〃Maybe　Harry　could　give　Billy　a　ride　up；〃　I　suggested。　The　fewer　witnesses　the

better。

〃That's　a　great　idea。〃

I　wasn't　sure　if　the　game　was　just　an　excuse　for　kicking　me　out；　but　he　looked

excited　enough　now。　He

headed　to　the　phone　while　I　donned　my　rain　jacket。　I　felt　self…conscious　with

the　checkbook　shoved　in

my　jacket　pocket。　It　was　something　I　never　used。

Outside；　the　rain　came　down　like　water　slopped　from　a　bucket。　I　had　to　drive

more　slowly　than　I　wanted

to；　I　could　hardly　see　a　car　length　in　front　of　the　truck。　But　I　finally　made

it　through　the　muddy　lanes　to

Jacob's　house。　Before　I'd　killed　the　engine；　the　front　door　opened　and　Jacob

came　running　out　with　a

huge　black　umbrella。

He　held　it　over　my　door　while　I　opened　it。

〃Charlie　called—said　you　were　on　your　way；〃　Jacob　explained　with　a　grin。

Effortlessly；　without　a　conscious　mand　to　the　muscles　around　my　lips；　my

answering　smile　spread

across　my　face。　A　strange　feeling　of　warmth　bubbled　up　in　my　throat；　despite

the　icy　rain　splattering　on

my　cheeks。

〃Hi；　Jacob。〃

〃Good　call　on　inviting　Billy　up。〃　He　held　up　his　hand　for　a　high　five。

I　had　to　reach　so　high　to　slap　his　hand　that　he　laughed。

Harry　showed　up　to　get　Billy　just　a　few　minutes　later。　Jacob　took　me　on　a

brief　tour　of　his　tiny　room

while　we　waited　to　be　unsupervised。

〃So　where　to；　Mr。　Goodwrench？〃　I　asked　as　soon　as　the　door　closed　behind

Billy。

Jacob　pulled　a　folded　paper　out　of　his　pocket　and　smoothed　it　out。　〃We'll

start　at　the　dump　first；　see　if

we　can　get　lucky。　This　could　get　a　little　expensive；〃　he　warned　me。　〃Those