might be with you.”
“Try?”
She laughed. “Actually, she thought your friend was cute.”
“If that was an act, she ought to get out of the banking business.”
“She?s a free spirit. Lark does whatever makes her feel good. I wish I could. I come here twice a
week. Lark says it?s a good way to get rid of my inhibitions. This isn?t even my outfit; I borrowed it
from her.”
“You have a problem with your inhibitions?”
She rolled her eyes. “You don?t know what a trauma it was to write that note to you.”
“Well, I?m glad you did.”
She had to lean closer to hear me The music seemed to be getting louder by the minute.
“I. I feel a little dishonest about this,” she said.
. .
“About what?”
“Asking you to meet me. Actually 1 want to ask a favor.”
“I didn?t think you were going to propose.”
She laughed and began to relax.
“I?ve thought about you often over the years,” she said. “I was so jealous of you and Doe and Teddy
Findley that summer. The three of you were so happy all the time; you just seemed to have
everything. I was fourteen; all I had was acne and a terrible crush on you.”
“On me!”
“Crazy isn?t it?” she said, lowering her eyes. “I guess in a way I still do. You never quite get over the
early ones.”
I thought about that for a moment or two and shook my head.”No, I guess you don?t,” I said. Then I
began to get that feeling on the back of my neck again, only this time it wasn?t pleasant. I shifted
slightly in my chair and looked around the room, what I could see of it, but this time there was no
tawny lioness skulking through the dancers. I saw no faces I recognized.
I gave my attention back to DeeDee.
“So what?s the favour?” I asked, to make it easier for her.
“I?ve heard you?re a detective now,” she said.
“Well, not exactly. I?m a government investigator.”
“The FBI?” She sounded startled.
“No, why? The possibility seems to worry you.”
