I can't bring myself to cry, although it would probably help with my shot nerves. She releases me and kisses my cheek. Shane wraps his arm protectivel... around her and we all sit. "Have you heard anything? What's going on?" she asks and I stare at a blue tile on the ground. "Apparently, it's a through and through. I didn't know, I didn't look. I didn't plug the other hole," I say, no emotion in my voice, and she grabs my hand. "Jane, don't go there. What else?" "He's in surgery. George should. " Chuck, please understand, I couldn't have told you any of this beforenow. With us surrounded by gangsters, I couldn't take the chance. I amwilling to gamble my own life, but didn't want to put yours at risk anymore than it was already. When I started this mission, I knew nothingabout you. Then that night when you first got in bed with me, all thesememories came into my head." Do you know how insane you sound?" Maybe I'm a little crazy, Chuck. Yes, I suffered a nervous breakdown.Now, I am over. It was a dog, and he acted like he owned the place and I had no business being there. He was a strange looking beast, who looked like there was a Rottweiler in his past, and maybe a Labrador. But there was some kind of terrier in the mix too, because his legs were short. He sounded ferocious, and by the time I got out of the car he was set in a wide four point stance, as if to say, "Come on, stranger. I haven't eaten yet today."Jake came out on the porch."Hey dog!" he yelled.The dog stopped. And yet the more he reflected on it nowadays, herecalled the satin frocks, the rustling taffeta petticoats, lushlipstick and perfume that seemed to immerse him on such occasions andhow once, when a particularly large and distant aunt had picked him upand whisked him off to a small private room at a function, swathing inher pink satin gloves, he had felt an urge deep inside that bristled uphis back as she sat him on her expansive lap and the pink satin frockfrom which her entire body seemed to.