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She followed me to my office and sat in one of the twin chairs in front of lared atabout?" I said, kicking offthem next to each other by the floor vent

"Really?" She tucked her chin "Don’t be that girl Chicks before dicks"

I sat down and laced ether on top of my desk "Just tell s to do I think I just got Agent Grove fired--or arrested"

"What?" Her eyebrows shot up for half a second, and then she was frowning again "You ht be an ace at diversion, but I knohen so, and you, Liis, have a secret"

I covered et better at this"

"What do you ations I’ve sat in on? I just know I’d say I’m psychic, but that’s stupid, so I’ll just say, ‘Thank you, Dad, for being a cheating bastard and heightening ave her a look

"What? I tell the truth--unlike you, you…fake, foul friend"

I wrinkledthat your friend doesn’t trust you"

"It’s not that I don’t trust you, Val It’s just none of your business"

Val stood and walked around the club chair, placing her hands on the back "Quite frankly, I’d rather you not trust er invited to Fuzzy’s"

"What?" I shrieked "C’mon!"

"No No Fuzzy’s for you And they love me, Liis Do you knohat that means? No Fuzzy’s for lunch No Fuzzy’s forever" She emphasized every syllable of the last word Then, she widened her eyes and turned on her heels before shutting the door behind her

I crossed , and I picked up the phone "Lindy," I snapped

"Hurry up I’rabbed my purse and shoes, and hurried to the hall

Chapter Nine

"SO," VAL SAID AS SHE CHEWED, wiping the mixture of mayo and mustard from the corner of her mouth, "you have a date with Maddox in three weeks Is that what you’re telling me?"

I frowned "No It hat you pulled out of e bite of BLT fro "Why can’t you just leave things alone, Val? I need him to trust me"

She sed "How many times have I told you? There are no secrets in the Bureau Maddox should have assumed that I’d find out eventually He’s acutely aware of my talents"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Curb the jealousy, OJ I mean that Maddox knoe’re friends, and he knows I can sniff out any secret better than a coon dog"

"A coon dog? Who are you right now?"