Page 37 of Baby Me

Oh, Charlie had it bad for Evie – which could possibly mean that Evie would finally be out of myhair.

“Sorry, I know she means well. It’s just been a rough year for me. It’s been rough for the whole family,” Isaid.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I think she’s the least of yourworries.”

“What are you talkingabout?”

Charlie’s gaze flew to the door and then back to me. He leaned over me, whispering, “The FBI director from New York has been waiting out in the hall since seven this morning. He wants to talk toyou.”

“How the hell does he know I’mhere?”

“I don’t know. We didn’t use your name atregistration.”

“Kate never liked that asshole. What does he seem like toyou?”

“Definitely not someone I would give up my kidney for. You should listen to Kate. Women’s instincts are usually right. If you want my advice, I would watch my back aroundhim.”

“Thanks. Hey, you take care of Evie, willyou?”

“You got it. She’s a very speciallady.”

I remembered a day in the past when I’d felt the same way about Evie, and for a moment wondered what happened to drive me away. Charlie was a good man, and I hoped that the two of them would behappy.

“All right. Let the shark in. In the meantime, see what you can do about releasing me early. And don’t tellanyone.”

“I don’t like where you’re going with this, but I’ll see what I cando.”

Moments after Charlie walked out the door, in came the FBI director who was responsible for keeping Cortez behindbars.

“How are you feeling?” heasked.

“Fine, now that my gut’s been cleaned out. What are you doinghere?”

“Relax, Mr. Madden. No one knows you’re at this hospital. I was here on personal business and saw you being wheeled out ofsurgery.”

I called bullshit on that one. If Kate was right about this guy, then he was high up on Cortez’s payroll, which also meant that I was in trouble and he was closer to Kate than I ever wanted him tobe.

“I hope you’re feelingbetter.”

“Almost died, but the doc tells me that I’ll befine.”

“That’s good to hear. Are you heading home after you’rereleased?”

“No, back to the only safe place Iknow.”

“Good. Keep it that way. Looks like winter’s going to be mild thisyear.”

He was fishing forinformation.

Dweeb.

He should have saved those games foramateurs.

“The weather is the least of my worries. How’s the investigation going? My father hasn’t heard anything new aboutCortez.”

“My people are working day and night on thecase.”

Somehow, I doubted that, because according to my sources, nothing was getting done. I had a feeling it was time to put my own plan into play and set a trap for Cortez. If they didn’t cuff him by Christmas, I vowed to finish their job on myown.

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