Yes, I know that was art, and it was more than a decade and a half ago, but her naked form still aroused my imagination. It aroused my desire, which w...s already in a state of shock and awe. How does she compress time, to make me feel four dates in the space of a few hours on what is really our first date? How does she make time move as she wills it? She turns a closet into a root cellar, the inside of a closet into a farm house from a century earlier? How does she make time stand still, a three. You’re right, though. Let’s initiate the place.’ When we arrived, a police cruiser with its light flashing was parked in front of the house, directly behind a late model sedan. ‘That’s my asshole husband’s car,’ Ruthie said, pointing at the sedan. ‘His and mine, according to Jim Howell. I’m glad we came here yesterday and got to the money before he did. What do you think the police are doing here? Arresting him, maybe?’ We all got out of the truck and, as if in response to Ruthie’s question,. ” He got in his new Lexus and drove away. I finished the clipping and put the tools away. The girl stood waiting in her walking shorts and tailored shirt, looking very preppy and very pretty, her ponytail tied back with a colorful scarf. “Get in on the driver’s side,” I told her. She did and I had her adjust the seat and buckle her seat belt. “Now fix all three mirrors so you can see. You should check all three now and then, like every minute or so, don’t want any surprises. If you have to. We must not make a mistake. Ready? One ... Two ... and Three!”Tariq pulled the sheet off like a magician. Shortness of breath, an erratic pumping of his heart, and a profound nausea touched him. He then dropped like a puppet. He awoke from his fainting as Shrika dripped ice water over his face.“What happened?”“You fainted, my holiness.”“Get the disinfectant. I want this place smelling like roses, but don’t spray the body.”“But that’s the part that smells.”“Just do as I say.”Shrika disinfected.