Then the lessons began - haircare and deportment first, and thenskincare and makeup when I had begun to heal. That was a gradualprocess but when it w...as over the transformation was amazing. I wasindeed, a very attractive woman. I ought to be, we had the funding todo things right. Now it was up to me.My cover story gave some protection. I was a village girl from the edgeof the desert in Eastern Algeria. I had learned French and some Englishfrom the local school, but otherwise I had little. As they walked through the door Pete could see Janice lying in the back of the van, and panic hit him just seconds before Jim did. A quick, but effective blow from the cue stick to the back of the neck had Pete out like a used light bulb. Soon he was lying unconscious next to Janice in the back of the van.With a two-hour ride to the old summer cottage that Janice inherited, Jim knew that both Janice and Pete would wake before the trip could be completed, and instructed Valerie to use the. The 49 runs the territory. We have an understanding.”“They are hispanic ... How do you know them?”“You know some gang things too.” She smiled at that. “Actually, they are pretty open. I know a few of the bosses from my disreputable past. Lawyers always do. You know, we don’t pick our clients ... except they are always in trouble.”That got a delightful laugh. I say it with sincerity because it is true.After that we talked space and costs, the new place was bigger and $100 a month less. I told. As the police car drove off I saw the cup of change the second man hadleft. I counted out $3.85 and went into the restaurant. They almostdidn't let me in until I showed them that I had some money. I stoppedinto the ladies room to wash up. Even with my blurred vision, I wasn'thappy to see the face in the mirror. I might have been pretty many yearsago, but this face looked hard. I had a long scar on my left check, myskin had been exposed to to much sun, cold sores surrounded my mouth, mynose had.