SHE NODDED POLITLEY,AND OPENED THE DOOR.  "BOY", MITCH THOUGHT,RACHEL
         SURE CAN LIE.RACHEL WALTZED IN CARELESSLY,SOON FOLLOWED BY JESSE.
         WHEY SAT ON HER PIN STRIPED CIAIRS AND SHE FIXED LEMONADE.
             “THERE YOU ALL GO.” HHE SAID SETTLING HERSELF I)N THE COUCH.
         “NOW THEN,THE CAR WAS A BLSCK GRAND PRII CADALAC.1989 MODEL.LICBNI
         ~LATE~IY~R —7&50.STOLENLAST WEEKEND.BY1 A MAN tNO A WOMAN.” SHE WAS
         WWIDLING HER THUIVIBS NERVOUSLY.JAMIE WAS WEARING A DOUBTFUL SMILE.
           “WHICH ONEV’ SHE ASKED IN HER MOST POlITE VOICE.THE WOMAN SCOWLE
         P DEEPLY.
            “I SAID A WOIAN~?” SHE HISSED LOSING HER FALSE 000L.A TRIUMPHAW1~
         ~ILE SPREAD A CROSS JA!VIIE’S PACEFSHE SAT BACK HER HANDS IN FISTS
         ON HER KNEE.
            “THE FACTS ARE BLACK CADALAC,LAST WEEKEND,LICENSE PLATE HYR.4650
         r TOLEN BY WOMAN.” JESSE RKPZATED CAREFULLY.THE WOMAN NODDED.SHE ST
         CD UP AND WENT TO THE DOOR A CLEAR SIGN FOR THEM TO LEAVE.BUT LEE
         ULLED CUT A NAIL FILE AND STARTED WORKING ON HER NAILS$SLOWLY.
         ~HE WOMAN SHIFTED HER WEIGHT NERVOUSLY AND COUGHED FKEBLY.LEE STA
         ~TED TO HUMM AND TAPPED HER FOOT ENERGETICALLY~’.
              “MISS WETERFOED RIGHT?HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE TH~T?~ SHE ASKED 1W
         EcOKINI UP.
             “WEARPOD.MISS WERBFOED.”LEE NODDED PURSING HER LIPS.
         ~‘THE RECORD WE SAW SAID IT WAS PRONOUNCED W—~ATERPORD.WHICH IS I~
         ~UH,WHAT’ DID YOU SAY YOUR FIRST NAME WAS?” SII~ SAID.JAMIE COUGHT
         ~{KR CLUR.
               “I DIDN’T,” SHE SNAPPED,”IT’S ELISE.”1’ SHE SAID IN HER SOFT
         ~JCICE BACK THAT QUICK.
            “MY DON’T YUU FEEL WELL?YOU LOOK PALE.” JAMIE 000ED.SHE CAME 70
         THE PLACE WHERE ELISE WAS STANDINU AND REACHED UP TO TAKE HER ‘J!EM
         ~ETURE BUT KNOCKED HER HAIR INSTEAD.A SOFT WHITE WIG FLUTTERED TO
         tUHE FLOOR.                                              POINTED TO
                 “OCOOCHHHH,I’M SOC SORRY” JAMIE SQUEALED.JESSE
         ‘130 THE KITCHEN WHERE TWO PEOPLE WERE CRAWLING IN.
              “TAH’,TAH DAHIXNG~” J.AMIE CALLED AS SHE RAN CUT THE DOOR FELLOW
         ED BY THE OTHERS.
         
              “OKAY AGAINWHO ARE YOU?” STRIKER ASKED.MILLI WHO WAS TIED TO
         ~  CHAIR HAD LIVED THROUGH SEVEN POKER GAMES ,WITH STRIKER’ S BUDDIES
         FINIALLY~ HE WAS QUESTIONING HER.
            “THE NAMI IS ASHA.4SHA VALENTINNI,I’M PROM NEW YrORK.P SHE SAID
         ~‘AKING A BROOKLYN ACCENT.STRIKER LOCKED AT HER CRITWALL~.
         !“ ASHA HUH?WELL ASH, SO WHAT YOU DOING HERE HA1{?”~ STRIKER PRESSE D
         ~SWIT~HBLADE CLOSE TO HER NECK.
         N ‘~M HERE TO BUY DRUGBLCOCAINE,HEROIN4CRACK WHATEVER?” SHE LIED
            A FALSE ANGRY NEW YORK VOICE.STRIKER SEEMED TO RELAX.
         I “WHAT’S WITH THE WELCOMING PARTY?C.I.A?” HE SHINED A FLASHLI
         ~HT INTO HER FACE.SHE WINCED.
         ~  “THAT WELCOMING COMMITTEE,HAPPENS TO BE SOME OP MY FRIENDS.IF Y
         U GET IT.WELL THE TWO GUYS ARE THE DEALERS,US GALS ARE THE ~UYSRS
         ~.S SIMPLE AS THAT.AND SOME CHICK PROM