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When they were finished, he unlinked his hands and leaned forward, scribbling down some notes on a piece of paper

“Jeff, type up the report and e-mail it to Tony and to o back toet some solid information out of Lucy” He rose “Just so you know, Fred Miller’s body was pulled out of the East River an hour ago No surprises Estimated ti Cause of death—one lethal stab wound to the back Sloane, I’ full-time security on you until your involve with Tony”

Without another word, Derek headed off

Jeff and Sloane stared after hilances

“That eird,” Jeff commented “No explosions No lectures And he didn’t pull you off the case, or confine you to desk duty He was al to erupt?”

“I don’t know” Sloane was puzzled She shared Jeff’s opinion that there was a lotbeneath the surface than Derek had displayed But she knew Derek better than anyone The eer It wasn’t even frustration It was so more

She broached the subject that night when they were getting ready for bed It was the first ti in a pile of blankets they’d arranged at the foot of the bed, and Derek was in his gyhttime push-ups

Sloane ca on one of Derek’s Colorado State T-shirts that she used as a nightshirt Then, she slid between the sheets “Do you want to talk about what happened today?” she asked, sitting up, arms wrapped around her knees

“Not particularly” Derek reached his fiftieth push-up and rose

“Well, I do”

“Fine Which part of what happened today did you want to discuss?”

“Your reaction, or lack thereof, when Jeff recapped what happened”

“I did react There’s FBI security posted outside the cottage You should be used to that by now It’s not the first tined security to you I’ulps of water and got into bed

“That’s not what Ion in that nonstop mind of yours You’re not pissed, which I expected You’re not threatening to takeabout er”

“Would there be a point?”