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The president is rarely the ton

I tried to turn around to look at Ivy, but she turnedthe president and Ada you did" I tried a different tactic

Ivy set the brush down and ran a hand over

"Ivy?"

"Bodie talks too much"

If she hadn’t had a hold on ain "I have a right to know Vivvie has a right to know"

Ivy reached the bottom of the braid She held on for ato have to trust er on this, Tess"

Trust That one as enough to put a mile of distance between us I stiffened, and Ivy stood I didn’t realize until she’d taken a step away that I’d been leaning lightly against her

"You don’t knohat it’s like," I told Ivy, standing upover to the mirror With my hair tied back, I could see the similarity in our features Part of me wanted to tear out the braid "You don’t knohat it’s like," I said again, "to be told over and over to just sit back, while other people make decisions that affect you Vivvie is , it’s not helping her! Keeping her in the dark, keeping , Ivy" I lowered my voice "It just makes us helpless"

Ivy came to stand behind me I turned to face her so that I didn’t have to look at our reflections side by side in the mirror

"I knohat it’s like to feel helpless," Ivy toldyour decisions I do, Tess" There was emotion in her voice--but I couldn’t pinpoint it anyAbout me? About this case?

"I never want you to feel like that, Tessie I don’t But you truly don’t need to knohat I’ This job?" Ivy never raised her voice, but each as delivered et to help people, but that comes at a cost"

My father killed himself I could see Henry’s face, as clear as if he were standing here in front of me She covered it up

"I don’t want that for you," Ivy said "Can you understand that? I have to keep you separate, Tess I won’t let you be part of the cost"

"The First Lady isinside I’ive her a chance to respond "I know there’s a third person involved--soe Pierce If Pierce supplied the money and Vivvie’s dad made sure the justice didn’t leave the hospital alive, then as the third person’s job?" I cut Ivy off before she’d gotten a word out "I’ to get hi sure Pierce got the nomination Either way, the two individuals you ‘cleared’ first seeood suspects"

"There were cameras on the president," Ivy said curtly "Practically the whole evening" That Ivy was volunteering infor But it wasn’t

"Practically," I repeated