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"It’s fine,lady is supposed to be in the hospital We’re here to take her back"

"Oh?"

Jagger smiled and stared hard into her eyes "You won’t re," he said quietly

She blinked The coail off the street and, hopefully, back into his house without further notice

"That’s all right then," the wo," he said pleasantly

"Just getting off work, Detective?" she asked

"Yes, ma’am" If he knew the woman, he didn’t remember her

"You shouldn’t be out this late, you know," he added

"Not walking your dog alone"

"Mrs Beasley needs her constitutional, Detective"

"Then walk her in your yard Please, don’t wander in the dark alone There’s a killer out there"

She laughed "I’ray Not his type at all"

"Please, for me, will you stay inside once it’s dark?"

The wo e," she said, and winked at hier asked

She pointed

"I’ave him a bountiful smile and turned to ith hi, and gave hiood-night and hurried back to his own place, wondering why on earth hus couldn’t have the common sense to lock their doors when there was a murderer on the loose

Chapter 8

"How on earth did you let her get away?" Jagger de that evening

"I didn’t let her get away Did you notice that she was naked?" Fiona protested "I was getting so last clothed--still blonde and beautiful, and now cute, as well, in one of Jagger’s shirts

"I’ail said "Oh,around naked" She looked at Billy with her huge blue eyes

"What would the nuns say?" Fiona asked impatiently

"You’re a vaer

"You’ll have to excusea city wideif I’m alive or dead You chose this course of action, so you--"

"Wait just a minute," he said "We chose this course of action, and you’re just upset because you let her escape"

Fiona stiffened "Then I’e the rest of the evening on your own, Detective DeFarge I leave everything in your capable hands" She spun on Billy and Abigail "You two! Get it right or I will have no choice but to handle the situation--and you knohat that ail suddenly tore after her For a moment Fiona felt a rush of fear, sure she was about to be attacked

But Abigail only touched her aruished eyes

"I’m so sorry I understand that you’ve shown me incredible mercy It’s just that I was so terrified, so confusedand it’s still so hard to believe I went to a party, and nowPlease forgiveDetective DeFarge tells me to do"

Lovely You’ll listen to hiht