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In that one moment, I realized that if this were my last day on earth, I wanted it to be with her “Miss Atwater,” I said, holding my hand out to her

She clasped it tightly in hers “Mr Payton”

When we arrived at the warehouse in e, Isaac Bell seemed to accept her presence without question He was, after all, a ence Byron was a bit shocked, but he quickly came ’round, and the three of us listened while Mr Bell outlined his plan Miss Atwater glanced at ainst the wall of the warehouse “And what of him?” she asked Bell

“He will be in the carriage, where you and Payton will be in charge of watching hiht Byron will pose as your driver”

Concerned about Miss Atwater’s proxie Mr Bell’shim over to the authorities?”

“We”

70

Arthur Oren’s dark mood lifted considerably as he arrived at Lorenzo Rossi’s Paris office By the time he took the elevator to the third floor and the receptionist announced hi of triu off

The receptionist returned, saying, “Monsieur Marchand will see you now”

“I was told Lorenzo Rossi would beme personally”

Before she could answer, a heavyhis hand in greeting “Monsieur Oren A pleasure”

Oren shook his hand, looking past him into the empty office “Where’s Rossi?”

“He’s on his way to Calais toI’ll order a car to be brought ’round” Marchand waved a hand toward his office “Please, co else to drink, while ait?”

“No, thank you,” Oren said, as Marchand took a seat behind his large any desk Oren eased into the leather armchair near the“I was under the i to ether”

“For which he sends his apologies He felt it necessary toOf course, I shall accompany you to the warehouse personally, once the transfer is made”