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LOOKING BACK, IT'S hard to reinated with the death of one of the claims adjusters or the transfer of Gordon Titus, an "efficiency expert" froht in to bolster profits Both events contributed to the general unrest a iven the fact that my association with the co back through my calendar, I find a brief penciled note of the appointment with Gordon Titus, whose arrival was i with Titus, I'd jotted, "sob extraordinaire!" which summarized my entire relationship with him

I'd been gone for three weeks, doing a consuo coround turned out to be so other than he'd represented The work had taken me all over the state, and I had a check in my pocket for beaucoup bucks by the tiiven the option of reo that weekend at the company's expense, but I woke up inexplicably at 3:00 AM with a pri for home A moon the size of a dinner plate was propped up on the balcony outsideacross h to read by I lay there, staring at the swaying shadow of palm fronds on the wall, and I knew that what I wanted most was to be in my own bed I was tired of hotel roo tiot out of bed, pulledBy 3:30 AM I'd checked out, and tenfor Santa Teresa in , a 1974 sedan, pale blue, with only one wee s in the left rear fender Classy stuff

At that hour, the Los Angeles freeway systeht, but even on ra north to work It was still dark, with a delicious chill in the air, a ground fog curling along the berht, the foothills rose up and away from the road, the tracts of houses tucked into the landscape showing no signs of life The lights along the highway contributed a nearly ghostly illumination, and as visible of the city in the distance seemed stately and serene I always feel an affinity for others traveling at such an hour, as if we are all engaged in some form of clandestine activity Many of the other drivers had oversize Styrofoa to wolf down fast food as they drove

With the occasional carrolled down, I was treated to bursts of boo lanes A glance in my rearviewwith vigor, belting out a lip-sync solo as the hipped through her hair I felt a jolt of pure joy It was one of those occasions when I suddenly realized how happy I was Life was good I was feet home I had nobody to answer to and no ties to speak of I was healthy, physically fit, filled with energy I flipped on the radio and chi Grace," which didn't quite suit the occasion but was the only station I could find An early an to make his pitch, and by the time I reached Venture, I was nearly redeeoodwill e bad news

The usual five-hour drive froo was condensed to four and a half, which put ht I was still feeling wired I decided to hit the office first, dropping off my typewriter and the briefcase full of notes before I headed ho the way and pick up just enough to get h the next two days Once I unloaded rab a quick shower and then sleep for ten hours straight, getting up just in time for a bite of supper at Rosie's down the street fro quite as decadent as a day in the sack alone I'd turn my phone off, let the"Do Not Bother Me" I could hardly wait

I expected the parking lot behindand the stores doouldn't open until ten It was puzzling, therefore, to realize that the area arht was thatshot, the area cordoned off so the ca of onlookers standing out on the street and the saeneral air of orchestrated boredom that seems to accompany a shoot Then I spotted the crime scene tape and my senses went on red alert Since the lot was inaccessible, I found a parking place out at the curb I reun from my purse and tucked it into my briefcase in the backseat, locked the car doors, andnear the parking kiosk He turned a speculative eye onto decide if I had any business at the scene He was a nice-looking , narrow face, hazel eyes, closely trimmed auburn hair, and a small mustache His smile was polite and exposed a chip in one of his front teeth He'd either been in a fight or used his central incisors in a manner his mother had warned him about as a child "May I help you?"