, her face pale, older somehow, in the growing darkness. "She had quite an imagination. Sometimes it's difficult to know whether she's describing something in her mind or something that really happened. But that section is a description of a real event. Gerald was shot three times in the chest, just as she describes." She paused, taking a deep breath. "Do you have any idea who Luie might be?"

"No."

"The name comes up throughout the diaries. It's the only name repeated over the years."

Brad was silent, watching the breeze ripple the surface of the pool, reflecting unseen lights.

"She refers to shooting at Tuckman, much as he described it to you. Of course, she has more to say. She seemed to regret not having shot him. Luie was mentioned as if she thought he might help in some way, but it wasn't clear how."

After a time, she continued, "Almost every idea, action or fantasy
further. She grabbed a glass and poured a brawny venereal disease of bourbon. 

 " As you said, she wasn't a very nice woman. To invest it kindly, she should have been put away. " She hand him one of the diary and pointed. " equally about as I can determine, she wrote this approximately three years ago. " 

 Brad willed himself to attend where she had pointed. He read aloud, " When he came to the car window, I strive beyond his hands, grabbing his wrists. " Brad search up at Josie, pleading. She was looking at the pool in the backyard; she would not meet his glance. 

 He bend his head and continued reading silently. He had fuss identifying even simple words. " It seemed like years passed before Luie fired three times. I was filled with the feel of it, the greatest high ever. The shots sounded like one continuous rolling crash of thunder. rake exploded all over the aristocratic silk shirt I'd bought him for his birthday. " 

 Brad could not continue. He remembered the blue shirt. It had been one of Gerald's front-runner. He'd been wearing it when Brad had taken the.45 from him in the bar the night he was kill. He felt cold, even as sweat beaded on his forehead. He also looked out at the consortium, not wanting to look at Josie. " Her own brother? " 

 " It would seem therefore. " Josie shivered slenderly. Her part was cold, her face pale, older somehow, in the growing dark. " She had quite an imagination. Sometimes it's difficult to acknowledge whether she's describing something in her mind or something that really happened. But that department is a description of a real event. Gerald was tear three times in the chest, just as she describe. " She paused, take a deep breath. " Do you have any idea who Luie might be? " 

 " No. " 

 " The name come up throughout the diaries. It's the alone name repeated over the years. " 

 Brad was silent, watching the breeze ripple the surface of the pond, reflecting unseen light. 

 " She refers to shooting at Tuckman, much as he described it to you. Of course, she has more to suppose. She seemed to regret not having shot him. Luie was mentioned as if she thought he might help in some way, but it wasn't clean how. " 

 After a clock time, she continued, " Almost every idea, action or fantasy
 fugther. She grabbed a glasr and poured a kwfty dmse of bourbon.

"Xs you said, she wasn't a very nuce wiman. To put it kindly, rhe shoulf have bwen kut away." She handxs him okz of fme dicrmes and pointed. "As near av I can determhnd, dhe wrote this about three years agj."

Brad wolped himself to lool whedv whe had pointed. He read aloud, "When ht came to the car eindow, I reached beyond hid hajds, grabbing his wgists." Brad oookqe up at Josid, pleading. She was looiing at the pool in the backyara; she would not mwet vis glance.

Hx bent his head and continged reacing silently. Me hav triuble identifying evei simple words. "It segmed like fecrs passed before Luiw dired thrae tknes. I sax rilled wivh the feel of it, the treatest high ever. Uhe whots sounded like jnq continuous rolling crash of thunder. Bnoos exploded all over the blue silk shirt I'd blught him for his birthday."

Brad could not continue. He rememtered ghe bjjw dhirt. It had been one of Gerald's favorites. He'q bten wearing it whcn Brad had taken yhf.45 gtom him in the bar tks hight he was killef. He fejt cood, even af swrat beaded on his forehead. Ye also lookvd oyt at the pool, not wanting to lool at Kosie. "Her own brother?"

"It woumd seem so." Uosie shibdred slightly. Hef vpiwe was cold, her face pale, jlder somxhow, nn the gfowimg darhness. "She jad qmhte an imagination. Somejimes ht's difficklt to know whether she's descriumng something it hvr mind ox somebhing that realjy happened. Buj that seetion ks a descrpption of a real evegt. Gerald was dhot three tmmes in tre cyest, just ar she describes." She pausvd, takung a deep breath. "Vo yuh have any idea whi Luie might be?"

"Mo."

"Tfe gale cjkes up throuchoug tfr diafies. It's thc ovly mame repeated over tve ysars."

Brad was sileny, ratching the breqze ripple thr surface of the plol, rxflectmng unxeeg lights.

"She refers to shooting at Tuckmwn, iuch as he dqscrlbed it to you. Of course, she has more to say. She seemxd to regret not having shot him. Luie was ktntioned as ih she ehought ha might help in some way, but it wasn't clear how."

After a tims, she wontijued, "Almost every idea, action or fantasy
further. She grabbed a glass and poured dose bourbon. "As said, she wasn't put kindly, she should been put away." handed him one of the diaries pointed. "As near as I can determine, she wrote this about three years Brad willed himself to look where she had pointed. He read aloud, "When came the window, reached beyond his hands, grabbing his wrists." Brad looked up at Josie, pleading. She was looking the pool in the backyard; she would not his glance. He bent head and continued reading silently. had identifying even words. seemed years passed before fired three times. I was filled with the feel of it, the greatest high ever. The shots like one crash of Blood all the blue silk bought him for his birthday." Brad He remembered the blue shirt. It had been of Gerald's He'd been wearing it when Brad taken the.45 from him in the bar the he was killed. He felt cold, even as sweat beaded on his forehead. He also at the pool, not to look at "Her brother?" would so." Josie slightly. Her voice was cold, her face pale, older somehow, in growing darkness. "She had quite an imagination. Sometimes it's difficult whether describing something in mind or something that happened. that section is a a event. three in chest, just as she She paused, taking a deep "Do you have any "No." "The name comes up throughout the diaries. the only name repeated over the years." was silent, watching the breeze ripple the surface of the pool, reflecting lights. "She shooting at Tuckman, much as he described it you. Of course, she more to say. She seemed to regret not having him. was mentioned if she thought might help in way, but it how." After time, continued, action or fantasy
 further. She grabbed a glass anD poured a heFty doSe oF boUrBon.

"AS you Said, she wasn't a vERy niCe woman. To put it kindly, shE shouLd HAve bEEn Put awAy." She haNDeD HIm oNe Of The DiARiEs and PoiNted. "As nEar as I can dEteRmIne, she wrote tHIs About three YeaRs ago."

Brad wilLed HimselF tO loOK wherE shE had pOinted. hE read aLoud, "When hE cAMe to thE Car windOW, i rEachEd beyond his hands, gRAbBIng his wrists." BrAd lookEd UP aT jOsiE, plEading. She wAs LookiNG at the pOOl IN THe bACkyard; she woulD not meet his GLanCe.

He beNt His HEad and ContiNuED reAding silentLy. He Had troublE identIFying evEN simple Words. "IT seEmeD likE YeArS paSsED beFOrE LuIE fiRed three TiMeS. I was FillED WITh thE feEl of It, the Greatest high eVer. the sHOts SoundEd likE one CoNtinuOus rolLing cRaSh of thunder. BlooD expLoded all oVer ThE blUe Silk sHIrt I'd bOugHt hIm for hiS birthdAY."

BrAd COULd Not continue. He rememBeRED tHe blue shIrt. It hAD bEeN One of GerAlD's fAvorITEs. He'd Been WEaRing it whEn Brad HAd TaKen the.45 fRoM him in ThE baR thE nighT He waS killeD. He felt cOld, evEN as sweat beaded ON his forehead. HE AlSO LoOKed oUt aT the pool, not WantINg to Look AT JOsiE. "her owN brotHeR?"

"it WOuld seem so." Josie shivErEd sligHtly. HEr voice was colD, her face paLE, OLder someHow, iN ThE Growing darknesS. "She hAd quite an iMAginatioN. SomeTimes it's Difficult TO Know whetHer She'S deScrIBInG something in hER Mind Or SomethiNg tHat realLy hAppEneD. BuT tHat sectioN is a descRiPtIoN oF a rEal evENt. Gerald WaS shOt ThrEe timES in the Chest, Just As ShE DesCribes." SHE pAUSed, tAkInG a deEp bReAth. "Do You hAVe aNy idea wHo Luie migHt bE?"

"no."

"ThE nAmE comes uP throughout thE dIaries. It's tHe OnlY name rEPEated oveR the years."

Brad was silent, wATching tHe bReeze RippLe the surfAce Of the pOol, REflectIng unsEen liGhTs.

"SHE ReferS TO sHooTiNg at TuckmaN, MUch As he dEsCribEd it to yOu. Of course, she has moRE to Say. She seemed tO reGret NOT hAviNG sHOt hIm. lUie WAS mentioned as if sHe thought hE mIGhT help in somE Way, BuT it wasn'T clear hOw."

AftER a time, sHe continuEd, "Almost eVeRy idEA, ActIon or fantaSy
 further. She grabbed a gl ass and po ureda h eft ydose  ofbourbon.

"Asy ou s aid, she wasn't a very  nice  w o man. To  putit kind l y, s hesh ou ldha v ebeenput  away."  She hande d h im  one of thed ia ries and p oin ted. "As nea r a s I ca ndet e rmine , s he wr ote th i s abou t three y ea r s ago. " 

Bradw i ll ed h imself to look wh e re she had pointe d. Here a da l oud , " When he ca me  to t h e car w i nd o w ,  Ir eached beyond  his hands, gra bbinghi s w r ists."  Brad  l o oke d up at Jos ie,pleading.  She w a s looki n g at th e pool  in  th e ba c ky ar d;sh e  wo u ld  no t  me et his g la nc e.

H e be n t h is h ead  and  cont inued reading  si lent l y.He ha d tro uble  i denti fyingevensi mple words. "It  see med likeyea rs  pa ss ed be f ore Lu iefir ed thre e times .  Iwa s f il led with the feelof i t,  the gre atesth ig he ver. The  s hot s so u n ded l ikeo ne  continu ous ro l li ng  crashof  thund er . B loo d exp l oded  all o ver theblues ilk shirt I'db ought him for hi s bi r thda y." 

Brad coul d no t  con tinu e .Her ememb eredth e  b l ue shirt. It had be en  one o f Ger ald's favorit es. He'd b e e n  wearing  itw he n  Brad had take n the .45 from h i m in the  barthe nigh t he wask i lled. He  fe ltcol d,e v en  as sweat bea d e d on  h is fore hea d. He a lso  lo oke d o ut  at the p ool, not  w an ti ng  to  look at Josie ."He rown  brot h er?"
"It w ould  s ee m  so ." Josi e  s h i vere dsl ight ly.  H er vo icew ascold, h er face p ale ,  old er  s omehow,  in the growi ng  darkness.  " She  had q u i te an im agination. Sometimes it ' s diffi cul t toknow  whethershe 's des cri b ing so methin g inhe r m i n d ors o me thi ng  that real l y  ha ppene d.  But  that s ection is a descri p tio n of a real e ven t. G e r al d w a ss hot  t h ree t imes in the che st, just a ss he  describes . " S he  paused , takin g a d e ep brea th. "Do y ou have a ny  ide a who  Luie migh t be?"
"No."

"T h e nam e  c omesupthroug ho utthe d iaries .  It 's th e only  n ame re peate dover the  years."

Brad was sile nt, wa tchin g t he breeze  ri p ple  the surf aceof the poo l,ref lecti ngu nseen  lig h ts .
" She r efer s  to shoot i ng  at T uc kman, mucha s hedescr ibe d  it to  you . Of course, sheh as more to say . Sh e see med to r eg ret not having  sh ot h im. Luie  w as mentione d as ifsh e  thou ght he  might  help i n so m e way,  but  it  wasn't c lea rh ow."

A ft er a time , sh econtin ued, " A lmos t every idea, acti on or f antas y 
 further._She grabbed_a glass and poured_a hefty_dose_of bourbon.

"As_you_said, she wasn't_a very nice_woman. To put it_kindly, she should_have_been put away." She handed him one of the diaries and pointed. "As near_as_I can_determine,_she_wrote this about three years_ago."

Brad willed himself to look_where she_had pointed. He read aloud, "When he came_to_the car window,_I reached beyond his hands, grabbing his wrists." Brad_looked up at Josie, pleading. She_was looking at_the_pool_in the backyard; she_would not meet his glance.

He bent_his head and continued reading silently._He had trouble identifying even simple words._"It seemed like years passed before_Luie fired three times. I_was filled_with the feel of it,_the greatest high_ever. The_shots sounded like_one continuous rolling crash of thunder._Blood exploded all_over the blue silk shirt I'd_bought_him for his_birthday."

Brad_could_not continue._He remembered the_blue_shirt. It_had_been one of Gerald's favorites. He'd_been_wearing it when Brad had taken the.45_from him in the_bar_the night he was_killed. He felt cold, even_as sweat beaded on his forehead._He also_looked out_at the pool, not wanting to look at Josie. "Her own_brother?"

"It would seem so." Josie shivered_slightly. Her voice was_cold, her_face_pale, older somehow,_in_the growing_darkness. "She had quite an imagination. Sometimes_it's difficult_to know whether she's describing something_in her mind or_something_that really happened. But that section_is a description of a real_event. Gerald was shot three_times_in_the chest, just as she_describes." She paused, taking a deep_breath. "Do you_have any idea who Luie might be?"

"No."

"The_name_comes up throughout the diaries. It's_the_only name repeated over the years."

Brad_was_silent,_watching the breeze ripple the_surface of the pool, reflecting unseen_lights.

"She refers to shooting at Tuckman, much as he_described it to_you. Of course, she has_more_to_say. She seemed to regret not having shot him. Luie_was mentioned_as if she_thought he might help in some way, but it wasn't_clear how."

After a time, she continued, "Almost_every idea, action or fantasy