"Go on home and wait for me," I said soothingly. She put her thumb up. Then she nodded and slipped past me into the hall. She touched my cheek with her fingers as she went by. "You'll take care of Carmen, won't you?" she cooed. "Check." "You're cute." "What you see is nothing," I said. "I've got a Bali dancing girl tattooed on my right thigh." Her eyes rounded. She said: "Naughty," and wagged a finger at me. Then she whispered: "Can I have my gun?" "Not now. Later. I'll bring it to you." She grabbed me suddenly around the neck and kissed me on the mouth. "I like you," she said. "Carmen likes
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