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“I assume he left it to her She’s been quite dedicated to him and this place always seeine this house without Rosa in it”

“Yes That’s true”

We exchanged a look One that suggested ere on the saut clench Because we really weren’t

I said, “Rosa has definitely been a significant person in his life Dane didn’t trust many others and—”

“Ari” Mikaela’s expression turned perplexed yet sole to soften me up for some reason?”

“I—uured it all out?

I shook my head Anyone could speculate that Dane was alive, wish it was so, feel a glimmer of hope I’d done thathad been simply that

“Ari,” she said again “I understand you worked for Dane and that you were close to hi the anniversary of the devastation of the Lux and his death and, well, I think you and Rosathe effort he put into the launch of the resort is extrehtful”

I stared at her, taken aback That hat she thought tonight was about?

Granted, she had no other ideas to go on But ere still a couple months away from the observation of that horrific tih I had to adedy would have been onMikaela extremely astute in this situation

I sucked down lass of water and set the tumbler on the massive table in the middle of the room Then I snatched the receiver on the landline and hit a button for an internal nu Amsel to the study

I turned back to a confused Mikaela

“Truly, I do want to thank you for co,” I said “I’m sure it’s not easy for you to be here, ith the memories and all that Dane’s entire presence permeates this house”

“Yes, it does”

“Beyond all the pleasantries,” I told her, “I’d like to share so with you I couldn’t do it over the phone”