He wished he had enough money to get a cab to KKRC. He wasn’t thinking straight and walking really wasn’t helping him order his thoughts.

233

. . . Flick clothing for that snappy look around town, wine and dine at Serento’s. Now back to the show.

232

“I’d just like to quickly say happy birthday to my producer, Tamy, who’s forty today.”

“Thirty.”

“Sorry, thirty. What did I say?”

231

The pharmaceutical CEO said, “That’s my daughter,” to the taxi driver.

“Penny Lock?”

“No, Tamy.”

“Oh,” said the driver, disappointed.

230

“We have a Clara Redlake on line eight. Hi, Clara, what’s your story?”

“I’d like to say that Dr. Frankburg is a fake.”

229

Dan Bronski flagged down a cab and took Beth to the Hotel Monumental.

“Are you listening to this?” said the cabdriver. “I honked my horn, I’m telling you. I honked it like there was no tomorrow.”

Dan told him to keep his eyes on the road.

228

Clara said it was irresponsible for a radio station to parade fakers and charlatans. Where were “Frankburg’s” qualifications? Her credentials? If a station was going to offer advice to vulnerable people the least they should do is make sure they used qualified professionals. She wasn’t surprised this Beth had jumped.

She was cut off.

Although Ali agreed with her.

227

“Line five.”

“This is Stephanie Wiltshire. That was my sister Beth you were talking to. If she hasn’t jumped I’d just like to say to her that I’m sorry for everything and I’m trying to do the right thing now.”

Click.

I always wanted to be on the radio.

226

Edward the Fireman heard me. He doubted my ability to do the right thing. Only Edward could do the right thing and thought I was stealing his thunder. He thought the Wiltshire sisters were getting too much airtime.

225

Beth heard me. The cabby turned the radio off in disgust, said it was easy for the broad to say that now.

Beth agreed with him.

224

John Heron’s cab pulled up outside KKRC. John didn’t have enough money to pay him. He entertained the cabby with his collapsible wand instead. The cabby laughed and let him off $3.50. John always knew he shouldn’t have abandoned magic.

223

Beth and Dan’s cab dropped them at the door of the Hotel Monumental. Dan checked them in. Beth requested a room with a view. The receptionist said they all had views, it depended on what sort you wanted. Beth said just put her high up.

222

The receptionist had mentioned to the manager that a female customer had told her that morning that her nights would never be as comfortable again. The manager thought about putting the quote on the Monumental’s printed notepaper.

221

Line sixteen. “I’d like to agree with the caller who said that Dr. Frankburg was a fake. I’ve got You Too Can Fly and so has my sister and the voice on that is nothing like the one you’ve got in the studio.”