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“I’ll make it my business to,” Claire replied She inhaled deeply, then exhaled “I just need to prepare myself You knohat a miserable liar I am Also how hard it is for ift But I’ll find the ability to do both I only hope it’s enough to convince Dr Gilding toher schedule is”

Casey se How can she resist? Pitch it that way Believe me, it’ll work”

“I’ll head upstairs to a roo can infuse a can”

“Let me know once you’ve made the appointment”

“I will”

Claire shut the door behind her, and headed straight for the stairs and up to the small room on the third floor that Casey had helped her set up as her personal space/yoga quarters

It was pretty ironic actually, Casey thought as she stared at the closed door She owned the brownstone outright, thanks to an inheritance fro for the FI teale roonated purpose

Then there was the fourth floor—Casey’s apartment, laid out specifically for her Those were the rooot the least use of all She passed out on the conference room sofa as often as she slept in her bed, and she lived on takeout, al afan of her bed, and Casey was a big fan of her shower Otherwise, with the exception of when Hutch was visiting, the apartment was a convenience rather than a home Yet the brownstone, in its entirety, still felt like home

It was an interesting reality, Casey thought as she picked up her iPhone She, like all the other FI members, lived a very different life than the rest of the world And she wouldn’t change it for anything

She took out the slip of paper Conrad had given her, and punched in his direct room number

15

AN HOUR AND a half later, Marc and Casey were on the road, driving up to Danbury

“I’ into the passenger seat of their van She was exhausted, and relieved as hell that Marc had offered to drive

“I never doubted it” Marc swung into the streah Manhattan toward the West Side Highway “Do you want to brainstory with Conrad and yours with Janet”

“Good idea But let’s grab a sandwich and a cup of coffee first I’”