Chapter 3

           Later,longaftertheothersweregoneandwhileIwasdressingforwork,shetookmebythearm,swungmearound,andlookedintomyeyeswithfierceintensity.

           "Melinda?"sheasked.

           Inodded.

           "Canyoudosomethingforher,Paul?Reallydosomethingforher,orisitallwishfuldreamingbroughtonbywhatyousawlastnight?"

           IthoughtofCoffey’seyes,ofCoffey’shands,andofthehypnotizedwayI’dgonetohimwhenhe’dwantedme.IthoughtofhimholdingouthishandsforMr.Jingles’sbroken,dyingbody.Whilethere’sstilltime,hehadsaid.Andtheblackswirlingthingsthatturnedwhiteanddisappeared.

           "Ithinkwemightbetheonlychanceshehasleft,"Isaidatlast.

           "Thentakeit,"shesaid,buttoningthefrontofmynewfallcoat.IthadbeenintheclosetsincemybirthdayatthebeginningofSeptember,butthiswasonlythethirdorfourthtimeI’dactuallywornit."Takeit."

           Andshepracticallypushedmeoutthedoor.