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le professional distance was necessary。 She had already been in contact with the Hospital this morning； she said； and they had informed her that Dempsey had a collar and quilt with him。 Did Todd want these items returned； or were they to be cremated with his pet？
〃They were his；〃 Todd said； 〃so they should go with him。〃
〃Fine。〃 said Rosalie。 〃Then the only other question is the matter of the urn。 We have three varieties…〃
〃Just the best you've got。〃
〃That would be our Bronze Grecian Style。〃
〃That sounds fine。〃
〃All I need now is your credit card number。〃
〃I'll pass you back to my assistant。 He can help you with all that。〃
〃Just one other question？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Are you。。。the Todd Pickett？〃
Yes； of course； he was the real Todd Pickett。 But he didn't feel like the real thing； more like a badly bruised lookalike。 Things like this didn't happen to the real Todd Pickett。 He had a way with life that always made it show the bright side。
He went back to sleep until noon then got up and ate some lunch； his body aching as though he was catching a heavy dose of the flu。 His food unfinished he sat in the breakfast nook； staring blankly at the potted plants artfully arranged on the patio； plants he'd never persuaded Dempsey not to cock his leg against every time he passed。
〃I'm going back to bed；〃 he told Marco。
〃You don't want to put a holding call into Maxine？ She's called nine times this morning。 She says she has news about a foreign buyer for Warrior。〃
〃Did you tell her what happened to Dempsey？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What did she say？〃
〃She said： oh。 Then she went back to talking about the buyer。〃
Todd sighed； defeated by the woman's inprehension。 〃Maybe it's time I got out of this fucking business；〃 he said to Marco。 〃I don't have the balls for it any longer。 Or the energy。〃
Marco put up no protest at this。 He hated everything about the business； except Todd； and always had。 〃Why don't we go down to Key West like we always promised ourselves？ Open a bar。 Get fat and drunk…〃
〃…and die of heart attacks at fifty。〃
〃You're feeling morbid right now。〃
〃A little。〃
〃Well it won't last forever。 And one of these days； we'll have to honour Dempsey and get another dog。〃
〃That wouldn't be honouring him； that'd be replacing him。 And he was irreplaceable。 You know why？〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because he was there when I was nobody。〃
〃You were pups together。〃
This got a smile out of Todd； the first in forty…eight hours。 〃Yeah。。。〃 he said； his voice close to breaking again。 〃We were pups together。〃 He tried to hold back the tears； but they came anyway。 〃What is wrong with me？〃 he said。 〃He was a dog。 I mean。。e on。 Tell me honestly； do you think Tom Cruise cries for a day if one of his dogs dies？〃
〃I don't think he's got dogs。〃
〃Or Brad Pitt？〃
〃I don't know。 Ask 'em。 Next time you see 'em； ask 'em。〃
〃Oh sure； that's going to make a dandy little scene。 Todd Pickett and Brad Pitt： 'Tell me； Brad； when your dog died did you wail like a girl for two days？'〃
Now it was Marco who laughed。 〃Wail like a girl？〃
〃That's how I feel。 I feel like I'm in the middle of some stupid weepie。〃
〃Maybe you should call Wilhemina over and fuck her。〃
〃Wilhemina doesn't do fucks。 She does lovemaking with candles and a lot of wash…clothes。 I swear she drinks I'm going to give her something。〃
〃Fleas？〃
〃Yeah。 Fleas。 You know； as a last act of rebellion on behalf of Dempsey and myself I'd like to give fleas to Wilhemina； Maxine and…〃
〃Gary Eppstadt。〃
Both men were laughing now； curing the hurt the only way it could be cured； by being included in the nature of things。
Speaking of inclusion； he got a call from his mother； about six o'clock。 She was at home in Cambridge Massachusetts； but sounded ready to jump the first plane and e visit。 She was in one of her 'I've a funny feeling' moods。
〃What's going on？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃Yes there is。〃
She was inevitably right； she could predict with startling accuracy the times she needed to call her famous son and the times when she should keep her distance。 Sometimes he could lie to her； and get away with it。 But today wasn't one of those days。 What was the point？
〃Dempsey's dead。〃
〃That old mutt of yours。〃
〃He was not an old mutt and if you talk about him like that then this conversation ends right here。〃
〃How old was he？〃 Patricia asked。
〃Eleven； going on twelve。〃
〃That's a decent age。〃
〃Not for a dog like him。〃
〃What kind of dog would that be？〃
〃You know…〃
〃A mutt。 Mutt's always live longer than thoroughbreds。 That's a fact of life
〃Well； mine didn't。〃
〃Too much rich food。 You used to spoil that dog…〃
〃Is there anything else you want besides lecturing me about how I killed my dog with kindness？〃
〃No。 I was just wanting to chat； but obviously you're in no mood to chat。〃
〃I loved Dempsey； Mom。 You understand what I'm saying？〃
〃If you don't mind me observing something…〃
〃Could I stop you？〃
〃…it's sad that the only serious relationship you've had is with a dog。 It's time you grew up； Todd。 You're not getting any younger； you know。 You think about the way your father aged。〃
〃I don't want to talk about this right now； okay。〃
〃Listen to me。〃
〃Mom。 I don't…〃
〃You've got his genes； so listen for once will you？ He was a good…looking man your father； till he was about thirty…four； thirty…five。 Now granted he didn't take care of himself and you do…I mean he smoked and he drank a lot more than was good for him。 But his looks went practically overnight。〃
〃Overnight？ That's is ridiculous。 Nobody's looks go…〃
〃All right； it wasn't overnight。 But I was there。 I saw。 Believe me； it was quick。 Five； six months and all his looks had gone。〃
Even though this was an absurd exaggeration； there was an element of truth in what Patricia Pickett was saying。 Todd's father had indeed lost his looks with remarkable speed。 It would not have been the kind of thing a son would have noticed； necessarily； but Todd had a second point…of…view on his father's sudden deterioration： his best friend Danny had been raised by a single mother who'd several times made her feelings for Merrick Pickett known to her son。 The rumors had reached Todd； of course。 Indeed they'd bee practically weekly reports； as Danny's mother's plans to seduce the unwitting subject of her desires were laid （and failed） and re…laid。
All this came back to Todd as his mother went on chatting。 Eventually； he said； 〃Mom； I've got to go。 I've got to make some decisions about the cremation。〃
〃Oh； Lord； I hope you're keeping this quiet。 The media would have a party with this： you and your dog。〃
〃Well all the more reason for you to clam up about it；〃 he warned。 〃If anybody calls； saying they want a quote。〃
〃I know nothing。〃
〃You know nothing。〃
〃I know the routine by now； honey。 Don't worry； your secret's safe with me。〃
〃Don't even tell the neighbours。〃
〃Fine！ I won't。〃
〃Bye； Mom。〃
〃I'm sorry about Brewster。〃
〃Dempsey。〃
〃Whatever。〃
It was true； when Todd gave the subject some serious thought： Merrick Pickett had indee