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“Jesus Christ”

“Sorry Just giving you the severity level”

“No, it’s not you” He shook his head “I’ure out how this could all be”

“When did the Madsens buy the estate down the road?”

“They moved in when I was five or six Amano drove Mikaela and me to and from school for Mrs Madsen That’s hoe became such close friends”

“Close enough that she would know all about your cos, your plans for the future, hoell you did in school, what your special talents ?”

“Ari—”

“Just hear me out,” I rushed on “She could have easily been a spy for the society without even knowing it All she had to do was answer casual, unassuuise of taking interest in her day Since you tere friends, it wouldn’t have been out of the ordinary for her to tell hi she knew about you”

He pressed a finger and thuraine I felt wretched for him

“That still doesn’t make a direct connection with Ethan,” Dane said “Madsen wouldn’t exactly have had him over for Sunday dinner—not if they were both society members; the ties are meant to be secretive And besides, Madsen was rarely ever home, because he’s been a US ambassador since I’ve known him He’s always been overseas”

Thinking back to the baptis upset that Ethan knew you were alive and didn’t tell her But enough to hit hie would be directed toward me It wasn’t In fact, she was shocked, but not volatile in any way So why erupt with Ethan?”

“I have no idea But you can be da to find out”

I set aside the iPad Dane went back to plowing through the files, his frown deepening until it turned intoensued

A good hour or so passed and I said, “Dane, you can’t leave me in suspense here”

“Sorry” He groaned his disgruntleether on several joint ventures from ’78 to ’83 But there are all of these receipts”—he held one up for me to see—“that show reie of the initial investments One per venture”