"No. That was the end. It's been backwards all along. Here we are at the beginning. Let it be the real beginning."
"All right, Jordan."
He stopped pacing, took her hand and smiled artificially. "Good afternoon. May I introduce myself? Jordan Lennox."
"I'm Gabby Valentine."
"What does Gabby stand for?"
"Gabrielle."
"Jordan stands for Junky. That's a hophead ... a lunatic."
"Oh Jord—"
"Shh! I'm introducing myself. I'm a crazy man, Miss Valentine. Unbalanced. That's what makes me a successful writer, they say. Some people don't believe talent is talent unless it's crazy. Do you think so?"
"No," she answered gravely.