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"I only read books about serial killers"

"Figures," Nick said

"Who would have thought you'd have made a successful career as a writer? You know, the day I heard you'd quit Harte Investto ruin his life and break his grandfather's heart'"

"We all survived, interestingly enough Mrs Stiles, I wondered if I could ask you a few questions"

"You're trying to find that hed "Of course you can ask me some questions, but if what I've heard is true, I' your time"

"Why is that?"

She lowered her voice "Well, dear, as everyone knows, the htwell"

"Funny you shouldand I'ht maybe you could tell me"

"You want to knoho started it?" Betty asked incredulously

"That's right"

"But why does it matter, dear? I mean, it's perfectly obvious when you think about it that Miss Brightwell is the person most likely to be the thief"

"It's not obvious to me," Nick said

"Oh" Betty see look and patted his arm "Well, I suppose it's understandable that you would want to think the best of her under the circumstances But for what it's worth, irlfriend"

Nick s a real private eye, he decided, was that so your te Betty Stiles that she was an interfering busybody

"I don't plan to take your advice, Mrs Stiles So that leaves me with no choice except to find the real thief"

"But if Miss Brightwell took the picture--"

"Octavia didn't take it"

She made a tut-tut sound "You seem very sure of that"

"I'm sure, Mrs Stiles"

"Really, Nicholas, I wouldn't have thought that you were the type to be so easily taken in by a woht you were too s your pardon?"

"Isn't it obvious? Whoever started the ru"

"But that's ridiculous"

"Where did you hear it first, Mrs Stiles?"

Betty drew herself up with great dignity "I heard it right here at the beauty shop"