SAMMY WAS IN THE LOBBY WHEN I WENT DOWNSTAIRS AN hour later. His hair was still dusted in granite powder, his eyes were red and swollen, but glazed with passion, or madness.

“Hey, Bobo, you got a minute?” he boomed.

I glanced at my watch. I was expected at Amy’s house at twelve-thirty. It was twelve.

“A few,” I said. “What’s up?” I knew it was a wasted question.

“Come on,” Sammy insisted, heading for the door. “You’re not going to believe it, Bobo. I promise you.”

Lila lit a cigarette from behind the registration desk. She rolled her eyes comically.

I followed Sammy out of the door, across the street and down to Arch’s. Dan Wilder was sweeping the sidewalk in front of his coffee and pastry shop. He waved.

I saw the young girl next to Arch’s, standing in front of the Mountain Guest Inn, which had been closed for two years. She was dressed in a woman’s clothing—a sleeveless, grape-purple dress with fringes of tiny beads, a matching hat with a nest of black netting rolling from the top, and oversize high-heel shoes. She looked childishly cute, yet there was something strange about her: the makeup covering her face was flawlessly applied. Her face was the face of a sensuous woman. She posed boldly for us, her head lifted arrogantly, then she slowly turned back to the window of the Mountain Guest Inn and pretended to read from a menu that was still taped to the glass.

“You better get on home, Trinity, and wash that stuff off your face before your mother shows up,” warned Sammy.

She flicked a haughty look at him.

“All right,” Sammy said. “You know what she’ll do if she finds you like that.” Sammy opened the door and walked inside. I could hear him mumbling.

“What’s that all about?” I asked.

He shook his head in despair. “She lives with her mother down the street—the old Harbin house. One of those single-parent deals. Her mother works for the state, something to do with the environment. Leaves the girl by herself most of the time. It’s all right when school’s in session, I guess, but in the summer, she’s got nothing to do. Pisses me off. I feel sorry for the girl.”

“She’s a beautiful child,” I offered.

Sammy looked out of the window. The girl was standing at the corner of the building, glaring at him, her sensuous face daring him.