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"Supporting a worthy cause How ’bout you?"

"You’re being flip"

"It’s one of my hobbies Why are you here?"

Donovan chuckled

"Supporting a worthy cause," he said

"And so"

"I apologize," Donovan said "To you and your date" He , I’ his hand

"Ms Truhler, if I seemed rude earlier it is because the matter we discussed this afternoon with Mr McKenzie is quite important to me, to us, and when I found him here I panicked a little"

"Who is we and what matter did you discuss?" Nina asked

"You don’tHe didn’tOf course not" Donovan pivoted toward ht--one of those guys who couldn’t s without an instruction manual

I said, "I haven’t discussed our business with Ms Truhler, but, please, feel free"

He nodded His sht and I realized it had been a test The sonuvabitch had been testing ain

Donovan bowed his head toward Nina and said, "A pleasure to havea favor for hiunpoint"

"Who, then?"

I turnedat the sa to the same woman

"Mac?"

"I can’t say," I answered absently

Nina followed iveI need to do" I handed et You proht line to where Lindsey sat The woman in the spider outfit said, "That’s not even the half of it--"

"Excuse me," I said and offered Lindsey my hand "Mrs Barrett Would you care to dance?"

"Mr McKenzie," she said "I would be delighted Please excuse me, Evelyn"

Evelyn didn’t seem even remotely happy to have been interrupted, but said, "Of course," just the same