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"If I talk to her, I’ll tell her you said so"

"Give both of theain I had a lot onhad givenand Shelly’s departure, I confess I felt vindicated They hadn’t turned around at all, let alone snatched first Rain and then Mary Claire I understood Deborah’s reasoning, but the points she cited were circumstantial, a crude cause and effect that didn’t hold up to scrutiny This was the kicker frouilty, then as?

When I reached the office, I parked, snaggedit behind me I noticed a car parked directly across from mine, a sleek white Corvette with a woer seat next to her The sun reflecting off the windshield prevented a clear view of the driver so I shrugged to myself and continued up the walk I unlocked the office door, and as I was letting myself in I heard two car doors slalanced overin my direction Her male coht She looked as buttoned-down as ever--loafers, black tights, and a black corduroy jumper worn over a white turtleneck I could see that any outfit looked spiffier when paired with black tights, and I vowed to add more to my wardrobe Since I was already the proud owner of two skirts, I’d be all set

Diana carried a large leather tote, bulging froht you," she said "We were just about to take off This is my brother, Ryan"

Belatedly I saw the resemblance The solemn dark eyes were clearly a family trait "Nice to ray slacks and a charcoal sport coat over a pin-striped dress shirt His red tie introduced the only note of color Offhand, I pegged hi business, ain

"Mind if we coht as well"

I stepped back and let theuest chairs, Diana adjusting her skirt before she placed her tote on the floor She tilted the case against theself-satisfied in her demeanor, a quality I’d seen before and one that made me testy

I sat down in my swivel chair "What can I do for you?"

Even before she spoke I could tell she’d rehearsed her reanized and in control "I told Ryan about the conversation we had--"

I interrupted, hoping to throw her off balance "We’ve actually talked twice--once at the dig and again the next day"

"I’ed atthe two men in Horton Ravine If you’ll remember, I asked you then what made him so certain of the date and you told me it was because it happened on his sixth birthday"