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           "Let’ssay,hypotheticallyofcourse,that...someone...couldknowwhatpeoplearethinking,readminds,youknow-withafewexceptions."

           "Justoneexception,"hecorrected,"hypothetically."

           "Allright,withoneexception,then."Iwasthrilledthathewasplayingalong,butItriedtoseemcasual.

           "Howdoesthatwork?Whatarethelimitations?Howwould...thatsomeone...findsomeoneelseatexactlytherighttime?Howwouldheknowshewasintrouble?"Iwonderedifmyconvolutedquestionsevenmadesense.

           "Hypothetically?"heasked.

           "Sure."

           "Well,if...thatsomeone..."

           "Let’scallhim’Joe,’"Isuggested.

           Hesmiledwryly."Joe,then.IfJoehadbeenpayingattention,thetimingwouldn’thaveneededtobequitesoexact."Heshookhishead,rollinghiseyes."Onlyyoucouldgetintotroubleinatownthissmall.Youwouldhavedevastatedtheircrimeratestatisticsforadecade,youknow."

           "Wewerespeakingofahypotheticalcase,"Iremindedhimfrostily.

           Helaughedatme,hiseyeswarm.

           "Yes,wewere,"heagreed."Shallwecallyou’Jane’?"

           "Howdidyouknow?"Iasked,unabletocurbmyintensity.IrealizedIwasleaningtowardhimagain.

           Heseemedtobewavering,tornbysomeinternaldilemma.Hiseyeslockedwithmine,andIguessedhewasmakingthedecisionrightthenwhetherornottosimplytellmethetruth.

           "Youcantrustme,youknow,"Imurmured.Ireachedforward,without

           thinking,totouchhisfoldedhands,butheslidthemawayminutely,andIpulledmyhandback.

           "Idon’tknowifIhaveachoiceanymore.