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“Understandably anxious and upset,” Casey replied “And still in pain She took a nasty fall when she tried to avoid that SUV”

Worry, not guilt, furrowed Conrad’s brow

“I don’t understand it,” he said “Why would someone want to hurt Madeline? She doesn’t have an enemy in the world”

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“Clearly that’s not true” Marc spoke up for the first time, and he was all business, without a trace of personal involveuess is that the offender thinks she knows so, and that she has proof of it in her possession”

“I don’t understand Did she witness a crime?”

“Not that we know of,” Marc replied “So far we haven’t found the offender’s trigger But ill”

“The police don’t have thewithout solid evidence of our theory,” Casey added “But Forensic Instincts does, which is why Madeline hired us”

“I’enuine “And please, whatever extra funds need to be spent, I’m more than happy to cover them Just keep her safe”

“That’s the plan,” Casey said “Which is anted to ask you a few questions”

“Starting with, did I hire someone to try to kill my ex-wife” Conrad spoke veryclarification froht now But I do have my full wits about me The husband—or former husband, in this case—is always the first suspect The answer is no, I most certainly did not try to harm Madeline Do whatever you need to do, look into whatever phone records you’d like—anything required to back upinto my life—or whatever’s left of it”

“Thank you” Casey ary about how extre It could be that his complete and open honesty was real, and based only upon his fondness for his ex-wife On the other hand, it could be that he was trying to throw them off track

Either way, his cooperation s a hell of a lot easier

“You asked if Madeline witnessed a crime,” Casey said aloud “As Marc told you, the answer is no—nothing overt Can you think of any situation she et?”

Conrad spread his pale I haven’t seen my ex-wife in months, and my exposure to her life, most especially to her work, is nil” He paused “My former place of employ it up in a session”