this whole thing , after all , is for my benefit . '' i mean-hi , '' i mumbled , sounding like an idiot . `` you 're doing something illegal , are n't you ? '' had i really been alone that long ? no surprise , no questions about how he had found them , no big deal . that i might not be good enough for her brother ? when she begged prettily enough to suit him . a cold hand of fear for him gripped her . jack opens another beer and tops it off with lemon lime soda . 