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“Yes”

“Will you, when I’et an update on Carly’s state ofintrusive Just if there’s a way I could be told she’s all right”

“I’ll see what I can do” Eve hesitated, swore “Record off,” she ordered, and blanked out the sound and visual to observation “Get a laho kno to spin the et one of each You want to sway public opinion You want people to hear the story, all of it, and feel syhts, and don’t talk to ain, or any other cop, without your attorney present”

Amused, Areena lifted her eyebrows “Do you save everyone, Lieutenant?”

“Shut up and listen Go for diminished capacity and extreme emotional distress Even with the premeditation, it’s not hter, and a blackenerate a lot of media in your favor” And she could tap Nadine to see that it swung that way “The DA’s not going to want theoutside the courthouse and city hall And they will He’ll offer you a deal You et a hefty stretch of home incarceration with a bracelet, and another chunk of severe parole”

“Why are you doing this for me?”

“Isn’t there soift horses in the mouth?”

“Yes Very true” Areena got to her feet “I wish, well obviously, I e’d met under different circumstances” She held out her hand “Good-bye, Lieutenant”

Eve clasped her hand, let the grip hold

• • •

When she walked back into her office, Roarke was there She picked up her jacket, her bag “What do you say we get the hell out of here?”

“I like the idea” But he caught her hand, ran his gaze over her face “You look lighter, Lieutenant”

“I am Considerably”