Larry raised an eyebrow. 'Well, well, aren't we touchy,' he said, 'for a lowlife pissant.'

Myron's expression did not change. He had met Kathy Culver five years ago when she was a sophomore in high school, already a budding beauty.

Like her sister Jessica. Eighteen months ago Kathy had mysteriously vanished from the campus of Reston University. To this day no one knew where she was or what had happened to her. The story had all the media's favorite tasty morsels - a gorgeous co-ed, the fiancee of football star Christian Steele, the sister of novelist Jessica Culver, a strong hint of sexual assault for extra seasoning. The press could not help themselves. They attacked like ravenous relatives around a buffet table.

But just recently a second tragedy had befallen the Culver family. Adam Culver, Kathy's father, had been murdered three nights earlier in what police were calling a 'botched robbery.' Myron wanted very much to contact the family, to do more than merely offer simple condolences, but he had decided to stay away, not knowing if he was welcome, fairly certain he wasn't.

'Now if-'

There was a knock on the door. It opened a crack, and Esperanza stuck her head in. 'Call for you, Myron,' she said.

'Take a message.'

'I think you'll want to take it.'

Esperanza stayed in the doorway. Her dark eyes gave away nothing, but he understood.

'I'll be right there,' he said.

She slipped back through the door.

Larry Hanson gave an appreciative whistle. 'She's a babe, Bolitar.'

'Gee, thanks, Larry. That means a lot coming from you.' He rose. I'll be right back 'We don't have all goddamn day to jerk off here.'

'I'm sure you don't.'

He left the conference room and met up with Esperanza at her desk.

'The Meal Ticket,' she told him. 'He said it was urgent.'