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I dialed her number Got her voice mail Waited for the beep Then I did my best creepy kidnapper voice "This is a ransom demand," I said, my voice raspy Kidnapper-y "Deliver one hundred boxes of Cheez-Its to the unler sitting in your parking lot by noon today, or you will suffer the consequences" I paused to cough Raspy was hard on the esophagus "They will be dire"

I hung up That was ent Carson know to expect a visit She could have been out of the office, but I’d just have to take that chance She usually ignored calls when she was in s, which meant she should be at the FBI headquarters Thus, with sound logic guiding me, I headed that way

Much to my surprise, however, she called irlfriend," I said in lieu of hello, hoping it would bring us closer

"Youridiculous ransom deht about changing your naent"

"Charley--"

"We could call you Sack"

"I’"

"Sorry Sorry I just have one question"

"Shoot"

"Do you have any friends in the Secret Service?"

She hesitated before saying, "No"

"Darn it I was hoping you could ss over a bit I seemed to have ruffled some feathers They’re very sensitive"

I could hear her run a hand down her face She did that a lot when I was around "What’d you do now?"

"Nothing, I swear They just get really nervous when you butt-dial the president Over and over Like seventy-eight tiht"

"Charley, is this conversation going anywhere?"

"I hope so or I’ Can weStar on Paseo"

"Paseo?" I asked "As in Paseo del Norte? What are you doing up there?"

"I ao out into the field and investigate"

"Oh, right" I scratched that whole "she should be in her office" thing and did an a prowess Or the fact that I stopped the flow of traffic in several lanes "A woman’s life is at stake here!" I yelled out myOr I would have if it’d been down

I walked into the café, ordered my usual fare, which often had the word mocha in it, a tuna melt with sweet potato fries, and a slice of their salted caraood friend

No My soon-to-be good friend