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“She’s a loose thread Any thread that isn’t knotted off is an essential element”

“And her alleged relationships to Kenneth Stiles and Richard Draco?”

“The number of connections crossed in this case result in too ed for Draco’s murder, and as a result, Linus Quim’s However, there are a number of others with motive and opportunity It isn’t absolute that Stiles acted, more, that he acted alone Before Ia warrant to break the seal on Carly Landsdowne’s adoption”

“Take your two hours, then try Judge Levinsky Most judges are reluctant to open seals on private adoptions He may be your best bet, particularly if you catch him after he’s had breakfast”

• • •

She intended to follow orders Finding a flat surface and sprawling over it would help clear her mind

She closed the door to her office, locked it, then simply stretched out on the floor Before she could close her eyes, her palm ‘link beeped

“Yeah, what?”

“Good , Lieutenant”

“No nagging,” shedown right now”

“Good” Roarke studied her face “Though you’d be better off in a bed than on your office floor”

“Do you know everything?”

“I know you Which is why I decided to contact you I neglected to pass on soht The name of the birth mother in Carly Landsdowne’s file”

“What’re you talking about? I told you to leave that alone”

“I disobeyed I’ll look forward to you punishing ave birth at a private woal She was given the mandatory twenty-four-hour period to withdraw her decision, stuck with it, and signed the final papers She listed the father as Richard Draco, and included, per law, a sworn docunancy, her decision to complete it, and the adoption The docu”