" Please," Jeff nodded. "I'm holding... Harlan." Lemme help," Grandma started digging for the meat of the matter; the housedress hadn't taken long to ...et out of."Jimmy Lee is a piece of work," I grunted. "You might think I'm bad, but at least I haven't lied to you, repeatedly..." I shook my head at the shocked looks the pair of women gave me, then turned to Jeff. "You got this?" Yeah." I think you've got something here. We don't have a whole lot of time, so don't go nuts testing..."The look on. It was Madeline Albright, the owner of La Petite, one of our town'smore exclusive boutiques. (Actually, it's our only boutique.) It wasthe only place in three hundred miles that one could actually purchasea Versace, a Gucci, or a Scarvelli. Julia had spent a lot of Bradford'smoney there, buying high-fashion costumes and accessories before thebastard killed her. Over time, Julia came to own several of eachdesigner's gowns and the shoes, purses, and jewelry, all in diamondsand gold, to match. In. Ran a length of rope under the chair. Tied my ankles tightly. Pulled the other end so that my feet were brought under the chair, heels pulled way up. I tied off the rope on the back of the chair. The back of the chair has seven poles going up down inside of the frame.I knotted a white scarf and cleave-gagged myself. Very tight, the know inside of my mouth, past my teeth. I took another white scarf and made an over-the-mouth-gag. Mad the knots tight so that it pushed against my face,. Alone with my thoughts. A continent away is where you lie. Maybe in your bed too. Maybe in the dark. Maybe alone. Maybe a door separating you from the sound of someone else breathing. Or maybe just alone. It may as well be a continent, even when I am not away. Dark. And alone. Alone with my thoughts. I reach down beneath the covers and find myself. Soft. I touch my flaccid self and I am cold. And alone. It is warm in the room, but I feel cold. And soft. I touch myself and try to warm myself. I.