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Now that eird She kneas being released but didn’t know from where? That made zero sense My expression must have sho dubious I was

"I don’t," she repeated with a bitout So I called the parole board I got the runaround for a bit, but eventually they toldreleased early for good behavior I didn’t think to ask which facility he’d been in"

Okay, I still didn’t buy that, but I decided towas he in?"

"A little over twenty-two years I don’t see why--" She stopped speaking in ry now Red spots had appeared on both cheeks; her breathing was rapid and a little ragged The overreaction toldwas amiss She’d intended to keep hter protected, but she didn’t wantto put my life on the line, I want to know all the details It can make the difference between success and failure, or success with a rimly as she rolled away froht about that "I’ I wasn’t sorry at all "Before you go, can I give you a bit of advice?"

She turned her head, giving me an unfriendly look over her shoulder

"If you hire someone ethical, he or she will maintain confidentiality But we all have to knoe’re up against Tell the truth All of it"

She gaveher chair infor our table carrying a pitcher of iced tea Barbara watched her go, lips co to me, she said, "I take it I should cancel her order?"

"Yep And bring arita if you would" It was a little early, but all things considered, I figured I deserved a drink While I aiting, I pulled out my phone and dialed E "Hey, girlfriend," I said, "you got any plans for the day?"

"None I can’t change What’s up?"

"You know all those boxes cluttering up ran moved?"

"And the ones Dottie sent over before the office blew up, and the ones with Vicki’s stuff from Birchwoods…" I tried to think if there were any others

"You still haven’t gone through Vicki’s stuff?"

Vicki had been ht I was attacked and partially changed by the vahost for a little while but eventually had le day Until just recently I sih her stuff and sift through those memories

"Not yet You kno she was about pictures" E all the times Vicki had pointed a caether "I’ood shots of all of us"

"I’d be happy to help Will Dawna be co?"

"Nope She’s busy"

If Enore it "Her loss See you at your place in an hour I’ll bring the wine"

"Sounds like a plan"

2

"All right, spill it" E atI can tell" Emma is petite and pretty, with naturally blonde hair and blue eyes A for shorts and a T-shirt, but even dressed for sorting through boxes, she looked pressed and neat I wonder sohed in response to her question She knowswith Matty has relaxed her a little, but only a little Ah, Matteo DeLuca, he is the love of her life and the brother of etting a transfer out of one of the ular branch, so that he and Eht to put the two of thelad I’d invited E around happy people always cheers me up Emma was radiantly happy, and it showed Of course, she’s in love, and Matty loves her just as deeply I took a second to be thankful that the two of them found each other Life is crazy at the best of tiranted