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G K said that last part very slowly and very carefully, then sat back in her chair and waited while Merodie worked it over in her head

It took Merodie forty-seven seconds by my watch before she said, "It wasn’t Richard"

G K’s ain, licked her lips, and said, "Let ain" She did, too Slowly Carefully Yet in the end, Merodie’s ansas the same

"It wasn’t Richard"

"But it could have been him," G K blurted

Merodie leaned across the table, her elbows supporting her weight Her voice was like the first frost of autu that wasn’t true, would you, Ms Bonalay? Isn’t that, whaddaya call it, suborning perjury?"

In thatthere that I hadn’t noticed before--raw intelligence Merodie Davies had a plan I just didn’t knohat it was

12

Dark andat the horizon by the time we left Merodie, but they were far too distant to worry about We alking toward our cars on East Main Street

"I don’t knohat to do," G K said

"Merodie isn’t leaving us many options," I said

"I could use a drink McKenzie, would you have dinner with

"I’ no pain," G K said "At least not ood idea"

A look of disappointment flashed across her face I liked the look A wo her down for a date--you bet I liked the look I wished for a moment that Nina Truhler had seen it

"Is it because we’re working together? Because I could fire you"