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I looked for her, hoping she’d nailed down the small table near the , then Syd tapped er with my eyes Claire was at a table in the back, half hidden by the bar

I parted the croith my hip and shoulder and made my way toward my best friend

“I’,” she shouted when she saw me

Food wasn’t on my top twenty list of concerns, but I said, “Let’s order What’re aiting for?”

Claire grinned, waved Syd down, and placed our order in the fewest possible words, “The usual” Meaning deluxe burgers and a double order of fries

“The fish tacos rock,” said Syd

“Maybe some other time,” Claire said

She put her elbows on the table and I did the sa

Claire said, “So, what’s the verdict?”

She was asking about the IAD decision She kneas at stake Had I been suspended for a oing to track down the person killing homeless people in our city?

And now I knew the answers to all of the above I told Claire, “Brady says that the panel recommended no action”

“None? That’s great, right?” she asked

“Yes and no Stevens wasn’t disciplined and neither was I So thatup, and for what? ‘No action recommended’?”

“Okay,” Claire said “I get it But you weren’t wrong This is how it turned out So work the Cushing case as best you can”

The best I could do was under a lot of pressure Tihost, of a lethal variety Serial killers have distinct MOs So or a favorite location Sos left on the bodies or methods of disposal or even letters to the press