He thought he would show up in L.A., play a couple of chords and hit the big time. Didn't work out that way."She laughed mirthlessly."It turns out he ...asn't even the best guitarist in our building let alone L.A.," she added. "But my parents let me make my own decisions. They would point out decisions they thought might lead to consequences I didn't anticipate but they didn't insist I change my mind. So, here I am." See that is how my parents were, too," Allie said. "I mean, my real parents. I. " I can and I will. Either you play ball and give up the little slut that you seem so captivated by, or I'll tell the world all about you and your disgusting appetites. I'll tell them about the things you do to the young men in your congregation, to the young girls in the towns you visit. I'll tell them about the d**gs and the parties, about the infidelity and the sin... I'll tell them everything. I'll ruin you." She paused, letting the full weight of her threat sink in. His lawyer was. "That's so mean," she sighed. "My father won't let me see anybody young," Are you so in need?" I asked, enjoying her smell."Go away," she squeaked. "You're dirty, ragged and unshaven. Get away. And you smell. How rude!" She sniffed and closed the door.I pushed it open and stepped in beside her, putting my musket to rest against the wall. I held her at the hips and pulled her belly against mine. She was a lean and brave beauty. "Suppose," I said, our lips an inch or so apart, "suppose I bathe. There was a sad aura about her that stood in marked contrast to the effervescent Allie I'd known so many years ago."What time do you finish?" I wanted to know."I'm done at five," she said, sounding decidedly unenthusiastic.I looked at Mike. "What do you think?" I asked him. "Wanna hang around in the area till then?" Fine by me." We'll see you at five, Allie." She nodded, still looking mortified, then ran off to wait on another table."What do you think happened to her?" wondered Mike the instant.