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“Hello, my name is Reverend Doctor Annushka Volovodov I’ to report an assault on my person A man named Nicholas Trubachev tried to attackhis wife No, he didn’t hurt me, just a few bruises on my wrist I had a taser inworse Yes, I’d be happy to give a state to get off the floor on shaky lih day?” Nono asked when Anna finally got hohter on her lap, and little Naave a squeal and reached for Anna as soon as she closed the door behind her

“How’s irl?” Anna said, and dropped onto the couch next to theh Nono handed the baby to her, and Na to pull her hair Anna squeezed her daughter and took a long sniff off the top of her head The subtle and powerful scent Naht her home had faded, but a faint trace of it was still there Scientists ht claim that humans lacked the ability to interact at the pheromonal level, but Anna knew that was baloney Whatever che out as a newborn were theAnna had ever experienced It ain

“Na to untwist Anna’s long red hair from the baby’s fist “Don’t want to talk about it?” she said to Anna

Nono’s full name was Namono too But she’d been Nono ever since her older twin had been able to speak When Anna and Nono nahter after her, the name had somehow morphed into Nami Most people probably had no idea the baby was named after one of her mothers

“Eventually, yes,” Anna said “But I need baby ti nose The sareen eyes She had Nono’s coffee-colored skin, but Anna’s sharp chin Anna could sit and stare at Na of herself and the woman she loved The experience was so powerful it bordered on the sacred Naently pulled it back out again, then blew a raspberry at her “No eating the hair!” she said, and Na ever spoken

Nono took Anna’s hand and held it tightly They didn’tmushrooms and rice She’d put so scent filled the kitchen Anna cut up apples at the table for a salad The apples were s, but they’d be fine in a Waldorf with enough other flavors and textures to hide their imperfections And they were lucky to have them at all The fruit was part of the first harvest to come off of Ganymede since the troubles there Anna didn’t like to think how hungry everyone would be without that moon’s remarkable recovery

“Nami will be asleep for at least another hour,” Nono said “Are you ready to talk about your day?”

“I hurt someone and I lied to the police today,” Anna said She pushed too hard on the knife and it slipped through the soft apple and scored her thuh to bleed

“Well… okay, you’ll have to explain that,” Nono said, stirring a small bowl of broth into her rice and mushroom mix

“No, I really can’t Some of what I knoas told in confidence”

“This lie you told, it was to help so the last bits of apple in the bowl, then adding nuts and raisins She stirred in the dressing

Nono stopped and turned to stare at her “What will you do if you get caught in the lie?”