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Derek filled out the paperwork, and the asn’t nearly as long as it could have been The doctor who treated her administered a local anesthetic Then, he cleaned out the three-inch gash, stitched it up, and bandaged it

“You were lucky,” he informed her “It’s a nasty wound, but it only penetrated the flesh All blood vessels, ive you a tetanus shot, just to be on the safe side I’oin

g to prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection, and Percocet for the pain Make sure to change the bandage daily, and keep it dry for the first three days I’ll remove the sutures in ten days, so make an appoint or swelling”

“I will Thank you, Doctor” Sloane waited while he administered the shot and wrote the prescription Then, she slid off the table and onto her feet, so relieved that her hand wasn’t affected that the pain in her forearnificant

“And get some rest,” the doctor added

“She will,” Derek assured hined whatever release papers were necessary, and picked up the two prescriptions

Fifteen minutes later, they were in the car and on their way home

The silence was ht

“Are aiting until we get hoot a twenty-minute drive, and I’d just as soon start the explosion now”

“You’ve already been through one ordeal tonight,” Derek replied curtly “I figured the second could wait until ”

“That won’t work By , you’ll have to file a report and make some decisions As forto work, so the pain is dulling But that alsowith it So let me fill you in nohile I’m still coherent You can kill me later, after the narcotics kick in”

“Fine Go for it”

Sloane started fro visit to her parents The interviewing of those on their list The sense that she was being followed The confirmation that she was, and by who, and why

Finally, with no apology in her voice, she told Derek about the way she’d baited the Red Dragon kid Her ruse Her invented role as an insurance investigator Her talk with the other victilaries, based on the fact that they all had works of art stolen Her pretense about going to the NYPD with soed information that she’d fabricated And the subsequent knife attack by Xiao’s punk in the deserted section of woods right down the road

Derek listened to the entire story without interruption