2

THURSDAY, 6:15 P.M.

“It’s time,” he breathed. “Are you ready?”

An anxious longing twisted inside the listener. “I’m ready. I’ve waited a long time for this. But why now?”

“Doesn’t matter why now.” Then he laughed and rhymed, “I’ve missed the game, it’s time to play, I have the name, you pick the day.”

“What are the names?”

“Leslie Stanton and Kelly Popour.”

He reeled off the street addresses. “Call me when it’s done.”