i thought you might say no and rub my face in it . '' she was searching the contents of her purse for some lip-gloss . `` hey you , '' i say when he picks up . he 'd find that out in another minute , two tops . his hair was black and fell in soft , thick waves around his white face . he turned to v-14 , and all the time he could feel the picture out there in the hall , pushing at the back of his head . `` what , precisely , did the caller say ? '' 