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complaining that I did you out of dinner. Sorry, but that’s the best I can do. I ate both our chicken sandwiches on the way over here. ”
    “ I’ve got a can of pineapple, but Mr. Sunshine wouldn’t let me through security with the can opener. ”
    At his questioning look, I elaborated, becoming more relaxed every minute as I l ooked into his comforting face. When I’d finished the story, Nick looked at the clock over the reception desk. “ If they’re going to let Alix out tonight, it shouldn’t be too much longer, so maybe you’ll get that pineapple yet. Nice chaser for the Snickers. You call it. Shall I stay or go? ”
    The normalcy Nick had brought to the moment as he’d smiled at my silly recitation was just what I’d needed to ground me in reality again. Things would be fine.
    I smiled at him. “ Much as I like having you around, maybe Alix will feel more inclined to talk if I’m alone. She might tell me—I don’t know—something, if it’s just me. You know how private she is. ”
    Nick stood. “ You got it. How about we talk tomorrow, unless something unexpected comes up tonight? Meanwhile, I’ll go home and read an article on the Metolius River I somehow missed in that October issue. ” He gestured toward the discarded Field & Stream .
    “ You were looking at headlines of a fishing magazine while I was pouring out my heart to you? ”
    “ Guilty as charged. What can I say? They really do have good articles. You ought to read this one while you’re waiting. ”
    “ You’re hopeless. I think you just came down here to look at the magazines. ”
    “ Hey! I saved the wine. Does that count as a point in my favor? ”
    “ Okay. One point . B ut if you want more, you’ll have to do better for dinner than a Snickers bar to go with it. ”
    “ And we’ll have to meet somewhere other than the lobby of the Russell County Courthouse , ” Nick said, smiling.
    “ You’re on. ” Funny how a few simple words immediately caused the room temperature to rise.

Chapter 4
    The joys of fishing the Metolius hadn’t exactly taken hold of my imagination by the time Brady returned to tell me Alix was on her way out another exit , and I should meet her outside. I thanked him warmly and wasted no time in gathering my quarantined can opener on my way out the door. That can of pineapple was sounding better by the minute.
    Alix’s usual confident swing was missing from her stride, so at first I didn’t recognize her as the woman making her slow way, head lowered, toward my car.
    I doubled my pace and caught her just as she arrived at the Volvo. “ Are you all right? We were so worried. ”
    Alix tossed back her hair and straightened. “ No need for that, really, but it was good of you to come. They offered me a lift home, but I’ve talked to enough deputies for one day. ”
    “ I’ll bet. ” I unlocked the car from her side and went around. “ You’re probably starved, too. Didn’t you miss dinner? ”
    Alix dropped into the passenger seat. “ Yeah, I guess. ”
    She lapsed into silence, so I followed her lead and drove without comment back to the Wedding Belle. From time to time I glanced over at her, but she just gazed passively out the side window, like a tourist who’d never seen the town before. When I eased to the curb in front of the Wedding Belle , she looked up, apparently startled that we had already arrived . Moving in slow motion, like a swimmer underwater, she opened the door .
    “ Thanks for the ride. ” She fished in her bag for her key s and walked away, leaving me with only the sound of the motor running.
    Astonishment kept me rooted behind the wheel for a moment. I’d missed my date with Nick and perched on the world’s most uncomfortable chair for hours reading magazines I didn’t like and worried myself silly. Oh no. This wasn’t all I was going to get. Maybe Alix was just in shock.
    I jumped from the car and spoke the first words that came to mind. “ I’ll fix you some