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           Joeylookedlikeahorseandhesmiledlikeahorse,raisingalongupperliptoshowbigsquareteeth.JosephPatrickMorphy,JoeyMorphy,Joey-boy—"theMorph"—arealpopularguyforoneonlyafewyearsatNewBaytown.Ajokerwhogotoffhisgagsveily-eyedlikeapokerplayer,buthewhinniedatotherpeople’sjokes,whetherornothehadheardthem.Awiseguy,theMorph,hadtheinsidedopeoneverything—andeverybodyfromMafiatoMountbatten—buthegaveitoutwitharisinginflection,almostlikeaquestion.Thattookthesmartalecktoneoutofit,madehislistenerapartytoitsothathecouldrepeatitashisown.Joeywasafascinatingmonkey—agamblerbutnooneeversawhimlaydownabet,agoodbook-keeperandawonderfulbankteller.Mr.Baker,FirstNationalpresident,trustedJoeysocompletelythatheletthetellerdomostofthework.TheMorphkneweveryoneintimatelyandneverusedafirstname.EthanwasMr.Hawley.MargieYoung-HuntwasMrs.Young-HunttoJoey,eventhoughitwaswhisperedthathewaslayingher.Hehadnofamily,noconnections,livedaloneintworoomsandprivatebathintheoldPhillipshouse,atemostofhismealsattheForemasterGrillandBar.HisbankingpastwasknowntoMr.Bakerandthebondingcompanyanditwasimmaculate,butJoey-boyhadawayoftellingthingsthathadhappenedtosomeoneelseinawaythatmadeyoususpecttheyhadhappenedtoJoey,andifthatwasso,hehadreallybeenaround.Nottakingcreditmadepeoplelikehimevenmore.Hekepthisfingernailsveryclean,dressedwellandsharply,andalwayshadacleanshirtandashoeshine.

           ThetwomenstrolledtogetherdownElmStreettowardHigh.

           "I’vebeenmeaningtoaskyou.YourelatedtoAdmiralHawley?"

           "Don’tyoumeanAdmiralHalsey?"Ethanasked."We’vehadlotsofcaptainsbutIneverheardofanadmiralinthefamily."