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"He is, but there were others involved, and we know nothing about them yet It’s not safe for you to be here, certainly not alone"

"But you’re here now" She looked up, giving hi her innocent "You’ll keep me safe, won’t you?"

"You’d have been safe if you’d stayed home, as I asked"

"Well, I’m here now" Her voice sharpened, and he almost smiled He’d known she couldn’t keep up the wide-eyed façade for long

Duncan ran his hands up and down her ar it as an excuse to delay--and to think He didn’t want Emma anywhere near whatever Victor erous But he understood all too well her need to know the truth about Lacey’s disappearance, her need to do sorow still as she listened to hi and send you home none the wiser"

She drew back froive you if you did that"

"You’d never know There’d be nothing to forgive"

"I’d know," she said firmly

Duncan did smile then She was stubborn as a mule, this one

"I’ll be perfectly quiet I pro resolve

Duncan sighed "Very well But you will reht by u ridiculous," she muttered

SheRidiculous?"

"You knohat I , I’htly before letting her go "Very well No barking"

"Do you want this back," she said,the jacket off

Duncan stopped her with a hand on her ar waruys, so I grabbed my keys and ran"

"Maybe you should keep a jacket in your car You know, for your next close pursuit"

She gave hiure out if that was a joke or not

Duncan let her wonder He took her hand and headed for the front door "Remember your promise, Emma What I say, when I say it"

"Yeah, yeah Your wish is my couel sent two of the security detail around to check the house frooing in ahead of him

Duncan scanned the front of the house as he approached, searching thefor That bad feeling Miguel had talked about was getting worse by theEmet what she’d said about reood at what he did, and she wouldn’t have re to do that to E in his mind--or his heart--told hiuel held back a few hts soon ca a vauests lad for it, because he could already detect the unmistakable scent of old blood A lot of it And if that lare of bright lights distracting hiht have to tell hih the doorith Ehtly despite her earlier brave words He took three slow steps and stopped, nearly crushed as his e every wall, every floorboard, every damn inch of this house

"Emma," he said in a strained voice "Go back to your car"

Her head whipped around "Duncan?"

"Now, Euel, have someone stay with her" His lieutenant uel"

"Duncan?" Eht not have his exquisite sensibilities, but she wouldn’t need thele" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>