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. In addition tosmuggling alcohol and assault weapons, they ve also been suspected of trafficking women.It spossible Barker was making arrangements to sell or trade you for that purpose.I backed away from the counter, shaking my head, unable to process what they were saying.Nathanstalking me was something I could believe.He d hated me on sight, hated that his father had remarriedinstead of mourning his mother forever.He d hated me for getting him locked up in psychiatrictreatment, and my being awarded the five-million-dollar settlement he thought of as his inheritance.But the Russian mob? Sex trafficking? I couldn t comprehend that at all.Graves flipped through the photos until she came to one of a platinum sapphire bracelet.An L-square ruler framed it unmistakably a forensics shot. Do you recognize this? Yes.That belonged to Nathan s mother.He had it altered to fit him.He never went anywherewithout it. Yedemsky was wearing it when he died, she said without inflection. Possibly as a souvenir. Of what? Of Barker s murder.I stared at Graves, who knew better. You re suggesting Yedemsky could be responsible forNathan s death? Then who killed Yedemsky?She held my gaze, understanding the motivation behind my question. He was taken out by his ownpeople. You re sure about that? I needed to know that they knew Gideon wasn t involved.Yes, he dkilled for me to protect me but he d never kill just to avoid going to jail.Michna frowned at my query.It was Graves who replied. There s no doubt.We have the hit onsurveillance footage.One of his associates didn t take too kindly to Yedemsky sleeping with hisunderage daughter.Hope surged, followed by chilling fear. So what happens now? What does this mean? Do you know anyone who has connections to the Russian mob? Michna asked. God, no, I said vehemently. That s & another world.I m having trouble believing Nathan hadany connections.But then it s been years since I knew him & I rubbed at the tightness in my chest and looked at Graves. I want to put this behind me.I want himto stop ruining my life.Is that ever going to happen? Is he going to haunt me even after he s dead?She quickly and efficiently collected the photos, her face impassive. We ve done all we can.Where you go from here is up to you.I showed up at CrossTrainer at quarter after six.I went because I d told Megumi I would and I dalready flaked on her once.I also felt a tremendous restlessness, an urge to move that I had to exhaustbefore it drove me insane.I d sent a text to Gideon as soon as the detectives left, telling him I neededto see him later, but I hadn t heard back by the time I d put my purse in a locker.Like all things Gideon, CrossTrainer was impressive in both size and amenities.The three-storyclub one of hundreds around the country had everything a fitness enthusiast could want, as well asspa services and a smoothie bar.Megumi was slightly overwhelmed and needed help with some of the high-tech machinery, so shewas taking advantage of the trainer-supervised workout for new members and guests.I got on atreadmill.I started out at a brisk walk, warming up, and then eventually progressed to a run.Once I hitmy stride, I let my thoughts run, too.Was it possible that Gideon and I were free to pick up the pieces of our lives and move on? How?Why? My mind raced with questions that I needed to ask Gideon with the hope that he was asclueless as I was.He couldn t be involved in Yedemsky s death.I wouldn t believe he was.I ran until my thighs and calves burned, until sweat ran down my body in steady streams and mylungs ached with the effort of breathing.It was Megumi who finally got me to stop, waving her hand in my line of sight as she moved infront of my treadmill. I am so totally impressed right now.You re a machine.I slowed my pace to a jog, then a walk, before stopping altogether.Grabbing my towel and waterbottle, I stepped off, feeling the effects of pushing myself too long and hard. I hate running, I confessed, still panting. How d your workout go?Megumi looked chic even in gym clothes.Her chartreuse racerback tank had bright blue threadingthat matched her spandex leggings.The ensemble was summer-bright and stylish.She bumped shoulders with me. You make me feel like an underachiever.I just did a circuit andchecked out the hot guys.The trainer I worked with was good, but I wish I d gotten that guy instead.I followed the point of her finger. That s Daniel.Want to meet him? Yes!I walked with her toward the mats in the center of the open space, waving at Daniel when he liftedhis gaze and caught sight of us.Megumi quickly yanked out the rubber band holding her hair back, butI thought she d looked great with it on, too.She had beautiful skin and I envied her mouth. Eva, great seeing you. Daniel extended his hand to me for a shake. Who s this you have withyou? My friend Megumi.She just joined today. I saw you working with Tara. He flashed Megumi his megawatt smile. I m Daniel.If you everneed help with anything, just let me know. I m going to take you up on that, she warned, as she shook his hand. Please do.Do you have any particular fitness goals?As they started talking more in-depth, my gaze wandered.I checked out the equipment, looking forsomething easy I could do while I waited for them to wrap it up.Instead I found a familiar sight.Tossing my towel over my shoulder, I noticed my not-so-favorite reporter on the floor.I took adeep breath and walked over, watching her do curls with a ten-pound hand weight.Her dark brownhair was in a fishtail braid, her long legs on display in skintight shorts, and her stomach tight and flat.She looked great. Hi, Deanna. I d ask if you come here often, she replied, setting the weight back on the rack and standing,  butthat s too clich�d.How are you, Eva? I m good.You?Her smile had the edge that never failed to get my back up. Doesn t it bother you that GideonCross buries his sins under all his money?So Gideon had been right about Ian Hager disappearing once he d gotten paid. If I really thoughtyou were after the truth, I d give it to you. It s all true, Eva.I ve talked to Corinne Giroux [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]