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"It’s not a pretty sight," she said "Probably best if I wait"

For several seconds, they just looked at each other

"Thanks for standing up for ht," Alicia said

"No thanks necessary Peter ay out of line"

She searched his face "Why don’t you hate me, Michael?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Everybody else seeuess I’m not everybody else then You could say I don’t have a lot of fans in these parts myself"

"I hardly believe that"

"Oh, trustdown the hall"

A sood to talk to a friend "Sounds interesting"

"That would be one word for it" He placed the tips of his fingers together, aa point "I always knew you were out there, Lish Maybe the others gave up on you But I never did"

"Thanks, Circuit Thatas it’s you, I’ll let that nickname slide"

"Talk to hioing to do?"

He shrugged "What Peter always does Hurl hih it I love the guy, but he’s a bit of an ox"

"It won’t work this tih, unlike Peter’s, his gaze held no suspicion She was a confidante, a co-conspirator, a trusted part of his world His eyes, his tone of voice, the manner in which his body occupied space: all radiated an undeniable force