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The sun is firmly in the sky as I sit in my office to sort out what to do next Three types of professionals arrived after hters, police officers, and paramedics Ray told ed ht into the woods, but I contacted theained consciousness I pleaded innocent to any knowledge of the explosion: its cause or the reason it was rigged At that time they didn&039;t tell me of any human remains found in the vicinity That, of course, doesn&039;t mean a body wasn&039;t found The police could have withheld that inforation for the explosion and whatever was discovered in the area

I need a contact with the local police and I need it immediately The paramedics and the hospital would have the reh the proper channels and authorities, they will showWith my extensive contacts and wealth, I can develop a contact, but it will take tiins to blink It is an out-of-state call I pick it up

"Yes?" I say

"Alisa?"

"Yes Agent Joel Drake-how nice of you to call" I n from Krishna that the FBI man has phoned at this precise instant Of course, I do not believe in signs, I a to call you There are soht"

He is interested "Such as?"

"I have a lead on who is behind the murders"

He takes a ood lead"

"What is it?"

"I will only tell you in person Fly into Portland this afternoon and I&039;ll pick you up at the airport I guarantee you&039;ll be glad you caht you said you wouldn&039;t be leaving town for a few days?"

"I lied Call the airlines Book your flight"

He chuckles "Hold on a second I can&039;t fly up to Oregon in the ation Tell me what you know and then we can talk"

"No," I say firmly "You must come here"

"Why?"

"The murderer is from here"

"How do you know that?"

I pitch ent Drake That one of the guys you found in the coliseuh his chest, the other had his skull stabbed open, and every bone in the neck of the third was shattered Don&039;t ask s and don&039;t tell your FBI pals about et all the credit Think about it, Joel, you can be the big hero"

My knowledge stuns him He considers "You mis?understand me, Alisa I don&039;t need to be a hero I just want to stop the killing"

He is being sincere I like that

"It will stop if you come here," I say softly

He closes his eyes; I hear them close My voice will not leave his mind He wonders if I am some kind of witch "Who are you?" he asks

"It doesn&039;t ht Take the earliest one"

"I will have to tell "

"No Just the two of us are going to work on this That&039;s ain, this ti woman"

I think of the knife that stabbed uts," I agree

Joel puts me on hold A few minutes later he returns His plane will land in three hours I agree todown the phone, I leave my office and crawl into bed beside Ray He stirs and turns his back to me but doesn&039;t wake Portland is an hour and a half away I have only ninety minutes to rest before I must take on the enemy

Joel looks tired when I pick hiot ht He immediately starts with his questions, but I ask him to wait until we are inthe piano We drive toward Mayfair I a how I should approach thiswith evi?dence that points toward aconservative

"Who is the pianist?" he asks finally

"Do you like it?"

"The , and the pianist is wonder?ful"

An appropriate choice of words "It&039;s me"

"Are you serious?"

"You have asked ent Drake"