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I pull out my own phone and send a text--It’s Nikki I need to see you Are you in the hotel? Can Ihe will answer and not si to think that’s exactly what he’s going to do Then the reply cos and hurry to the elevator I want to get there before he changes his er repeatedly jabbing the down arrow even though the light is already illue couple who stand next to each other, his hands in her back jeans pocket and vice versa The sight makes me smile, and I turn away, afraid that the si to et off before thes Then I turn and hurry down the hall until I’ at the door to suite 315 I knock and wait, then sigh in relief when Charles Maynard opens the door and ushersme," I say "Damien is--well, he’s asleep" It’s a eupheestures toward the sofa "Sit down You want a drink? I just walked in the door when you texted I was considering ordering a late lunch"

"I’m fine," I say as he walks to the wet bar and pours hie Scotch

"You must be relieved," Maynard says, which is probably theanyone has ever said to me

"Of course I alances at "

My shoulders sag "I came here because I don’t understand what happened And I need to know I need to know because Damien--"

But I can’t finish the sentence I can’t say--even to this man who has known Damien since childhood--that for some reason this non-trial seems to have broken him

At the same time, I can’t leave Maynard is my only chance for answers, and I cannot leave this room without some

So I wait, and the only sound between us is the hu, and that I will be forced to tell hih the hotel like a zombie How he now lays asleep on the couch How he seeh a battle

I don’t want to tell hi Damien if I do Damien Stark is not a man who shoeakness, and that he has shown me is only more proof that he trusts ue-tied, with no way to explain why I’ve come here

Maynard, thank God, comes to my rescue

"He’s tied up in knots, I take it?"

"What happened back there? Why was the case dismissed?"

Maynard looks atwhether or not to tell me

"Please," I say "Charles, I need to know"