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"She had a ticket for San Francisco," Brent said, "but prior to boarding the plane, her reservation was cancelled Do you knohere she went instead?"

Jane appeared genuinely surprised "I don’t know anything about her reservation being cancelled, and as I said before, I don’t knohere she is now"

"Ms Allyson, she had a first-class ticket Do you kno Ms Nichols could afford such a ticket?"

"As I , Jane said, "Now, gentlemen, if that is all? I have work--"

How dare she? Tony hadn’t flown to Des Moines to be flippantly dislare "Ms Allyson, I’m not happy with the recent turn of events I plan to learn of all individuals involved in this e of justice, and it’s obvious that you played a role"

Her gaze never faltered "Mr Rawlings, I was your ex-wife’s co-counsel during her trial I represented her then, and I would gladly do so again If you have complaints about her pardon then I reconature alone opened the door of her cell, and I’m certain that aself-preservation to be misinterpreted as a threat That wouldn’t coincide with your benevolent i to join the rest, Brent interceded, "You’re correct, Ms Allyson My client is obviously distraught over the recent turn of events You can understand his alarm After all, Ms Nichols tried to harm him once It’s only natural for hiain"

"Yes, Mr Simmons, I see how your client would be concerned that my client would cause him harm"

Tony didn’t appreciate Ms Allyson’s thinly veiled i up Claire’s accusations in front of Brent Inhaling deeply, Tony sulad you understand my concern, and I hope you didn’tMs Nichols’ departure or learn of her location, I would appreciate being inforrainedit fir the first I call Are we done?"

"Yes," Tony said, with a genuine smile "I believe we are" As they exited her office, Tony’s lips remained turned upward as he conte Ms Allyson’s career Soht now, she was at the top of his list

With nightfall, Tony’s energy plu hiain at the text e he’d received from Phillip Roach

"I’M CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS MS NICHOLS’ NUMBER AMONG OTHER NUMBERS, IT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH EMILY VANDERSOL, ON MULTIPLE DAILY CALLS, SINCE THE MIDDLE OF MARCH I’VE NARROWED THE ORIGIN OF THE CALLS TO PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA THE NUMBER IS: XXX-XXX-XXXX I WILL CONTACT YOU AGAIN WHEN I LEARN MORE"

Tony had waited all day forHe’d learn for hi the corridor back to his suite, Tony entered his private haven, his sanctuary He didn’t want to be interrupted--or overheard--like the night before

His suite held more memories than Tony cared to recall There were those that he should abandon, both literally and figuratively, and ones that he treasured The literal ated to a box in the back of his closet Some of the iteraphs he’d taken from her Atlanta apartment, and her old laptop He doubted the old dinosaur even worked It hadn’t been booted up in almost three years Tony searched the box for the one ites, one that he couldn’t bear to include in the auction Catherine had encouraged hie it all, break free andClaire’s suite He wanted to s s; however, he wasn’t a man ould donate his wife’s--or ex-wife’s-- auction Riffling through private investigative reports, pictures, and papers, Tony found the black velvet box and grinned Peering inside, he gently touched the delicate white gold chain and crearandave it back to her--the night of the sy at the numerous pictures from his years of surveillance, Tony wondered if he and Claire had coain? Would his only connection to her be through this new investigator? Would he only see Claire in two di of their personal journey together He kneouldn’t be that easy again If he were to get her back to Iowa and into his life, it wouldn’t be because of a signature on a napkin

Then he shook his head He didn’t want her back, did he? Hell, the lack of sleep washim sentier valid; it never had been--legally Pushing the box back into its hideaway, he conteoal; learning her location was She had no right to disappear