“To AmyStrange and the possibility
of a half a million dollars. Cheers,”  
she looked at me pointedly, when she   
said that last part. Half a million was
certainly tempting, but the Cat was    
nowhere in sight.                      
     After the toast, everybody stayed 
around for a few more minutes before   
getting their coats and leaving.       
     Pee Wee and Rhonda stayed last.   
Mouse had driven her own cab here, just
in case, and she left just before Pee  
Wee did. Rhonda was getting a ride from
him.                                   
     Rhonda asked Pee Wee to wait,     
because Beth had a coat for her to wear
home.                                  
     “That sweater you were wearing,   
it's cold out.” She handed her a small 
leather jacket, and my Arch loved it.  
* “It's yours if you want it.”             
     She put it on over her hoodie and 
kept thanking her.                     
     “This is mad-cool awesome. Thanks 
Beth,” she said and gave her a hug.    
     That was nice, but all I could    
think about was, what the hell kind of 
parent would let a fourteen-year-old   
out until five in the morning, on a    
Friday night no less?                  
     I put on my happy-you-came face   
and shook Pee Wee’s hand.              
     “Nobody would believe it. You're  
right Crim. No one would believe any of
this. Hell, I don’t believe it, and I  
was here!”                             
     Trying to help one last time,     
“It's a corporation, man. We're just   
contracted out help, or you can call it
an investment in your Company from a   
silent partner. Other than that, we    
have nothing to do with its day by day 
operations.                            



CHAPTER 15: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1st
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