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leg.'
    'You've
got
to be kidding?'
    'I'm afraid it's true.'
    '
When
did this happen?'
    'A few days ago. But not to worry, Michael took over your case.
You'll be happy with Michael, he is most capable.'
    Lissa stood up. 'I always deal with Quincy,' she said tightly. 'This
could've waited if I'd known he wasn't available.'
    'My fault,' Mai Lee said, now taking full responsibility. 'I was
supposed to explain. You see, Quincy didn't seem to think you would
want
to wait.'
    Lissa wondered how much Mai Lee knew. This was so embarrassing, she
could see the headlines now -
    LISSA ROMAN CATCHES ANOTHER
CHEATING
HUSBAND
    'Oh, God!' She sighed, realizing there was nothing she could do at
this late stage. 'I suppose I'll have to see Michael. Where is he?'
    'Sorry,' Mai Lee said apologetically. 'He's out of the office right
now.'
    This was ridiculous. She'd driven all the way out to the valley, and
now she was getting a run-around. 'Are you telling me that you expect
me to sit here and wait?' she said sharply. It wasn't often she played
the star, but one perk of star treatment was never having to wait.
    'He'll be back soon,' Mai Lee volunteered. 'Very soon.'
    'Unbelievable!' Lissa muttered irritably. 'I drove over here
especially.'
    'There's plenty of magazines,' Mai Lee offered soothingly. 'Why
don't you sit down and relax?'
    Why don't
you
shove it up your ass
? Lissa wanted
to say, but she didn't. That would have been mean and petty, and one
thing she was always careful about was preserving a good public image.
    I'm nervous
, she thought.
I'm nervous because even
though I know for sure that Gregg's screwing around, it's still
difficult to deal with
. At least Quincy - big, black, comfortable
Quincy - would have held her hand and said, 'Listen, this is something
you're not gonna want to hear, but these are the facts.'
    Now she had to hear it from a stranger.
    Well, not exactly a stranger, Quincy had often mentioned his
partner's name. 'My friend, Michael,' he'd always say. 'You should've
seen us when we were detectives together in New York. Michael got shot,
nearly bought it. You'll like him. He's one of the good guys.'
    And yet, over the years, she'd never met him.
    She sat down, picked up a magazine and flipped the pages
impatiently, until suddenly the door was pushed open and a tall man
strode in.
    'Michael,' Mai Lee said, jumping up, 'Ms Roman is here.'
    He walked right over to her. 'Sorry to have kept you waiting,' he
said. 'Quincy insisted I shouldn't make you wait, but it was
unavoidable. I'm really sorry,' he added, giving her a long, sincere
stare.
    He had the blackest eyes she'd ever seen, thick jet hair, and dark
olive skin - with a two-day stubble. He was handsome, with a dangerous
edge - an irresistible combination.
    So this is Michael Scorsinni
, she thought.
Quincy
never told me he looked like a movie star - only better
.
    'Uh… hi,' she said, and wondered if this might turn out to be easier
than she'd thought.

Chapter Four
     
    'How's everything?' Eric Vernon said, sliding onto a bar stool next
to
Arliss Shepherd.
    Arliss bobbed his head several times. Eric Vernon made him fidgety,
he couldn't figure out what the man was after. No one kept on buying
drinks unless they were after
something
.
    'Another beer?' Eric offered.
    Arliss bobbed his head again. Rule one. Never turn down a free
drink, even though he still had a half-full bottle clutched in his hand.
    'Pattie,' Eric said, snapping his fingers to attract the attention
of a half-clad woman with a lopsided boob job, who toiled behind the
scuffed wooden bar. 'Another bottle for my friend.' He patted Arliss on
the shoulder. 'Been thinking about you,' he said.
    'You have?' Arliss replied, stifling a fast-rising burp.
    'I was remembering that conversation we had the other night.'
    Arliss scratched his head. If the conversation wasn't about tits and
ass, he did not retain it.
    'Yes,' Eric continued, thinking that Arliss Shepherd smelled like a
Mexican meal left out in the