She was never very hot on the idea but she was warming to thepoint where one night she finally said she would do it forme if this is what I really wan...ted her to do.I assured her that there is nothing I wanted more so shesaid ok.Friday night was our anniversary so I decided to go throughwith it. I called her from work and told her that becausethis was our anniversary, that I wanted her to be dressedvery sexily for me when I got home. She said yes, littleknowing that I was going to be bringing. It was a truly sad story, and a little unusual as well; mostly scammers won't strip you bare, they'll at least leave you something to live on (less out of concern for your welfare than keeping the cops away from their doors). This one, though, had been both greedy and clever; there was no proof of criminal behavior. Oh, they might ultimately prevail in a civil suit—provided they could find the guy, who'd disappeared. But not only couldn't they afford the legal fees but any judgment they. He and his dad moved after his mom died, and he’s here on leave from the Marines. I’ve been showing him around and catching up, since he is staying with my parents while he is here.”I saw the hostility leave her face rather quickly, and a little embarrassment take its place. We exchanged pleasantries for about five minutes before Kim and I moved on. “God, I hate to say it but I don’t like her. She is such a gossip, but I bet that will shut her down.”“Well, if she tries now and anybody she talks. . the period in which you were both captives." As I spoke it occurred to me that I had all but accepted Lauren's perception of this event as real — or, at least, real to her. And if it was real to her, I needed to know if it was just as real to this woman, or if her recollections would reveal another facet of this puzzle.Lauren nodded. "That's OK. I'm just happy at the idea of having someone else with us that knows I'm not crazy. But..." She looked away before continuing in a smaller voice,.