Fiddlers

12.

AT 11:05 ON Sunday morning, the Fourth of July, Patricia Gomez rang the doorbell to Ollie’s apartment. She was wearing blue jeans, a white cotton blouse, and red sneakers, and she looked somewhat like a patriotic schoolgirl.

Ollie opened the door.

He honestly didn’t know whether the smile on his face was an anticipatory leer or just a happy welcoming grin.

‘Hey, Patricia,’ he said, ‘come on in.’