“Sure,” he said. He moved across the seat. She took hold of his hand and put it on her naked thigh. She moaned and pressed herself against him. “I couldn’t sleep,” she said. “I just had to find you.”

Then her hands gripped the sides of his face and she said, “I want it.”

“Here?”

She shut her eyes tightly. She started to nod, then shook her head and said, “No, not here on Addison. All these streetlamps—”

“Then drive. We’ll find a place.”

“And park?”

“Some little street where there ain’t no lights.”

“No,” she said. “Not in the car.”

“Where else?”

“Can we go to your room?” And then, before he could answer, “No, we can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“If we’re seen together—”

“You’re right,” he said. “We can’t take that chance.”

“Then where can we go?”

“Let me think—”

“Please think of something,” she said. She moaned and tugged at his arm. “I can’t wait.”

“Don’t get frantic. It ain’t like you gotta go to the bathroom.”

“You’re awful. That’s a messy thing to say.”

“Well, it’s a messy situation,” he said. “Tell you what. We could drive outta town. Find a motel—”

“That takes time. And maybe they’re all filled up.”

“But maybe not. Let’s give it a try.”

“No,” she said. “It’s a long drive. And then we’d just be driving around looking for a vacancy. And I can’t wait.”

“So whaddya want me to do?”

“Take me somewhere. We’ve got to go somewhere. We just can’t stay here. It’s unbearable, just sitting here, and—” she broke it off and sat up straight, as though a sudden thought had come to her.

“Well?” he murmured.

“There’s a house not far from here. It’s one of Grogan’s properties. The people moved out a few days ago. I mean, they were thrown out; they couldn’t pay the rent. And Grogan wouldn’t let them take the furniture. So there’s a bed, and—”

“You got the key?”

“No. But let’s try anyway. Sometimes they leave the door unlocked.”

“All right,” Corey said. “Let’s go.”

As the Oldsmobile pulled away from the curb, Corey Bradford thought, it’s a gamble, and you’re a goddam fool to take this kind of risk, but then on the other hand it’s a calculated risk and there’s fifteen thousand dollars riding on these dice. You see what I mean? Yes, I see what you mean.