Grover was silent for a long while and then he reached into the glove compartment of the car and brought out a silver flask.
"Here," he said, thrusting it at her. "I think you probably need some of this. It's the best brandy available." Sandy took the flask and opened it. She placed it to her trembling lips and took a long gulp of it. The first swallow burned her throat, but the warmth of it spread throughout her system. Thinking she would gain some measure of self-assurance from the golden liquid, she tilted the flask several more times and each time felt somewhat more able to cope with whatever might come.
"'At-a-girl," said Jackson, reaching over and taking the flask back when she had finished. He put it to his gross lips and let the rest of the brandy gurgle noisily down his throat.
