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"Patrick…" she began and could think of nothing else to say

He stared at her a long time and shook his head

"She left," Patrick said as he turned the doorknob

"What?"

"Nora Sutherlin Her real name’s Eleanor Schreiber, you know"

"Yeah, I know Nora Sutherlin’s just a pen name"

"Anyway, Sacred Heart keeps meticulous o, ca Meant to tell you that at dinner"

Suzanne nodded Patrick waited

"Thank you," she said, drawing the sheet tighter around herself

Patrick only looked at her He opened the door and walked out, leaving her alone in her apartment

Frustrated and hurt, Suzanne headed back for the bedroom On her way she paused by her bookcase and stared at her copy of Nora Sutherlin’s book The Red sitting on her shelf

"All your fault, you slut," Suzanne said, trying to make herself feel better It didn’t work She took the book off the shelf and leafed through it, hoping to distract herself fro sex with Patrick, she’d pictured the face of Father Stearns, the target of her investigation--the enemy She stiffened her spine and pushed her sha so breathtakingly handsome That was the only reason his face came to her while Patrick was inside her That’s all

Suzanne nearly shut the book and put it back on the shelf The last thing she needed was to think about sex or es fanned closed her eyes fell onto the book’s dedication