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"He is," Hal says quickly "That’s what Imore?

"Great," I , but he doesn’t tell "

"I’m not an arms dealer" Hal looks hurt "I would never sell any of these I’m a collector I only loan them to special friends And don’t you think it’s better that so to do so terrible with them?"

I narrow my eyes at him "Wait a minute Did you just say ‘mutt’? Hal, are you a cop?"

"Iused to be," he says, with his head ducked I can’t see his eyes, because of the thick glasses, but he appears unhappy "I don’t really enjoy discussing those days Could we please concentrate on selecting a weapon for you instead? It would ood shot, you know"

Noiden e," he says, glancing up shyly "You shot very accurately, even though you hadn’t had h" There’s a hint of bitterness in his voice as he adds, "They tend to have a lighter touch on the grip than aze dips beloaist, and he clears his throat uncoravity helps with stance"

I have no idea how to respond to this "Is that a fact?"

Hal is war to his subject "Oh, yes," he replies enthusiastically "The only reason you don’t see ascompetitions is because often the women who are the best shots are the ones least interested in pursuing shooting as a sport or hobby They tend to be like you: they think guns are too violent, or too loud, or are only for cri It’s a shahs sadly, and it’s evident in that in (if his nicknairlor is too shy to have opened himself up this candidly in front of her

"Really," is all I can think of to say

I re o to practice firing their weapons (soun owner in the state of New York, and also, I suppose, as someone in his line of work) The men had far outnumbered the women there, but there’d definitely been a feo head-to-toe pink: pink stilettos, pink loves (to protect her er She had fired a perfect heart shape (in bullet holes) around the center of her target from fifty feet away, then lowered her pink-tinted eye protectors, nodded with satisfaction, and walked out, swinging her pink Hello Kitty plastic gun case

That was the only part of e that I’d enjoyed I’d o with him more often if I could have an outfit color-coordinated with

So it isn’t completely out of the blue that Cooper has sent Hal over on a mission not only to protect me, but to offer me a weapon hich to protect myself

Sadly, none of the pistols Hal has on offer are pink I sigh I have absolutely no intention of taking a gun to work, but I figure Ito keep Hal happy

"Okay Which one did you think I shot best with?"