" Yeah," said Mr. Street. "If you... if you can find the man who did this,and make him undo it, or somehow give me five minutes alone with him...we'll...throw in a big bonus." My normal rate is fine, Mr. Street," I said. "But I'm paid hourly,success or failure. So you know that I'm on the level, I'll be giving youa report at least every two or three days. I'm not cheap, buy I'meffective." I took a deep breath. "And I believe you. Because you may think this isweird -- and it is -- but I've seen. " Seeing howthe public image I projected was radically at odds with how I reallyfelt as I clarified what I was saying, Mattie shook her head andlaughed."Sounds like you were pretty screwed up if you ask me honey." And I'm not now?" I laughed back."Not from over here." She smiled and asked me about girls."If you are asking if I have had serious girlfriends the answer is no.I've never been short of female friends... well once I started talkingto women when I left university but I was never able. "Carp was looking stunned as he sat at the table like a mega blob for a few seconds. He became animated and said, "You know, I can have that place cleaned up and made into a hell of a nice place to live. Do I thank you or Chuck, Etta? I think you're the one to thank, though. I've grown fond of your home area and it has nothing to do with the gold on the property. I feel the presence of people there. People from long ago, and some from not that long past. It's close enough to town that I can do. I probably would have if I were her, had I not known Henry’s signature move. But she harshly pushed away from me instead. “Fucker!” What I remembered about Katie was exactly 2 things; One, she was crazy smart, always outshining everyone else. Two, she was...quiet. Shy, rarely spoke her mind. Waiting to fuck a guy just barely out of eyesight of all your peers at a beach party? Really didn’t seem like her. “Asshole! Piece of shit! Motherfucking bastard! Just leave me here and run off with some.