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“Here I a into the kitchen “What is it? Come on What’s the news on the Batphone? Lay it on us We can take it”

“Exactly,” Ricky said “We’ve been out here in Nowhereland for eight ”

I let out a breath My,kicked by Touchdoould have been less of an assault

“It’s nothing, OK?” I said “Some people wantedmystery So don’t worry about it Situation nors today?”

“ ‘Advice on a case,’ my posterior,” Seamus said “Spill it”

“The FBI wants me They want me back on the Perrine case There have been a nuhout the country, and for some reason, they think I need to be on the case But I told the anywhere”

“Wait a second, Dad,”about? Perrine is the guy who forced us all to coo home?”

“She’s right, Dad,” Brian said “Perrine wants to hurt us He’s the oneto have to be the one to do it It’s actually a good idea Once you get hiet our lives back”

“And this will all have been a strange dream,” Eddie said

“It’s not as simple as that,” I said

“It’s not?” Seas, Michael, but you’ve been about as useful as a … a …”

“NYPD detective on a cattle farested

“Exactly Or that rusting hay rake on the porch,” Sea around,around is flat-out depressing for everyone involved We love you, Mike, but get the heck out of here, would you?”

I had to admit, they had a point Eation had stalled Maybe I really could get it going in the right direction The fact that Perrine was trying to killmotivation As was the fact that once he was taken care of, we really could get our lives back

“Wow,” I said, staring at them all “I didn’t kno, uh, supportive everyone would be aboutThanks I think”