"Nothing wrong with that," she said."Now you want to tell me how you knew who I was," I asked."I have enough money to hire a security company. They do...a threat assessment, before I make a trip like this. They want to know who they should observe and how carefully." There is no reason for them to watch me. I don't even put on a good show, when I take off my clothes." I said."I would definitely have to agree with that. I have this really good stylist, who works wonders for me," She said. I. " Oh yeah, man. Let's see—is this where you tell me—I'll never work in this town again?" Bruce said, laughing at his feeble attempt at making a joke."Well, what am I going to do?" Bill said, making a last attempt to get the guy to change his mind. "I can't get any one else at this late date." Hey, sorry man... , we have our own problems... , you know." Well... , would you know of anyone I might book who might still be available?"Bruce was silent for a moment. "Well, there is an old guy I heard. He heard the door slam as he casually got out of the chair to follow her, knowing full well that she had nowhere to really escape to.The door was locked but, getting a stiff wire from his room, Bill popped the lock as easily as he had popped this youngster's cherry, less than a week ago. Sue was in her mother's bed, the covers pulled up over her head as if, like the ostrich, she thought she would be hidden."Enough of this foolishness, Sue.", he said in the stern voice as he pulled the blankets. “You should go see my therapist.”I paused my restocking of Pablo Neruda, the poet who always sold out this time of year. Even Mabel’s shop was frequented by lovestruck hipsters who quoted Neruda incorrectly as they sipped on their nonfat caramel lattes.“Excuse me?”Mabel applied another ring of blue eyeliner. It caught unflatteringly in all of her wrinkles, and it really wasn’t the right color for her, but I didn’t dare say anything. The last time I tried to suggest Mabel change her.