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"But you understand why you can’t go inside, right?" She shifted in her seat, blocking his view of the building and forcing hirinned, the corner of his lip riding up just a bit "I know you have work to do, and that it’s top secret or soht?" She didn’t stop hi hers in a deep--and territorial--kiss She couldn’t help wondering who he thoughtin the , to ask if he could drive her to the Center before school She hated that he had to wait outside, but she didn’t trust herself to drive this hty froiven her, and she’d been worried about driving herself

Inside the warehouse, Rafe was already in the hallway and Violet wondered if Jay hadn’t been right to think theywatched She eyed Rafe curiously but he was already leading the way "We don’t have much, but Sara wanted to fill us in on all the latest" Violet followed hi Jay outside

In the Center, Sara had started the debriefing, and Violet and Rafe slipped silently into the gathering

"--I was able to get photos of the first two victims, and a little irls was fro an internship at a local advertising agency She enty-three The second was a twenty-one-year-old preschool teacher frohborhood Not e students--except for their looks" She passed the photos to Violet, and there was no denying that the reseirls looked like Antonia Cornett "I’irl, Casey Atkins, and so they found" She s they’d discovered in Casey’s hoh, if you don’ta look at them"

Everyone started to juuys Just so you know, the police suspect that he’s the one who’s been calling in the girls’ locations"

"What d’you ust "They think he’s the anonymous caller who told them where to find the bodies? Why would he do that?"

Sara’s ht line as she shook her head "They have no idea But so far the phone numbers he called from have been tracked down to disposable cell phones, and the receipts have been dead ends Whoever he is, he’s careful, that’s for sure"

Beside her, Rafe let out his breath, and Violet felt the way he sounded Disgusted

"Violet, can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?" Sara asked as the rest of the tea on the conference table

Violet got up and followed Sara to her private workstation When Sara turned around to face her, she frowned "Didn’t I just say alone?"

But behind her, Violet heard Rafe, his voice low "I wanted to talk to her too I figured it was better to do it here than in front of everyone else"

Sara crossed her arh "Fine" She turned to Violet "I just wanted to see how you were doing, after last night with Jalanced self-consciously over her shoulder at Rafe "I aed "I ht"

Rafe swiped at the back of his neck, looking apologetic "Sorry about that I thought you’d want to know"

Violet ed a weak smile "Of course I did But I’m still tired"

"But you’re okay?" Sara interrupted "Other than that, I ave me, but I’m fine"

Violet watched as a silent look passed between therasp And then Sara reached for an envelope on her desk, handing it to Violet "I alot This is yours"

Violet slid the flap open and peered inside, her sto a paycheck for an ability she had no control over, but Sara reacted before Violet could protestagain "Violet, we’ve talked about this It’s your job now I couldn’t ask you to do these things and not expect to compensate you Besides, how else are you supposed to afford all your gas money? Buckley’s not exactly around the corner" She sht need you again to She folded the envelope and stuffed it in her pocket It wasn’t until she turned around that she nearly gasped, surprised to find Jay sitting in the kitchen He was across from Ge one of his hands in both of hers, her fingertip grazing the creases that ran through his palm Neither seemed aware of Violet, and she watched in stunned silence as Gelanced at Jay’s face, and then closed her eyes, as if deep in concentration

Violet was about to stor to pull, when Rafe grabbed her by the sleeve, jerking her to a halt "Wait a sec, will ya? I wanna see where this is going"