” I was bluffing, of course, proud of myself for thinking fast enough to say something intimidating.“I am the damn police, shit-for-brains! Go a...ead and play it. They'll recognize my voice, maybe ask me if the bitch is treatin' me right, but that's it. I'll read the damn report. I'll know where you live and where you work. I can find your car. You won't know when it's gonna happen. I am now your worst fuckin' nightmare.” There was the sound of another hard slap, and then the phone went. She did no more than glance up at me and an embarrassed smile briefly appeared on her face, before she quickly returned her attention to her computer screen. You know, there was something about that little smile that I can’t explain, but I knew that same instant that Cassandra was the one my mother had told me I’d find one day. The woman I was destined to spend the rest of my life with. Yeah well, from that day forth I set about courting Cassandra. The odd visit I paid to that particular. She saw the park before anything else. It hurt more than she had thoughtit would. She looked at the azaleas she had planted and the dogwoods thatwere just losing their blossoms, and there was a sharp pang in the pit ofher stomach."I hope we don't run into anyone I know," she said to Julie, who pattedher arm to comfort her. They continued walking until they reached thefamiliar French doors, and she opened the front door quickly and steppedinside.Inside the apartment, she noticed the empty glass. Then I spent too much time around Charlie Cantrell and got sucked into the bottomless pit that is his caring personality. That was after the break-in.“I’ve seriously never met anyone like you three. You exude happiness and it’s hard not to get caught up in an emotionally driving feeling of wanting to be around you. I’d apologize if I thought it would help, but it won’t.“So, kids, here I am. I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to act, and I don’t even know what to ask so that I’ll know.