RELUCTANT PRESS

Growing even more mystified, I again complied with his request.

"I do believe I have an idea that might indeed save your little fat ass from prison, Mr. Petti, but only if you are really serious when you say you are willing to do anything to stay out of prison," Mr. Devon observed.

"Oh, my ass is not fat!" I objected, then, "But, yes, I mean it! I really do mean it! I'll do anything at all! Oh, gosh, do you mean it? Do you really see a way out for me?"

"Perhaps," Mr. Devon mused aloud, raising my hopes enormously. "There are a number of things that I have to check out first, and of course, I must discuss my idea with Ms. Brown, as it involves her as well. For the nonce, we will withhold the evidence from the police while I investigate the feasibility of my idea."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you, Mr. Devon! You can count on me! Honest! You won't be sorry! I promise!"

"I want you in this office at eight o'clock sharp tomorrow morning," he said. "And don't think of leaving town, Mr. Petti, because if you are not here on time, we will call the police immediately!"

"Don't you worry, Mr. Devon, I'll be here!"

I left the office with mixed emotions; fear over the fix I was in; hope that Mr. Devon might have a way for me to avoid prison; and curiosity about what his idea might be. There was, after all, still the matter of the embezzled money...

I spent the evening trying to drown myself in scotch at my favorite bar, slept badly, and at eight o'clock sharp the next morning. I knocked on Jacky's office door.

Jacky opened the door and looked at me with a funny little smile on her face.

"Come right in, Mr. Petti, I'm so glad you're on time," she greeted.

I entered the office and was directed to sit in the straight backed chair again.

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