Page 49 (2/2)

But I think all it did was reinforce his suspicions that I’ at me?" I demand "I’m the victim here!"

"No, you’re not Jordan is And if you’d just listened to me--"

"But if I’d listened to you, I wouldn’t know that Chris Allington is the dangerous psychopath we’ve been looking for!"

"A fact of which you still don’t have any proof" Cooper shakes his head He has dark, thick hair that he hardly ever gets cut and that is always growing past his collar, giving him a distinctly nonconfor "That planter could have been knocked over by anyone How do you know the Allingtons’ gardener wasn’t watering the plants and accidentally knocked the thing over?"

"Directly ontothe fact that I was just questioning Chris Allington the night before?"

I swear I see the corners of Cooper’s mouth twitch at this

"I’ation skills are such as to goad Chris Allington into a murderous frenzy"

Okay, Miss Marple Iyou, he tried to kill me Why don’t you believe me?" I hear myself cry, before I can shut my mouth "Can’t you see that I’ht just knohat I’ out, I’? This is the guy ithout , offered o…well, okay, except the guest room in Patty and Frank’s loft

But, you know Besides that How ungrateful can I be?

"I’ dry-mouthed with panic "I didn’t mean it I don’t knohere that came from I’m just--I think maybe I’m just upset You know Fro at me with a totally unreadable expression

"I don’t think of you as a stupid little teen pop star" is all he says, in a tone suggesting mild surprise

"I know," I say quickly Oh God, why can’t I ever seem to keep my mouth shut? WHY?

"I just worry about you so else "Iwith ? Did he ht? Oh please, don’t let him have seen the Post…

"And it’s not like you have anyone" He shakes his head again "Any family, or anyone to look after you"