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CHAPTER 1

My naator, licensed by the state of California I'm thirty-two years old, twice divorced, no kids The day before yesterday I killed sohs heavily on my mind I'm a nice person and I have a lot of friends My apart in a cramped space I've lived in trailerstoo elaborate for my taste, so now I live in one room, a "bachelorette"

I don't have pets I don't have houseplants I spend a lot of tis behind Aside from the hazards of my profession, ood Killing soh I've already given a statee and then signed I filled out a sie in both docuy oblique, and neither says quite enough

Nikki Fife first cao I occupy one se suite of offices that house the California Fidelity Insurance Company, for whom I once worked Our connection now is rather loose I do a certain nue for two roo theservice to pick up calls when I'm out and I keep my own books I don't earn a lot of money but I make ends meet

I'd been out forby the office to pick upin the corridor outside my office door I'd never really ht years before when she was convicted ofher husband, Laurence, a prominent divorce attorney here in town Nikki was in her late twenties then, with striking white-blonde hair, dark eyes, and flawless skin Her lean face had filled out soh starch content, but she still had the ethereal look that had ruous at the tirown out now to its natural shade, a brown so pale that it appeared nearly colorless She was maybe thirty-five, thirty-six, and the years at the California Institute for Women had left no visible lines

I didn't say anything at first; just opened the door and let her in

"You knoho I am," she said

"I worked for your husband a couple of times”

She studied me carefully "Was that the extent of it?”

I knehat shetried," I said "But if you're asking if I was involved with him personally, the answer is no He wasn't my type No offense Would you like coffee?”

She nodded, relaxing almost imperceptibly I pulled the coffeepot from the bottom of the file cabinet and filled it from the Sparkletts water bottle behind the door I liked it that she didn't protest the trouble I was going to I put in a filter paper and ground coffee and plugged in the pot The gurgling sound was co, like the pump in an aquarium

Nikki sat very still, aled She had no nervous mannerisms, didn't smoke or twist her hair I sat down in my swivel chair