Flashing lights would not have made a difference. Niles and the two girls stopped right in front of him, while the blonde girl, Gretchen, screamed at...Niles. Angie, the dark haired girl, was crying. Niles swung a slap at Gretchen, which she ducked and counter punched him in the midriff. Pedro had lost enough fights to appreciate the move. Niles, really angry now, was loading a heavy fist when Pedro, to his own total surprise, hit him shoulder to kidneys. The fight got serious for a few seconds.. Someone was bringing a folding table where they'd set up the food and drink. Sandy had brought some candles and a pumpkin and some gourds and a bright orange paper tablecloth. It was going to be fun, cold, but fun! The fire would warm things up a little she suspected.They reached the house and they carried their stuff with them down the long dirt path into the woods. Sandy had never been behind the house before and didn't realize how much land they owned. The path was quite long and the. Joan ran next door. Mr. Ballard was home and called the police."By the time they arrived, your worthless, good-for-nothing father was trying to choke you to death, even though you were unconscious. He was insane! It took two cops to put him down, and they still had to use a taser on him to get it done."Don't be afraid. He's history, and my lawyer says we'll get everything he's been keeping away from us. For all these years."She touched my cheek, and I twitched. It hurt. She looked at my face. ”“Didn’t Mayor Daley die in office?” Elyse asked. “I remember reading that somewhere.”“Yes,” I said. “He was the father of State’s Attorney Daley who ran against Mayor Byrne and then Congressman Washington back in ‘83. I’ll bet you anything that the younger Daley is on the phone to his people starting his campaign for mayor.”“That’s morbid!” Julia protested.“That’s politics!” I opined.The intercom in the conference room buzzed and I hit the button.“Yes?” I said.“There’s a Connie Abbadelli on.