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He leaned forward "No car out there--I walked I’m at Willis House and I have the rooo into my room, but they didn’t see me leave Even if they find out I’m not there, they won’t knohere I am"

"You walked? Willis House is severalThe tereat"

She reached for her cup and took a sip of tea

"And no one sawin your bushes But if so around outside your house, I think Sammy would’ve known I heard him bark before I came up the walk"

"Aaron told me today that he and the others would help me in any way they could," she said

Dustin felt his brow furrowing and made an effort to ease it "They know you’re convinced that Marcus was murdered?"

"I--I didn’t exactly announce that he was s"

"Just to Aaron--or to everyone?"

She looked at hi at the end of the day Marcus’s lawyer is going to be at the Horse Far to discuss the will We’re all mentioned in it, apparently Frooes to Aaron Bentley, but I believe Marcus had safeguards written in I don’t understand the legal ramifications of any of it As far as we’re aware at this point, we go on exactly as we’ve been doing We’re nonprofit, so it isn’t as if anyone stands to get rich"

"Yes, I know"

"You know?"

He grinned "Everyone has access to public records, Olivia We have access to a little more than that" He was quiet for a minute and then said, "That’s why it’s hard to understand why someone would have done this"

"Do you think I’?" Her tone was as stiff as her body

"I didn’t say that you were in denial or panicking"

"It’s everyone’s first thought, isn’t it?"

"First thought, "

"You know Malachi?" she asked "You’ve worked with him?"

"Yes, I’ve met Malachi No, I haven’t worked with hinment with the Krewe of Hunters"

"What?" She ju on the coffee table as she stared at hi, it’s just thatI call for help, and my cousin sends a newbie?"

"I’ not to lose his teraduate froh school "I’ve been with the bureau I’ve been a marine I’ve been a cop I think I’m up to the task"

"I--I--I said I was sorry," she said "I’ to offend you, but this isn’t Well, you can see how o to the police, to anyone--"

"And I told you that I believe you when you tell row too hard She didn’tto do so

But it seemed that she didn’t need to try

She opened herfor poise He kept his ownHe was a professional, for God’s sake He would act like one

"Okay," he said at last "Cards on the table I wasn’t thrilled to have nment be a situation in which we’re not even officially invited and in which everyone I meet seems to think I’m a lawman run amok Half of theure I went crazy Still, that’s part of the job I said I believe you, and you need to do me the same courtesy But you have to trust in me and keep me informed And please don’t worry soto Jackson Crow, I’ve been on his radar for a while now, and when this caht time for him to call on me I’m from Nashville I know the city and I know this area Malachi couldn’t come himself--not with any real validity, or any real chance of blending in with the locals, if you will Do you understand?"

She slowly sank back onto the couch

"Yes," she said flatly She still didn’t look happy

He shook his head and leaned forward "There are laws, and this country has a constitution, Olivia You’re fighting for a friend You hoped that Malachi could get the govern that it all be solved It doesn’t work that way And that’s e’re doing e’re doing"