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"What time did you take the check to Merodie’s?" I asked

Cilia hesitated before answering "I honestly don’t recall" Shefro off now"

"Silk" Cilia nearly shouted the naestured for her niece to join us at the table

Silk St Ana was noearing a navy blue one-piece swimsuit under blue shorts; red letters with a white border spelled USA across her chest She was carrying a gold andwith UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS Stamped On it

"Have you met Mr McKenzie?"

"Not formally," Silk said

I offered h to be polite

"My niece, Silk," Cilia said by way of introduction "She’s going to be an Oly champion"

"Aunt Cil," Silk said between gritted teeth "She’s always bragging to people about that," she toldcha"

"We’ll see"

"Mr McKenzie is a private detective," Cilia added It wasn’t true, but I didn’t correct her

"Really? That is so cool"

"It soundsif it was or wasn’t

"Mr McKenzie is helping our investht hed heavily, slu," she adripped Cilia’s shoulder reassuringly "My aunt still thinks I’m four years old," Silk told me "She still thinks I need to be protected from the truth"

"What truth?"

"Who and what my mother is"

"Who and what is that?"

"A selfish drunk"

Silk looked intoto make me feel as uncomfortable as she did

"When did you last see your o I doubt she would even recognize me"

She didn’t so much as blink when she said that, but Cilia sure did

"I’," I said

"Maybe"

"Aren’t you awfully young to be an Olyirl on gold in ‘92 was thirteen She won again in ‘96 and 2000"

"How long have you been diving?"