09/02/2026 01:21

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There was a rustling as the phone changed hands, then Ki was there. And the old-timers? Most of themprobably knew what I knew: that Royce Merrill had been murdered. I went into the living room instead, shortwhiskey, and sat down in front of the T. People like Royce Merrill? Royce might be one, he agreed, but he wouldn't be the only one.

There is something relentless about it that scares me. Her music had lived. I loved that song, and had always wondered how it would have soundedcoming out of a woman's mouth instead of from that whiskey-voiced oldtroubadour. This was the night before I finally flew back to Maine, and I washalf-past sober, going on drunk.