Chapter 3
AUTUMN in New York, Steve thought, the rusty leaves floating downward, grazing him and swirling about his feet. He eased himself on the bench along-side the path, pulled out the bag of peanuts he had purchased from the old vendor. He took a handful of peanuts and held them out on his flattened palm to tempt a nearby squirrel. He watched the bushy-tailed animal scamper close to his hand, then hesitate.
"That's right," Steve shrugged. "Beware of strangers bearing gifts." He tossed the handful of peanuts a few feet away and the squirrel raced to the feast.
Steve shrugged again. Thinking back a few hours to his encounter with Adele Crandon, he suddenly put himself in the position of the squirrel greedily go-mg to the banquet. But a woman like Adele Crandon doesn't place a sumptuou
