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"Colonel," Jared and Claire said in unison, both nodding

"He’s out of the woods for now Doctor Vanhooser is closing, and He’ll be in to speak with you shortly He has been inforeant Scott is to be kept unaware of your presence"

"Thanks, Jason," Claire said, letting out a big sigh of relief

"There is so to need substantial physical therapy, and after losing his entire unit, his debriefing wil be substantial"

"What does that eant Scott’s chances to return to active duty are slim," Colonel Brand said, matter-of-factly

I was ashaht me Ryan would be devastated, and I could only think ofto Brown on thefil ed peppered my mind, and I had to cover lanced at me He kne Colonel Brand’s prediction had htened I sunk back intoacross my cheeks

Claire took a walk down the colorless hal way, giving Jared the perfect chance to scold et the chance, my cel phone buzzed in my jacket pocket

"Hel o?"

"Grant is out sick, you’re gone, and the Japan fir questions I don’t know the answers to," Beth barked in her southern accent "I don’t understand half of what he says, Nina Is there soh?"

I smiled "Just tel him I’m out of town, and I wil call hi on a return phone call from Grant for a week"

"Then he can wait one more day," I said

"Where are you? I only have a bil ion docu on the Peterman account is messed up"

"Ask an intern They know the software better than the accountants"

"Nigh," she sighed"Where are you?"

"Checking on an old friend," I said "I have to go, Beth Oh, and…don’t ask Sasha for help It wil give her the mistaken impression that she’s needed"

"The friend wouldn’t be Kim, would it?"

"No Why?"

"She’s MIA, too Again," Beth gruet back I have faith in you," I said, hanging up the phone

"What?" Jared asked

"Beth said Kim hasn’t been around She doesn’t knohere she is Ki that a lot lately," I said with a frown

Jared squirmed in his seat, and then looked away

"Jared?" I asked in an accusatory tone He didn’t look atabout that?"

Jared didn’t meet my eyes for severalpuff of air, he took a deep breath, and then intertwined his fingers His expression was exactly as it as the night he told me the truth

I looked at him from under my brows "Is it bad?"

Jared shook his head "It’s dangerous I won’t lie to you, so please let it go"

"We’re talking about Kio, Nina"

My knee bounced up and down as I made the decision, but it had already been h, knoould happen next

He closed his eyes, and with one last effort he begged "Don’t…"

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the edge ofmyself for what he would say Jared had told me more unbelievable truths in the last two years than even I could believe, and I had seenso Jared knew, and I didn't--I had to ask

"Jared?" He stiffened the second I uttered his na before, I couldn’t stop myself "What do you know about Kim?"

Chapter Six

Witch

"That’s not actual y his secret to tel ," Ki room

It took me a moment to process that she was real y there, and that I hadn’t conjured her froination

Kie Jared When he nodded in her direction, she took a seat next toblack and white checkered Vans, and s, brown eyes didn’t falter She didn’t seem nervous or out of place at al

"What on earth are you doing here, Kied "I could ask you the sao ahead You seeht questions to ask, anyway," I said, defiant

"Kim’s just here to help," Jared said

"Help ho did she know?" I looked at Kim, then "How did you know to come?"

"How did you know?" she asked She was purposeful y goadingneck and shake her with the tightest grip I could muster

"You’re not funny," I snapped

Ki the fact that she had me in such a tizzy "No, but you are"

I stood up, crossing my arms If she wouldn’t cooperate, I would corner Jared I pointed at Kiet here?"

"Plane," Kirowled

The corners of Jared’s , he straightened his expression "Kilance in her direction

"Biteher thumb nail