"I hear you paid Gilbert off. On a loan you took on this place. How could you take a loan on the Lily? It's been in your family for ages."

"Don't give me that sentimental crap. You don't believe it." "Where did you get the money?" "Maybe you shouldn't be so nosy. Maybe nosiness could be bad for your health." He was talking surly and tough but not meaning what he said. "You've been acting strange lately." "I was in love." "That wasn't it. What happened to that, anyway? I hear Sue disappeared. Gilbert says you did her in." "Did what? I was over to her place today." "You see her?"

"No. The door guard said she wasn't home. Which means she didn't want to see me. Probably had somebody else up there."

"Maybe it meant she wasn't home." Shed snorted. "I told you I don't want to talk about her anymore. Understand?"

"Sure. Tell me where you got the money." Shed glared. "Why?"

"Because if there's more, I want a chunk. I don't want to spend my life in the Buskin. I'll do whatever it takes to get out."

Shed smirked.

She misunderstood. "This job is just to keep body and sou] together till I find something."

"A million people have thought that, Lisa. And they've frozen to death in Buskin alleys."

"Some make it. I don't intend to fail. Where did you get the money, Mr. Shed?" She went for a bottle of the good wine. Vaguely, Shed thought it must be about gone. He told her about his silent partner. "That's a crock. I've been here long enough to know that."

"Better believe it, girl." He giggled. "You keep pushing and you're liable to meet him. You won't like him, I guarantee." He recalled the tall creature telling him to hurry back.

"What happened to Sue?"

Shed tried to rise. His limbs were limp. He fell back into his seat. "I'm drunk. Drunker than I thought. Getting out of shape." Lisa nodded gravely. "I loved her. I really loved her. She shouldn't ought to have done that. I would have treated her like a queen. Would have gone into hell for her. Almost did." He chuckled. "Went in with her. . . . Oops.''

"Would you do that for me, Mr. Shed?" "What?"

"You're always trying to get me. What's it worth?" Shed leered. "Don't know. Can't tell till I've tried you."

"You don't have anything to give me, old man."

"Know where to get it, though."

"Where?"

Shed just sat there grinning, a bit of drool trailing from one corner of his mouth.

"I give up. You win. Come on. I'll help you get up the stairs before I go home."

The climb was an epic. Shed was one drink short of passing out. When they reached his room, he just toppled into bed.

"Thanks," he mumbled. "What're you doing?"

"You have to get undressed."

"Guess so." He made no effort to help. "What're you doing now? Why're you grabbing me like that?"