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"What about the third uess, I’d say he was a politician of some sort He had that slick, captain-of-the-football-tea why a guy that good-looking would need someone like Victor to pilad-handing politicians in town to be useful, but the alcoholic she’d describedthat ressman Kerhom Duncan had last seen at Grafton’s fundraiser, flushed with too host

"But I never saw the woman," Violet added unexpectedly

Duncan and Emma both stared at her "Woman?" Duncan said, puzzled "You mean one of the other wo her head "There was a woman there with Victor I never did see her; I only heard her voice She came later, at the end, after Lacey" She frowned and bit the inside of her lip unhappily "She was yelling, IIt surprised me, because I’d never heard anyone talk that way to Victor before"

They took Violet home after that Eer seat up front, but Duncan rode in the back this time He didn’t say much, but Emma could feel the comfort of his presence behind her, like a banked fire on a cold night She kneas probably doing it for Violet’s benefit, but she enjoyed it anyway And she wondered if he knehat it felt like when he did whatever that was Had he ever been on the receiving end of it? Had so sense of safety and security? Or was it instinctive, just a part of who he was?

Violet’s parents were hoht was on in welco of a television screen behind the sheers on the front

"Will your parents be worried?" E what Violet had told thehter, who’d been all but homebound for the last teeks, would suddenly be out late at night

Violet shook her head "I told the out with a friend They were thrilled"

Emma could understand that "You want me to walk in with you, then?"

"No, it’s okay" Violet turned in the seat and addressed Duncan "Thank you, Duncan," she said somberly "I don’t knohat you really did today, and I don’t care You saved my life and that’s all that matters To me, anyway" She opened the door and climbed out, then stopped and looked at E for, Es you peace" Then she slay and grace that had been totally lacking a few hours earlier

"Will she re as Violet disappeared into the house

"No," Duncan said "She’ll wake in the et better"

Eiven Violet her life back, but Lacey was still gone And her killers were still out there But at least Violet had given theo on Grafton for sure, which they’d already suspected, and the drunk who couldn’t get it up, probably Kerwin And then there was the wohed Thebecame

Duncan’s warm hand touched her shoulder "Pull over, E why Their escort pulled in behind the on herHe took over the steering wheel, while Miguel clai all the way, Emma climbed into the backseat with Duncan, but consoled herself by snuggling up close to hiave her a warm kiss that made her hope Ari made Indy 500 time on the drive back to the house But he was quiet after that, leaving Ehborhoods flashed by outside Ari was driving ht rain had begun to fall Apparently he didn’t worry about being pulled over for speeding Could a vaet pulled over? Or irlfriends included? That could come in handy

They arrived back in the District with hours to spare before sunrise Ari pulled in behind the house,around construction equiphts E at the abundance of construction-related materiel She knew there wereon the house than what she saw She’d seen evidence of the re back and forth But this seeaze raking over the house and back to her He smiled, then put a hand low on her back