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“I would—I was going to I thought she was here I don’t think I’m supposed to have it I didn’t even tell Leonardo about it I’m a terrible person,” she finished

Hysterical women had come his way before Roarke slipped the disc into his pocket, walked over, and ordered a tall soother of the milder variety “Here, drink this What sort of evidence do you think this is, Mavis?”

“I dunno You don’t hate me, do you?”

“Darling, I adore you Drink it down”

“Really?” She gulped obediently “I really like you, Roar

ke, and not just because you’re rolling in credits or anything It’s good that you are, ’cause poor sucks, right?”

“It does indeed”

“But either way, you make her so happy She doesn’t even kno happy because she’s never been You know?”

“Yes Three slow quiet breaths now Ready? One”

“Okay” She took theood at this Cal people down I bet she doesn’t let you do it for her much”

“No, she doesn’t Or she doesn’t knohen I do” He smiled “We know her, don’t we, Mavis?”

“We love her I’ and soft “I figured it out after I ran the disc I gave you At least I figured out some of it It’s a copy of the lay down from my video I ran it off on the sly I wanted it for posterity, you know? But there’s a memo after it”

She looked down at her hands “This is the first tiave a copy to Dallas, but he made notes after this version, about” She broke off, lifted suddenly dry eyes “I want you to hurt him for this I want you to hurt him really bad Play it, from where I’ve cued it”

Roarke said nothing, but he rose and slid the disc into his entertainht, with round for Jess’s voice

“I’m not sure what the results will be One day I’ll find the key to tapping in at the source For now, I can only speculate The suggestion is to the ’s at the core of those shadows on Dallas’s ht after playing the disc? How long will it be before I can seduce her to share it all with me? What secrets does she hide? It’s such fun to wonder I’ for the chance to tap into Roarke’s darker side Oh, he has one, so close to the surface you can alether, with just the aniivessubjects for this project God bless Mavis for opening the door Within six months I’ll know these two so well, anticipate their reactions so clearly, I’ll be able to lead theht where I want them Then there’s no lioddamn father of virtual pleasure”