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Savich said, "I’ve checked through your finances, Rob, also part of e until this past year Unlike the other family members, you aren’t loaded, but you are finally in the black Congratulations But you’re going to be wanting to expand, and to do that, you’ll need a healthy amount of capital Did you and Venus discuss ift, an investment?"

"No, I wouldn’t have done that I’ve stayed away fro her for years, exactly because I wanted to make it on my own"

"Did she discuss her will or trusts with you? Do you know if you’re named?"

"I know Grandmother set a trust up for me, but I don’t kno much The principal comes tofine, just fine I don’t need her money, or the trust, not that I won’t enjoy it when it hits my bank account"

"This is important, Rob Did anyone else in the family, or on the staff--Isabel or Veronica--know you and Venus had been co to meet?"

"She said she wanted to keep it a secret until she felt the tiht She didn’t even tell Veronica But the attempts on her life have forced her hand, she told me Her driver, MacPherson, knew He drove her to our meets, of course, but I never met hio through the three nights Venus got sick, Rob Three weeks ago, Wednesday night, she was having dinner with Alexander and your father at the Ambassador Club The 4th of June Do you ree expression He pulled a sh the pages "Grandmother told me you’d have to know about my alibis, so I wrote theirlfriend--Marsia--at a restaurant I have the receipt, and it’s dated The second time, I was on a job I have all the particulars for you Last night, I atching the Nationals get trounced, burying my pain with bean dip and beer Lots of witnesses" He paused "I’uy you want here" He handed Savich his black book

Sherlock asked, "What made you first decide to e, showing fine white teeth "Because I finally had so to show her My business I’m proud of that And I missed etting up there in age and I didn’t want her to die without knowing how grateful I ao I wanted to see her, tell her how h, I was scared I mean, she could have told ot up the nerve, but only after I’d proved that I’h Rasmussen Industries like the rest of them My accountant shouted last quarter’s nu white smile "Not bad for a loser"

He sat forward "Look, it’s not as if I turned my back on the lot of them over the years I’ve kept track of Grand those deals with the govern benefits for soht it was finally tireed with me, maybe even pushed me a little to do it I tried the sa no clue if she’d even answer me, but she did"

Rob paused "When I heard back froine that? We had lunch and talked and caught up She was really pleased to see ed

"Do I have expansion plans? Sure, I’d like to push onward, but that will come I have lots of time to take over the world AndGrandmother--she can tell you that herself"

Savich pulled out his cell, pressed a couple of buttons, brought up a photo, and handed it to Rob "Do you know this , his eyes drugged and vague, fresh out of surgery He frowned, cocked his head to the side, a manneris a probleuy who tried to kill Grandmother yesterday?"

"Yes"