“I LOST MY STUPID WALLET.” HE SAID.
         
           “IN THE BAR?” I ASKED.
         
         “APPARENTLY.” HE SAID.I GAVE A LOPSIDED GRIN.
         
           “I AM ALWASY LOOSING MY POCKETBOOK.” I SAID.TODD SMILED.
         “HOW ABOUT A RIDE ON THE FERRIS WHEEL?” HE SUGGESTED.I NODDED
         AND WE RAN TO GET TICKETS AND WAITED IN LINE.
         
            ONCE HIGH ABOVE THE GROUND,ALL MY TROUBLES MELTED.TODD
         
         POINTED OUT VARIOUS SPOTS ON THE BEACH AND ON THE BOARDWALK AND
         
         WE JOKED.AS WE DESCENDED FOR THE FINAL TIME,I KISSED HIM LIGHTLY
         
         ON HIS CHEEK.HE LOOKED AT ME AND GRINNED.WHEN WE GOT OFF I TOOK
         
         HIS HAND AGAIN AND WE WALKED AROUND.I SHIVERED FROM THE COLD.
         
         TODD’S ARM WENT SECURELY AROUND MY SHOULDER.I LEANED MY HEAD IN THE
         
         CROOK IN HIS SHOULDER.THEN I STOPPED COLD.ACROSS THE BOARDWALK STOOD
         
         JEFFEREY,SKYE,AND SOME GIRL I KNEW SKYE WAS FRIENDS WITH.WE ALL EYED
         
         EACHOTHER COOLY,LIKE PASSERBYERS,BUT I SWORE I’D NEVER FORGET THE
         
         LOOK OF PAIN ON JEFFEREY’S FACE.
         
         
         
            “THAT CONCLUDES WHAT I NNOW.” I SAID.IT WAS THE NEXT AFTERNOON.
         
         I HAD SPENT THE MORNING GETTING ALL MY COURAGE TOGETHER AND CAME INTO
         
         THE STATION.I HAD SPENT THE PAST HOUR GOING OVER YESTERDAYS’
         
         FORTUNES AND MISFORTUNES.I RUBBED MY STIFF NECK AND PULLED DOWN
         
         THE SLEEVES OF MY BLACK TURLE NECK.
         
            “CAP,I ASKED YOU YESTERDAY WHO I WAS DEALING WITH AND YOU DIDN’T
         TELL ME.NOW I WANT TO KNOW.” CAPITAN MORRIS GREENE AND PAUL EVANS
         EXCHANGED TROUBLED GLANCES.
         
            “BREANNA,ALL WE HAVE ARE YOUR FACTS AND OURS.THE OTHER FOUR
         MURDERS ARE YOUNG WOMKN WHO WERE RICH AND BEAUTIFUL.THERE’S WHERE
         THE CONNECTIONS END.” CAPITAN GREENE SAID.
         
            “SO YOU’RE SAYING THIS IS A BLIND LEAD.” I RAN MY FINGERS THROUGH
         
         MY BLACK HAIR AND SLIPPED MY GUN HOLSEER OVER MY SHOULDERS.
         
         I PULLED ON A JEAN JACKET AND PULLED ON SOME HEAVY BLACK BOOTS OVER
         
         THE CUFFS OF MY JEANS.
         
           “BREE,CALL IT WHAT YOU LIKE.WE ARE UP AGAINST A CRIMINAL.”