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My heart had never thundered so fiercely I couldn’t catch my breath

“What happened?” Amano demanded

“Rattler,” was all Dane said

A the door open and saw it for hiet rid of it”

“Have the grounds crew do a thorough sweep to see if there are uided me to his office

Molly sprang to her feet e entered “My God, Ari! You’re white as a ghost” To Dane, she repeated Amano’s question “What happened?”

I shook uncontrollably, so she likely assuht

Dane said to her, “Send an e- stairwell and tape signs to the outside of the doors telling them to keep out”

“I don’t under—”

“Please, just do it,” he insisted “No one’s to be in the stairwell”

“Of course, Mr Bax Whatever you say” She scurried off

Dane ledviolently He poured a scotch and brought it toon the sturdy coffee table in front ofthe crystal tumbler so I could sip

“It’s okay,” he said in a soothing voice “It’ll be okay” Tension r

adiated fro his effort to calm me

After a ulp of scotch, I asked, “How the hell would a rattlesnake get into the stairwell?”