ItuckedherletterintomybookaolookforSpeck.PanicoverwhelmedlogidIranoutontothelibrarylawn,hopingthatshehadleftonlymomentsbefore.TheQOWhadgedovertoacoldrain,obliteratinganytracksshemighthavemade.Notasinglesoulcouldbeseen.NooneansweredwhenIcalledhername,areetswerecuriouslyempty,aschurchbellsbegantoutanotherSunday.Iwasafooltoveintotowninthemiddleofthem.Followingthelabyrinthofsidewalks,Ihadnoideawhichwaytogo.Acareasedaroundaerandslowedasthedriverspottedmewalkingintherain.Shebraked,rolleddownthewindow,andcalledout,"Doyouneedaride?Youllcatchyourdeathofcold."

    Irememberedtomakemyvoiderstandable—asirokeoffortuhatmiserableday."No,thankyou,maam.Imgoinghome."

    "Dontcallmemaam,"shesaid.Shehadablondeponytaillikethewomanwholivedinthehousewehadrobbedmonthsbefore,andsheworeacrookedsmile."Itsanastymtobeout,andyouhavenohatloves."

    "Ilivearoundtheer,thankyou."

    "DoIknowyou?"

    Ishookmyhead,aartedtorollupherwindow.

    "Youhaventseenalittlegirlouthere,haveyou?"Icalledout.

    "Inthisrain?"

    "Mytwinsister,"Ilied."Imoutlookingforher.Shesaboutmysize."

    "No.Ihaventseenasoul."Sheeyedmeclosely."Wheredoyoulive?Whatisyourname?"

    Ihesitatedandthoughtitbesttoeer."MynameisBillySpeck."

    "Youdbettergohome,sournup."

    Thecarturheerandmotoredoff.Frustrated,Iwalkedtowardtheriver,awayfromallthefusingstreetsand