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"I feel guilty for taking up so much of your day," Chloe said as she walked beside him toward his car

"I’m sure we can think of a way for you to repay estive Chloe glanced over and caught hiht that be?" Her voice was cool

Jake laughed "Nothing gets past you, does it? All I meant was that you can let me take you to dinner Preferably soon"

"Hmm" She was very sure that wasn’t what he’d meant

"Not that I won’t be happy to cooperate if you have so friendlier in mind," he said

"I’ll let you knohen I do," she murmured

"You do that Here we are" Jake touched the button on his key chain, and the brake lights flashed on a black Porsche

He opened the passenger door and Chloe slid into the seat, fastening her seat belt He rounded the hood of the car and stowed her briefcase before he got in

Chloe ran her hand over the soft leather upholstery and eyed the panel of gauges on the dashboard "Nice car"

"Thanks I like it" The engine turned over with a throaty grohen he twisted the ignition key He shifted into gear and backed out of the parking space

"Did I mention I drive a Volvo?" she asked mildly

"No" He looked at her and s how fast I drive, I never race on city streets or the freeway"

"Good to know"

He watched the black Porsche’s taillights blink red when the car slowed at the exit before pulling out into traffic

He no longer wondered whether the connection between Morrissey and the lady professor was is went, but he’d observed Jake Morrissey with other women This one was different

Excellent

It was time to set in motion the next phase of his plan Just as Morrissey had been responsible for the death of his son, so would he be responsible for the death of Chloe Abbott Morrissey Demolition’s current job site was located southeast of don Seattle in a rural area The sazine was padlocked and enclosed inside chain-link fencing, along with the huge earth-hway contractor

He knew exactly how to bypass the alarazine that held the company’s supply of dynamite All the equipment required was a small bolt cutter and wire cutters He didn’t need to steal more than one stick of dynae he craved

He s Chloe Abbott and Liberty Hall’s bell tower blowing sky-high

It was almost too easy

Four

"There’s Gray" Jake pointed at a booth near the back of the restaurant He dropped his hand to her waist to gently urge Chloe ahead of him and they made their way to the rear of the room

The man who rose towere the opposite With tawny hair and brown eyes, Gray was lean where Jake was burly Jake introduced Chloe and she slid into the booth, studying the two men while they talked

"I ordered coffee for us"

"No doughnuts?" Jake said

"No, but since you’re buying, I’ht-course meal for four"

"It’s too late for lunch and too early for dinner," Jake pointed out

"I’ll ask for a doggie bag"

"Yeah, right"

The waitress interrupted the coffee into their cups

"So, Chloe" Gray shifted his focus when she’d left "Jake tellsyou?"

"I haven’t exactly had a probleht have a problear into her coffee, looking up in tilances between Gray and Jake

"If you’re being followed, soreeot out of hand?"

"No" She shook her head "One of my freshman composition classes had a debate about the military after the Tribune story appeared, but that’s about it"

"What kind of debate?"

"So wasn’t worth the loss of As or lives Others believed the cost to our country and our soldiers was necessary to help maintain peace around the world"

Gray’s eyes narrowed "Did any of the students argue directly with you?"