 as she made her way downstairs to her car and drove off. She wished somehow she hadn't visited Amanda today.

* * *

Brad had been at the curb in front of Josie's apartment at 2:20. She had eased the Trans Am to a stop and was moving before he'd latched the door. Something was different about her. Yet she was as open and friendly as usual. It was as if she'd pulled part of herself inside. He decided she was only more worried than she'd admit. He noticed she had not looked at him; her eyes remained on the road.

At his suggestion, they'd stopped two miles short of the terminal and waited for a bus that would drop him off in front of Overnite Air. She agreed there was no point in letting anyone see the black Trans Am until later.

When he left the bus, he could feel the tension in his shoulders. His walk to the terminal building was unhurried, but determined. In the snack bar, he surveyed the small room, looking for Alex Rhoads, the man who handled scheduling. He wasn't there. With coffee in hand, he joined two men from the shed. He positioned himself so he could watch both entrances. "So what's new?" he asked.

"Cops," the taller man said. "All over cops. They were on us all morning."

"The killings?"

Both men nodded. The taller one continued, "They must think somebody here done it. They spent near half an hour with each of us."

Brad felt the beginnings of a tremble and gripped his coffee cup firmly. He didn't much want to talk to police right now. He certainly didn't want to explain why he was using the name Tom Fairchild.

"Well. Gotta go shovel more crap," said the shorter man.

Both rose. "See ya," said the other.

Brad toyed with his coffee cup, wondering if he should walk right back out the door he'd come in. Then he saw the stooped, rounded shoulders of the slight, bespectacled man he was looking for. Alex Rhoads, with coffee and doughnut, chose a table by himself. Brad rose, coffee in hand, and walked to the table.

"Join you?" he asked.

"Of course," Rhoads replied, waving a hand airily toward the bench opposite his.
as she made her way downstairs to her car and drove off. She wish somehow she hadn't visit Amanda today. 

 * * * 

 Brad had been at the curb in front of Josie's apartment at 2:20. She had eased the Trans Am to a stop consonant and was moving before he'd latched the doorway. Something was different about her. Yet she was as exposed and friendly as usual. It was as if she'd pulled share of herself inside. He decided she was entirely more disquieted than she'd admit. He noticed she had not looked at him; her eyes remained on the road. 

 At his trace, they'd stopped two miles short of the end and waited for a bus that would shed him off in front man of Overnite Air. She agreed there exist no point in letting anyone see the bootleg Trans Am until later. 

 When he left the bus, he could feel the tension in his shoulders. His base on balls to the terminal building was unhurried, but determined. In the snack bar, he surveyed the small room, looking for Alex Rhoads, the man who handled scheduling. He wasn't there. With coffee bean in hand, he joined two valet from the shed. He position himself so he could watch both entrances. " So what's newfangled? " he asked. 

 " Cops, " the taller man say. " All over cops. They were on us all morning. " 

 " The killings? " 

 Both men nodded. The grandiloquent one continued, " They must think somebody here done it. They spent near half an hour with each of us. " 

 Brad palpate the beginning of a tremble and gripped his coffee cup firmly. He didn't much want to spill the beans to police right now. He certainly didn't desire to explain why he was use the name Tom Fairchild. 

 " Well. Got ta go power shovel more crap, " said the shorter man. 

 Both rose. " attend ya, " said the early. 

 Brad toyed with his coffee cup, wondering if he should walk right back out the doorway he'd come in. Then he saw the stooped, rounded shoulders of the slender, bespectacled world he was looking for. Alex Rhoads, with coffee and doughnut, chose a table by himself. Brad rose, coffee in hand, and walked to the table. 

 " connect you? " he asked. 

 " Of course, " Rhoads answer, waving a hand airily toward the judiciary opposite his.
 as she made her way downstxirs to her car and drmve ofr. She wirhed somehow she hadn't visitxd Ananda today.

* * *

Brad had been xt the cugb in frobt oh Josie's apartmeif at 2:20. Smz had cased vhe Trans Am to a stop ang was moving bafurz he'd latched the door. Something was differrnh about her. Yej she ras zs open and friendly as usual. It wzs as ih she'd pulled psrt of herself inside. He dfcidfd she was only moge worried jgan whe'd admit. Hd noticed she had not mooked at him; her eyes remained on tke road.

At hus suhcestion, theb'd stoiped two miles short mf the yerminal and wsitxd fir a bus that would dcop him off in front of Overnhtz Air. She agreed therw qas nm pohnt kb ldttjnj ahyone dee the black Trans Am ubtil later.

When he ltft nne bus, he cohld feql the tension in his shoulders. His walk uo ths terminal building was unhurried, but determlned. In tre snack bar, he surveyed the small room, looking fmr Alxx Rhiaqr, tje man who handled scheduling. He wasn't there. Rjtn boffee in hand, he joined two mfn srom the shed. He positjoned himself so hf could watcy both enurancrs. "So what's new?" he asked.

"Copw," the taller nan said. "All over eops. They wexe on os all morning."

"The killings?"

Botk men hodded. The haller ons continued, "They ousn thhnk somebody here done it. Ehey spenv neax half av hoor with each of ud."

Brad felt the beginningd of c trekble and ggipped his coffee cup firmly. He didn't much wamt to talk to polige right now. He certainly didu't want co expuain why hv was usiig the name Eom Fairchild.

"Fgll. Gotta go vhovel mjre xrap," said tfd shorter man.

Bpth rose. "See ya," saie the other.

Brad toned wkfh his coffee cbk, windering if he xhojld wwll whght back oud thd dupr he'a come in. Tmen he xaw the stooped, rounged ahoulders of the skinht, bespextacled ian he was lopking for. Alex Rhowds, wmth cohfee amd qoughnut, chose a table by himsslf. Brad gosc, coffee in hwnd, qnd walked tp the table.

"Join you?" he asked.

"Of course," Rioads replied, waving a yand airily toward jhe bench oppoxite ris.
as she made her way downstairs to and off. She somehow she hadn't * had been at curb in front Josie's apartment at 2:20. She had the Trans Am to a stop and was moving before he'd latched the Something was different about her. Yet she was as open and friendly as It as she'd part of herself inside. He decided she was only more worried than she'd admit. He noticed had not looked at him; her eyes remained the road. At his they'd stopped two miles short the and waited a that drop him off front of Overnite Air. She agreed there was no point in letting anyone see the black Trans until later. left the he feel tension in his walk to the terminal building was In the snack bar, he surveyed the small looking for Rhoads, the man who handled scheduling. wasn't there. With coffee in hand, he joined men from the shed. He positioned himself so he could watch both entrances. "So what's asked. "Cops," the taller said. "All over They on all "The killings?" men nodded. The taller one continued, "They must think somebody here it. They spent near half an hour with each of felt beginnings of a and gripped his coffee firmly. didn't much want to police now. want explain he was using the Tom Fairchild. "Well. Gotta go more crap," said the ya," said the other. Brad toyed with his cup, wondering if he should walk right out the door he'd come in. Then he saw the stooped, rounded of the man he was looking for. Alex Rhoads, with and doughnut, chose a by himself. Brad rose, coffee in hand, and walked the "Join you?" asked. "Of course," replied, waving a airily toward the his.
 as she made her way downstairs To her car anD drovE ofF. ShE wIsheD somEhow she hadn't viSIted amanda today.

* * *

Brad had been At the CuRB in fROnT of JoSie's apaRTmENT at 2:20. shE hAd eAsED tHe TraNs AM to a stoP and was movIng BeFore he'd latchED tHe door. SomeThiNg was differeNt aBout heR. YEt sHE was aS opEn and FriendLY as usuAl. It was as If SHe'd pulLEd part oF HErSelf Inside. He decided shE WaS Only more worrieD than sHe'D AdMIT. He NotIced she had NoT lookED at him; hER eYES RemAIned on the road.

at his suggesTIon, They'd sToPpeD Two milEs shoRt OF thE terminal anD waiTed for a buS that wOUld drop HIm off in Front oF OvErnIte AIR. SHe AgrEeD TheRE wAs nO PoiNt in lettInG aNyone See tHE BLAck TRanS Am uNtil lAter.

When he lefT thE bus, HE coUld feEl the TensIoN in hiS shoulDers. HIs Walk to the terminAl buIlding was UnhUrRieD, bUt detERmined. in tHe sNack bar, He surveYEd tHe SMALl Room, looking for Alex rhOADs, The man whO handlED sChEDuling. He WaSn't TherE. wIth coFfee IN hAnd, he joiNed two MEn FrOm the shEd. he posiTiOneD hiMself SO he cOuld waTch both eNtranCEs. "So what's new?" he ASked.

"Cops," the taLLeR MAn SAid. "ALl oVer cops. They Were ON us aLl moRNiNg."

"THE killIngs?"

BOtH MeN Nodded. The taller one cOnTinued, "they mUst think somebOdy here donE IT. they spenT neaR HaLF an hour with eacH of us."

brad felt thE BeginninGs of a Tremble aNd gripped HIS coffee cUp fIrmLy. HE diDN'T mUch want to talk TO PoliCe Right noW. He CertainLy dIdn'T waNt tO eXplain why He was usiNg ThE nAmE ToM FairCHild.

"Well. goTta Go ShoVel moRE crap," sAid thE shoRtEr MAn.

BOth rose. "sEe YA," Said ThE oTher.

braD tOyed wIth hIS coFfee cup, Wondering If hE ShouLd WaLk right Back out the dooR hE'd come in. ThEn He sAw the sTOOped, rounDed shoulders of the slight, BEspectaCleD man hE was Looking foR. AlEx RhoaDs, wITh coffEe and dOughnUt, ChoSE A tablE BY hImsElF. Brad rose, cOFFee In hanD, aNd waLked to tHe table.

"Join you?" he asKEd.

"OF course," Rhoads RepLied, WAViNg a HAnD AirIlY TowARD the bench opposiTe his.
 as she made her way downs tairs to h er ca r a nddr oveoff.  She wished so m ehow  she hadn't visited Am andato d ay.** *
Brad ha d  b e e n a tth e c ur b  i n fro ntof Josi e's apartm ent  a t 2:20. Sheh ad  eased the  Tr ans Am to asto p andwa s m o vingbef ore h e'd la t ched t he door.So m ething was dif f e re nt a bout her. Yet she wa s  as open and f riendl ya su s ual . I t was as i fshe'd pulledp ar t o f h e rself inside.  He decided she  was o nl y m o re wor riedth a n s he'd admit.  Henoticed s he had not loo k ed at h im; he r e yes  rem a in ed  on  t h e r o ad .
A t h is sugge st io n, th ey'd s t o pped  tw o mi les s hort of the t erm inal and  wait ed fo r abu s tha t woul d dro phim off in fron t of  Overnite  Ai r.  Sh eagree d  there  wa s n o point  in let t ing  a n y o ne  see the black Tra ns A muntil la ter.
W he nh e left t he  bu s, h e could  fee l  t he tensi on inh is  s houlder s.  His w al k t o t he te r mina l buil ding was  unhu r ried, but dete r mined. In the sn a c kb ar,hesurveyed th e sm a ll r oom, lo oki n g for  Alex  R h oa d s, the man who hand le d sche dulin g. He wasn'tthere. Wit h c offee in  han d ,h e joined two m en fr om the she d . He pos ition ed himse lf so hec o uld watc h b oth  en tra n c es . "So what'sn e w?"he  asked. 

" Cops,"the  ta lle r m an  said. "A ll overco ps .Th eywereo n us all  m orn in g." 

"Th e  killi ngs?" 

Bo th  m e n n odded.T he t alle ron e co nti nu ed, " They mus t think  somebody  he r e do ne  i t. They  spent near h al f an hourwi theach o f us."

Br ad felt the beginningso f a tre mbl e and  gri pped hiscof fee cu p f i rmly.He did n't m uc h w a n t tot a lk  to  p olice righ t now . Hece rtai nly did n't want to explai n  wh y he was usin g t he n a m eTom Fa i rch il d .
" W ell. Gotta go s hovel more  c r ap ," said th e  sh or ter man .

Both  rose .  "See y a," saidthe other .
Bra d toy ed with hi s coffee  cup, won d ering if  he s hou ld wal krig ht ba ck out the  door  he'dco me in.  Then  h e saw th e stooped, rounded shou ldersof th e s light, be spe c tac led man h e wa s lookingfor . A lex R hoa d s, wi th c o ff eea nd do ughn u t, chosea  t abl e by  himself. B r a d  ro se, c off e e in h and,  and walked to th e  table.

"Join  you ? "  he  as k ed.
" Of course," Rh oad sr e plied, w av ing a handairily t ow a rd th e benc h oppo site hi s . 
 as_she made_her way downstairs to_her car_and_drove off._She_wished somehow she_hadn't visited Amanda_today.

* * *

Brad had_been at the_curb_in front of Josie's apartment at 2:20. She had eased the Trans Am to_a_stop and_was_moving_before he'd latched the door._Something was different about her._Yet she_was as open and friendly as usual. It_was_as if she'd_pulled part of herself inside. He decided she was_only more worried than she'd admit._He noticed she_had_not_looked at him; her_eyes remained on the road.

At his_suggestion, they'd stopped two miles short_of the terminal and waited for a_bus that would drop him off_in front of Overnite Air._She agreed_there was no point in_letting anyone see_the black_Trans Am until_later.

When he left the bus, he_could feel the_tension in his shoulders. His walk_to_the terminal building_was_unhurried,_but determined._In the snack_bar,_he surveyed_the_small room, looking for Alex Rhoads,_the_man who handled scheduling. He wasn't there._With coffee in hand,_he_joined two men from_the shed. He positioned himself_so he could watch both entrances._"So what's_new?" he_asked.

"Cops," the taller man said. "All over cops. They were on_us all morning."

"The killings?"

Both men nodded._The taller one continued,_"They must_think_somebody here done_it._They spent_near half an hour with each of_us."

Brad felt_the beginnings of a tremble and_gripped his coffee cup_firmly._He didn't much want to talk_to police right now. He certainly_didn't want to explain why_he_was_using the name Tom Fairchild.

"Well._Gotta go shovel more crap," said_the shorter man.

Both_rose. "See ya," said the other.

Brad toyed_with_his coffee cup, wondering if he_should_walk right back out the door_he'd_come_in. Then he saw the_stooped, rounded shoulders of the slight,_bespectacled man he was looking for. Alex Rhoads, with_coffee and doughnut,_chose a table by himself._Brad_rose,_coffee in hand, and walked to the table.

"Join you?" he_asked.

"Of course,"_Rhoads replied, waving_a hand airily toward the bench opposite his.