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CHAPTER 1

"Tess, has anyone ever told you that you’re an absolute vision when you’re plotting sorin in aze fixed on the street in front of the Roosevelt Hotel A man named Charles Bancroft had a reservation at the Roosevelt’s five-star restaurant for lunch--pricey, considering Mr Bancroft had recently convinced a judge that his child support and ali for a friend," Asher clarified Then he nudged his best friend "Henry, oodto unleash her wrath on the delightfully unsuspecting father of one of our classmates"

"Kendrick?" Henry Marquette said

"Yes?" I replied without takingwhen you are plotting so"

A dark car pulled up to the curb I smiled "Thank you," I told Henry Then I turned to Asher "Get Vivvie on the phone," I instructed "Tell her we’re a go"

Vivvie and her aunt had lived at the Roosevelt Hotel for almost a month until they’d found a DC apartment That was plenty of time for friendly-to-a-fault Vivvie Bharani to have endeared herself to the staff

Convenient, that, I thought as I watched Charles Bancroft climb out of the backseat of his luxury sedan Asher relayed e to Vivvie, then put the phone on speaker

"The eagle has landed," Vivvie said fros in life gave Vivvie and Asher asOne of the bellhops wheeled a cart of luggage out in front of Bancroft’s car Bancroft disappeared into the restaurant, but his driver wasn’t going anywhere

That was ht my elbow "No bloodshed," he said "No blackain," I told hihts on extortion?" Without waiting for an answer, I headed for Bancroft’s car

Henry and Asher followed onin the catnip," Asher reported back to Vivvie "Grurumpy lion?" Henry asked Asher

"Absolutely not," Asher promised Then he took the phone off speaker and lowered his voice "Suspicious lion is suspicious," he stage-whispered to Vivvie

With one last glance back at Henry and Asher, I approached Bancroft’s car and knocked on theThe driver rolled it down