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She let out a harsh laugh “Please, don’t getBabs will only amp me more”

“Babs is no longer a topic of conversation,” he swiftly, decisively said “And your mother is in the Maldives, we’ve established”

“So, naturally, I’ht instead of the one to New York”

She instantly grasped her faux pas and winced

Glancing his way, she added, “No offense”

“Only slightly taken,” he murmured

“Damen—”

“I understand what you’re saying, Nik It’s not aboutus”

“And the bug in my computer”

“Which,” he delicately reminded her, “would be in your coardless of your travel plans, I would have been sitting in the seat next to you were you headed to snoeather or tropical beaches”

“Right Of course Agent Garcia really did ain”

“Disappointed?” he more quietly, privately asked

He knew she’d coer they were caught up in He was speaking strictly about them About the fact that, had Garcia not made that particular move with Nikki’s laptop, they would have went their separate ways And Daation to have time to track Nikki down—in the Maldives, New York or in Switzerland

She gazed at hiut clench

Then one corner of her glossy mouth twitched She said, “No But—”