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He giggles Cooper, who never giggles

"But Heather," I hear Nicole protest "You told me Cooper did call--"

"Shut up, Nicole," I snap Her eyes widen with hurt feelings, but I’ her brother’s wrists for rope burns, thinking helike that at his own joke I don’t notice anything unusual, however Just his poor, battered, gorgeous face

"Have I told you lately howirl in the world" It’s hard to ist is there

"Oh h "Screw the drinks What’s he on? I want soirls, I think it’s tiet Cooper to bed"

Nicole is still looking hurt "But he’s our brother We want to help"

"No need I’ve got hi forward fro He crosses toward us with sofor this: he’s known all along that Cooper was hurt, and hadn’t told hted to see hiht now than me, old friend," Hal says, and bends down to lifta child Then he begins to carry Cooper up the stairs--not without so on Cooper’s part, as his cracked ribs are pressed the wrong way, and soe as Hal is, Cooper isn’t exactly a suy

"What floor, Heather?" Hal asks, his voice strained

"Second is fine," I say, though Cooper has been spending all his tied It would serve both of theo up another floor "There’s a bedroo a little

Nicole and Jessica stand at the botto their necks to watch Hal carry their brother up the steps It’s an iht, and for once the two of them have been stunned into blessed silence

Sammy the Schnozz,forms from the pocket of his khaki pants and hands them to etically "It’s a silish that means he has a broken ankle A broken rib too His face is just bruised He should be fine in ti, I swear"

"What really happened to him?" I demand "I knoasn’t a car accident, Sa a case of insurance fraud, either"

Salances at Nicole and Jessica "Uh Yeah I better let hiot an appointoes on rapidly, perhaps after seeing my face "Until then he’s supposed to rest and take aceta? Who knew? There’s a prescription for soood at the hospital He’ll probably need to take more later Oh, and there’s a prescription for crutches too You’ll need to pick some up for him They were out of them at the hospital They said there’s a twenty-four-hour medical supply place over in Chelsea"