"I felt like I was showing the world my real self, but I was nervous too.I rarely go out in public dressed like this except when Mom and I are faraway...from home on vacations. I'm so afraid someone will recognize me." Don't worry. You're not the first boy who has had this kind ofexperience." But, I'm almost 13. Mom says that I am lucky not to have startedpuberty yet. But she says she can get me to a doctor who can help if Iwant." I understand, Jayden. I had to make the same choice." You did?". He understood quite suddenly what to kill or to be killed actually meant. He was not going to sacrifice himself this time around. It was Artie’s turn, and Charlie would make sure of it. The only question involved how he would do it. He had little money remaining for a gun, but he would spend whatever he had left for it. He guessed he’d have to sneak onto Artie’s property in the middle of the night and kill him in his sleep, if such a thing could be done.He fought the temptation to call him to. Bye," Maria said.Harry picked up the telephone. "Harry Dick here." Hi, Harry," came the voice of the insane author and sometime porn-monger, Jenny Jackson."Oh, Shit. There goes my day," Harry said, into the receiver."Now, Harry. Don't be like that. I did send you a real case this time. Sounds like this Barfly woman's mixed up with real mobsters." You sent her?" Harry asked, suspiciously."Of course, Harry. I'm the only one who writes you. Who else would have sent her?" Son-of-a-bitch," mumbled. I thought you were getting all weird on me. But it might be fun. Something different, anyway.”“That’s what I thought, maybe get into some older stuff. The party starts at eight. Why don’t you come over here a little after and we’ll head over together? And remember it’s a pool party. Show off that body of yours and you’ll have some old guy creaming himself in no time.”----“You look great, Layla,” Rod said, as he looked her over. She was dressed comfortably in white shorts and a flowery halter.