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Bell wasn’t sure if he’d heard correctly “Wife?”

“That’s what he said Her name is Adeline and she lives in a boulder”

“I suspect she lives in Boulder,” Bell corrected absently, his h implications, “not in a boulder It’s a town in Colorado”

“That htly that he suspected it had been a truly perplexing issue for her

“Was Wallace able to book passage for us back to America?”

“Oh, that Yes Yes, he did It’s right here Hold a tick” Although the as static-charged, he could hear her searching through papers on a desk “Found it He has you on the SS Boheainville Shippers”

Bell wasn’t familiar with the line, but it mattered little “When and where?”

“Um, next Wednesday at two from Southampton Berth 26 That’s away fro over by then”

Bell wrote the date and ti her prattle, and said, “When Joel checks in next, I want you to tell him to meettrouble Can you do that?”

“I sure can, Mr Bell Joel will be calling in theI mean, Mr Walla—”

“That’s fine, Miss Bryer Just uys Okay?”

“Okay, Mr Bell” She paused, calculating “Maybe I can come with them and we can meet”

“That’s not a good idea It could be dangerous, and I wouldn’t want you to get hurt”

“Wow You sound so sure of yourself Have you really done all the things Joel says you’ve done?”

“Not even half,” Bell said “Good night, Miss Bryer”