It was fairly early and the house was still quiet. She supposed that Patty was still asleep. She often stayed out late these warm summer nights, but P...ula supposed it was all right with the dog to protect her. Mark had brought Champ home when he was a puppy a@ a gift for their daughter. He had said it was good for a kid in the country to have a dog. He'd always wanted one himself. Patty and-the dog had become inseparable; Paula loved him too, but it was nothing like the close bond between the. Rythern’s mind, what part that remains separate from his essence wonders how a mere human can overpower an Asura such as he when suddenly he stumbles into a corridor not yet closed off yet. A corridor still open with the answer he seeks staring straight at him. With many years of extensive training in several forms of Kung Fu, she has focused her body and mind in perfect harmony to the point where she could do almost anything she wanted and if she wanted him gone, he would be gone forever. It. It came as no surprise when the Managing Director announced that Michele had been judged the best-dressed man at the party. The best-dressed woman award went to Jill; a quiet, attractive lady in her forties who worked in the accounts department; she like Malcolm, kept mostly to herself. As tradition dictated; the music was cranked up, the lights dimmed further and they were expected to dance together. Jill had dressed as a prohibition era gangster come pimp, and wore a dark pinstriped suit. “Remember, he’s the big boss.” “He’s big all right,” Annie whispered. Then she smiled at me and walked toward him. “I’ll be waiting,” I said. I watched James escort my stunning young wife to- ward the elevators. Twenty minutes later I saw James again, working the room. But Annie hadn’t returned with him, and about five minutes later James disappear- ed into the elevator. Once more I tried to keep my mind off what might.