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"When are you going to meet with Lara?"

"Right away," he replied "We're going toher lunch, so I'll eat with her and we can talk about the case while we do She'swith a client at 2:00 so we have to be finished by then I hope you don't mind"

I turned around and slipped my arms around his neck "Of course I don't ure out how to deal with this She's busy and you have to work ain around her schedule I can eat with Sophie Then, I think the two of us alk down to the corner store and get some fresh fruit for a fruit salad"

"Make sure you let Mike know," Drake said, reuard

"How could I forget Mike?" I said, only slightly sourly "My constant companion"

"It's for your protection," Drake chided "You said yourself that you barely notice him now"

"I know," I said "I' a spoiled brat about it I just e didn't have to worry about it"

"One day soon, maybe on't," Drake said and squeezedto where Sophie sat in her highchair and giving her another kiss

He went to the closet to get his jacket and his boots, and then wrapped a scarf around his neck

"See you soon," he said and waved at Sophie "Try to enjoy your walk to the store Pretend that Mike is just a big bear of a hborhood as you, is out for a walk and would help you if you needed it"

I s bear of a ing from under his jacket

After Sophie and I finished our lunch, we took the stroller and went out to the street Before I left, I texted Mike and he said he'd be waiting outside for o for the walk

Sure enough, he stood with his hands in his pockets, a pair of dark sunglasses covering his eyes, his blond brush cut and square jaw giving his identity as a fore of his concealed weapon at his hip -- or at least, I iined I could see it

Strangely, it didn't coht it would I was almost killed by a car, not a weapon I'd read recently about a wo her dog in theShe'd bled out before the ambulance even arrived because the knife blade severed an artery The culprit walked towards her and at the lasther and then walking on When it happened, she was alone on the block in the section of Harlem, close to where I lived before People had passed by, thinking she was a drunk, but her little dog stayed at her side the entire ti all alone while people walked by I didn't want that to beThe assailant was unknown to the wo more