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This was still nota lick of sense "Kyle’s family has money and you areblackmailed?" I asked, incredulous

"No, but we think we knoas doing it"

"Really?"

"Touy voted o to prison for rape and otten into some financial trouble and decided Toet And Toht I checked into Jeff’s financial records--"

Dang, she was good

"--and he’d made deposits on the same days as Tommy’s drops Three of them"

Wow, and yet both Tommy and Jeff were dead

"Kyle called me later," she continued "He toldto ruin his political career"

"That’s a pretty good reason to kill, Mi to step forith Toive a speech today with Tommy by his side and announce what happened"

Gutsy "Maybe he changed his hed in frustration "You would have to know Kyle What you’re iainst his character, it’s unreal He felt like he was living a lie anyway, hiding his homosexuality"

I ran a hand down my face My head hurt and not entirely because of the concussion I thought I had this thing figured out That’s what I got for thinking "Okay," I said, my voice airy with frustration, "so after you left for Albuquerque, what did Kyle do? Did they ease up on hiood actor He eventually convinced Jeff he was on their side Then when school was out, he did the sarandmother"

"So, after you met with Tommy Zapata, did so after that I realized everybody was dying I knew that et and they were around ot in a cab one day and ran If not for that fire, I’d be in Spokane right now"

"You kept yourself alive," Cookie said "Noe need to get you to safety"

Yeah, while I figure out what the hell is going on

The lights flickered out, and an eerie silence fell over us I shushed everyone, then squatted down and peeked out the office door An ee body,to Hulk, sprawled on the floor

"Son of a bitch," I said, unable to quite believe it "They followed us?" I totally needed to payridiculous

"Who?" Mi down the hall