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"Could you arrange that?" the reporter asked with energy "If so, I’d love it!" Her expression turned pleading "But since you’re here now, can I impose for just a few questions? It would really mean a lot to me and to Quick’s fans"

Given that her brother was a hometown hero, Merissa had been cornered before with questions about him She didn’t mind so much, except that she was badly off-kilter and really just wanted to collapse

"All right Sure But it does need to be short" Merissa tried putting on her happy face, after all, this was Ar her purse on her shoulder, she said, "Ready when you are"

"Perfect" The reporter turned on a s it out so that it almost bumped Merissa’s chin "Arht?"

"Yes He andtiht," Merissa confir time Does that make your relationship aard?"

Such an odd question "I don’t see how that has anything to do with--"

"And now Arym," the interviewer rushed to ask "I understand that he especially enjoys working with the children?"

Okay, so that was more on track Merissa nodded "He’s terrific with everyone, but yes, kids love Arain, Merissa faltered She was starting to have a bad feeling about this "That’s not much of a secret"

"His reputation doesn’t bother you?"

Merissa narrowed her eyes "I think we’re all done"

"Interesting" The wohter, Armie was accused of rape It was never resolved, was it?"

Shoving the recorder away from her face, Merissa stepped back "Who are you?"

The lady laughed Not an ah, as if a plan had just co in, Merissa glanced around and realized the area now felt es had happened lately that she didn’t question her own instincts Instead, after ilare, she strode toward her car The woive her the satisfaction of looking back

She reached her car just as a man and woman pulled up to the curb The woed to the ATM They looked to be in their early twenties and as nonthreatening as people could be Buoyed by their presence, Merissa unlocked her car, climbed in and hit the lock button once more

When she looked up, the reporter hadn’t moved but she did wave to two lanced in the rearview mirror and saw that the truck followed

Her phone was dead What should she do?

Daring to fued in the phone

The truck stayed right behind her

On the off chance they didn’t already knohere he lived, there was no way Merissa wanted to lead them to Armie’s apartment