Just before noon I ordered lunch from one of the local restaurants that delivers and had two specials to be sent in at noon, left the money at the cus...tomer service desk and asked that they let me know when they arrived. Straight up noon the meals were delivered, I clocked out and carried the bag back to the break room without comment. I set the bag down on the table and broke out the food; chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, the veggie I had chosen was a tossed salad for each. That was OK; it was a price that Ben had been willing to pay. Up until now, he'd always assumed that Lady Grace wouldn't be there when the end came. He'd tried to persuade her last night to let him go this alone, but she'd been against that in pretty uncertain terms.Lara didn't do anything by halves. It was probably the one main reason that she had survived all the crap she'd put herself through. When she fought, she fought with everything she had. She made love with the same intensity, and she. "She said, "It was truly my pleasure, Bill. Again, despite the situation and rough beginning, I enjoyed myself more than I can remember in a long time. Expect a call." She gave me a quick, light hug and left.Charles came up and said, "She's a remarkable woman. She likes you, Bill." I like the real her, too, Charles." I smiled slightly. "Seriously, what else needs to be done?" We have refugees at the high school gym. The Red Cross is on the way there. We should have cell phones back later today.. “Here y’are.”“Thanks.”Sam walked in and was greeted by a middle-aged man. “You Bunjil?”“Yes.”“I wuz tol’ ter send you ter the Hotel. Downa road, palm trees in front.”“Thank you.”The Mintabie Hotel (and pub and campground and laundromat) proved to be a low, sand-colored block. When he went to the desk to register a cheery woman said: “Oh, Mr. Hollister! Inspector Timmons bin askin’ for you. He’ll be back by one fer lunch.”Sam thanked her, went to his room, and then to the pub, the Goanna Grill,.