Nipples erect. That was interesting, but I didn’t have time to think about it. We were interrupted.“Back rub?”I looked up to see Susan standing ...here. I made a point of looking her in the eyes even though I’d seen plenty of her all afternoon and I knew she didn’t mind. She’s told Lee and me so more than once. Niece, daughter, interesting question. Not all that much difference between them in a close family.“Sure, sweetie.”Lee wandered over to talk with Sam and Michael. Then David joined the. ’ I stared at her. ‘Well, in that case,’ I started to turn away. But Johnny caught my arm. ‘Wait a minute, Austin. Don’t go.’ I turned back and as 1 did so a squat man came through the fitting-room door. He was so broad that he seemed to be almost as wide as he was tall. His face was broad and flat, and his eyes protruded a little as if someone had squeezed his neck too tightly. ‘Get out of here.’ He was talking to the girl, his voice so low that it barely reached my ears. I took a step. Then they turned their attention to the prospective customer who'd just left, assuming he passed the medical examination. 'A cage,' suggested Miss Briggs. 'That would be much the easiest way.' 'Hmm,' Mrs Martin replied thoughtfully. Then: 'What's the medically recommended weight loss per week?' Miss Briggs bent over her laptop, her fingers flying over the keys. 'Works out to a pound a day,' she said at last. 'And the minimum recommended area of a cage for a creature his size is 250. He sighed and grabbed a slice of pizza from the fridge.'Chinese food, ' he thought, 'would go nicely with a beer in front of the fire.' Mitch shook his head in regret; that little dream just wasn't in the cards for tonight. He turned on his computer, finishing off the pizza while it booted up. Mitch opened his messenger program, hoping to see his best buddy online. He enjoyed chatting with her and knew she would be good company between trick-or-treaters. Damn, Mitch swore silently, she wasn't.