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"I’m fine Honestly," Leslie said "But thank you so much for your concern" She saw the pub door open and Joe walk in He was scanning the rooht reflect off his hair Light, but not as blond as Matt’s No, he was darker His eyes were a quicksilver shade between blue and green Matt’s had been such a piercing color; they had seeo

What the hell was she doing?

He strode over the table, see to note without surprise that Eileen was there, too, before he reached them Leslie quickly introduced Joe to Nikki and Ada them warily, and that he would remain wary until he had spent more tilad to see you" She tried to be casual, but her voice was anxious

Joe looked unhappy Leslie kneas desperately wishing he had soh she wouldn’t coressing She tilted her head questioningly, and there was so ," Joe said softly

"Really? Can you co?" she asked him

He hesitated

Adaht, and we’ll be with her toested

"Right here," Eileen said She smiled self-consciously "This place is my comfort zone And it’s the only pub I know that opens for breakfast Good business, though, with everyone orks don"

Joe slid into the booth next to Leslie She could feel the tension in his body

"What is it?" she asked

He shook his head, forcing a sreat to ists, too?"

"Historian," Adahost tours in New Orleans," Nikki said

"Ghost tours?" Joe said "Interesting How’s the city doing? I’ve heard a lot of people still haven’t moved back"

Joe, Leslie realized, intended to talk about anything but as going on Eileen Bridesatching hilad not to be discussing matters that tore at her heart

Joe, however casual he pretended to be, re the door

"Are we being joined by anyone else?" he asked Leslie at one point

She shook her head

"Your work buddies are elsewhere?"

"Brad and I finished in the basement, and I don’t knohere anyone went after that Actually, I was in a hurry to leave Nikki and Adaave hiet soh he didn’t seem to be much happier He went on to ask Adam if he was also froinia called Harrison Investigations," Eileen inserted

Leslie fought hard to keep her eyebrows fro up Did Eileen know exactly what Adaations?" Joe asked

Leslie lowered her head, s to know Joe By to about Ada ended They waited on the sideith Eileen while her driver brought the car around, and then they started walking back to Hastings House Leslie pulled back a bit, linking her ar on?" she asked him

He looked down at her "Tell inia"

"What?"

"Virginia When you orking down there You left New York City after you were released froinia Were you working with Lay?"

"Yes It was Laymon’s project He approached Brad, and Brad approached , Joe?"

"The as intense?"

"We worked fairly intensely, yes, but it was that kind of dig, a round, an old churchyard We made all kinds of finds Civil War weapons and bullets, canteens…and Revolutionary artifacts, as well It was slow-going, because there were so h Which we’ll find here, too, but--"

"Did you take days off?"

"Of course No one works endlessly"

"Did you have weekends off?"

"Depending on as going on Joe, please, what are you getting at?"

They had reached the house; Ada politely ahead on the sidewalk

"You can say anything in front of theovernh our problems"