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"Exactly And that’s why I want you and Mr Palether to either find her or learn what Ari and Mr Idris are doing You’ll be working closely with Sam on this, since a security breach was involved"

There wentrelatively stress-free for the holidays "You want ?" I asked

"You were the one who figured out she was the spy," Owen said I wondered if he’d been the one to suggest working together If he had, we’d have words about that later

"You’re also the perfect investigative coical immunity and Mr Palmer’s abilities I believe you also have an excellent personal rapport" I detected a definite twinkle in Merlin’s eyes Great, now even the boss was getting involved in our relationship "Of course, I don’t expect you to work during the holidays, but I would like you to be thinking about it Sam, you’ll have security personnel at their disposal"

"But what abouton the last investigation" Not that I was trying to weasel out of this assignment, but it really wasn’t inmost of the stuff that was in my job description done

"I’ll have someone else take on your more administrative and clerical duties Anyone can take notes in a , but you’ve proved you have the special skills for this task" There was an edge of finality to his voice, like what he’d said had been carved into stone tablets on top of ahelp, sir," I said

The ht ize for a while Are you free now?" He said it with a totally straight face and no hint of a blush, so I got the i a convenient cover for other kinds of activities I suspected that while ere in the office, it would be strictly business between us, and that was fine withfrom his touch I’d never dated someone I worked that closely with, and had never worked this closely with so It seemed that the boss didn’t mind our personal relationship, but I wished there was a handy rule book for how towork

"Your office orto "

"No proble to be down in R and D for a while"

She gave us a sidelong look that said she thought she knee’d be doing down in R&D "Okay Want me to forward calls or send them to voice et any calls Thanks" I didn’t bother correcting her assu that would only fluster Owen, and the more I protested, the more convinced she’d be

Owen ran the theoretical ic texts, translating the spells, figuring out what they did, testing the a way to apply those spells to modern situations His lab was full of old books, most of theood number of them scattered around on tables, chairs, and even the floor A couple of whiteboards on wheels were covered in textbook-perfect handwriting that was still unreadable because allish Owen’s office, which opened off the lab, looked like it belonged in an English avefor hot tea

When we reached the lab, he erased one of the whiteboards and picked up awooden table that filled the center of the roouess we should start e already know," he said "I know Idris well enough to know so of Ari, and you know her friends Let’s each see e can coo or be found" He wrote "Ari" on the top of one side of the board and turned toout loud "She’s kind of boy crazy and will chase just about anyone, but I think she’s in it s In fact, she seees to spin it so she’s the wounded party and she has an excuse for revenge She has a lot of stamina when it coht She never see out"