She took some paper napkins and cleaned me off, putting the evidence in her purse.“You are pure evil, Lisa!” I said. “I already have started to ...all in love with you, is that OK?”“That’s my plan, Richard. Thomas isn’t gone on a trip to California. He has left me, saying I am too out of control for him. I like things he doesn’t. I hope you can help me, please?”“Anything I can do, just name it, Lisa?”“Move out of your apartment and move in with me. Bring anything you need to. We can write. She turned to me, however, and asked, "Why are you putting up withthis?"Now on the defensive, I found myself trying to justify the situationwithout any real conviction behind my logic, "It seemed like an easyway to get a couple of week's worth of dinners."Her stern expression melted slightly, into an exasperated grin, and sheshook her head. Turning her attention back to Diane, she said, "Goddesshelp me, I hope I don't end up having to justify to Region why I'mallowing this nonsense."An hour. She hated it when people try to answer completely rhetorical questions. “Sam Criederman…Amy’s husband!” “Wow…how did that go?” “We didn’t talk very much. He seems like a nice enough guy; good looking and very smart. I’m afraid you’d like him too much.”, he joked. “He knew of your friendship with Amy and that you were with me, but that was about it. The whole day was wording, numbers and sidebars…not much time for socializing.” “Do you think Amy told him anything?”, Jamie asked. “He sure didn’t. Some building styles looked like old Persian designs."So that's the so called welcoming party, is it?" the centurionmuttered. "Stand-offish bunch! You'd think they'd offer us some help."The party on the docks only watched as the galley gently bumped on thewharf. They made no attempt at all to help in the docking so the captainhad to order two of his crew to jump onto the dock. A rope was thrown toone and he tied the ship's bow to a post while the other crewman tiedthe stern.Still making.