and he refused to be separated from me after that . the negotiations can drag on and then fall apart later on . '' it was important to my family , no one ever asked whether or not it was important to me . for a second , i pretended she was n't my boss 's daughter or my assignment . you out there , guy , beating the hedges to find his property ? '' we drove in silence now , waiting for the phone to ring again . well make good time on the road . 