Finally, they peered into each other's eyes.Still holding and looking at Bob, Ellen said to Kathy, "Kathy, you said something about sneaking up on thi...? I'm still nervous. Have something in mind?"Rising from her seat, Kathy said, "Sit down, please, both of you. Kathy went down the hall and returned almost immediately with a great quantity of bedding. Setting the stack on the floor, she proceeded to unfold a down sleeping bag, positioning it wide-open and perpendicular to the sofa. Sandy knelt. I muttered for him to excuse us and dragged her away by her elbow. Once we found a spot where not too many people were mingling, I rasped, “How do you know Jason Steeler?”. I couldn’t tell if I was angry, upset, happy, or distressed. She frowned and tapped her chin, holding her glass in her palm facing the ceiling between her index and middle finger. “Oh, Jason! Why, do you know him?” “How do you know him, Mary?” I asked more loudly, becoming frustrated. I thought I was finished with this. . ” He paused for a moment. “You wanna come?”She hesitated, wanting more than anything to agree, but scared to do so. The grass tickled her feet as she shuffled them nervously, and she felt the turmoil in her heart calm. “Sure, I’m a little hungry.”Looking almost surprised, he said, “Cool. I’ll buy the Subway,” and gestured for her to walk at his side.Brina fell in beside him, unconsciously willing him to drape an arm over her shoulder, or reach out for her hand as they walked.**Xantina opened. The plan was sound, but I knew it wasn’t foolproof. There were still a thousand unforeseen hiccups that could upset it. Still, if all went well the night would end with me satisfied and the girl dead. A ripple of pleasure ran through me in anticipation. I still didn’t know her name, nor did I care to. She was young and pretty and she lived alone. That was all I needed to know. I first saw her at a Dairy Queen in Portland. It had been June, the beginning of one of the hottest summers Oregon had.