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She s a snake, she returned. And she doesn t exactly work that hard for a normal living. Her
coworkers say she plays up to her male customers to get big tips. Clark told me. He thinks they re
jealous because she s pretty.
He had a faraway look. Beauty is subjective, he said oddly. It isn t always manifested in surface
details.
She smiled. Then she laughed. Maybe I m subjectively beautiful and nobody noticed, she said.
He realized, belatedly, that she d made a joke. He laughed softly.
She looked around. The librarian was starting to close doors and turn out lights. She bit her lip. Clark
was nowhere in sight.
I don t think they ll let you stay the night, he pointed out.
She got up, grimacing. She picked up her coat and her purse. At least there s a bench out front. I told
Clark they closed at nine.
He got up, too, towering over her. You haven t learned yet that intimacy makes people lose track of
time.
She couldn t meet his eyes. He sounded very worldly. She put her purse down and gingerly eased her
left arm into the coat. He was behind her at once, easing the rest of the garment over her other arm
and onto her shoulder.
What happened to your arm? he asked.
She felt his warm hands on her shoulders, the warm strength of his body behind her. She wanted to
lean back and have him hold her. Insane thoughts.
An accident, she said after a minute. Nothing terrible, she lied. But it left a weakness in that arm.
I can t lift much.
There was a pause. His usually impassive face had a ragged look. I have a similar problem with one
of my legs, he said hesitantly. If I overdo, I limp.
She turned and looked up at him. She d noticed that. She d never expected him to admit it to his
enemy. You were hurt overseas worse than you told Winnie and Clark, she said with keen insight.
Worse than you ve told anyone. Except maybe Sheriff Carson.
His jaw firmed. You see too much.
In my own way, I ve been through the wars, too, she replied quietly. Scars don t go away, even if
wounds heal. And they destroy people.
She wasn t looking at him as she said it. Her eyes had the same expression as his did. It was a moment
of shared tragedy, shared pain. He moved a step closer to her. She looked up at him expectantly. It was
as if the wall between them had lowered just a little, letting in new light. But even as he started to
speak, a car drove up outside.
Boone tugged Keely back into the shadows of a row of books. Outside the tinted glass windows, they
saw Clark glance furtively at Boone s big Jaguar sitting next to Nellie s SUV. He bundled her out of
his car and into the SUV and waved her out of the parking lot. He looked hunted. He stood at the front
bumper of his car, looking toward the library and hesitating.
The jig s up, Keely told Boone with twinkling eyes.
No, it isn t. Come here. He took her hand and tugged her farther down the row of books, out of
sight of the glass windows. I hope you re a good actress.
Excuse me?
They heard the door open. Clark whispered something to the librarian. There was a returned whisper
and muffled footsteps on carpet coming closer.
Boone let go of Keely s hand. You won t tell me a damned thing, he said in a low voice, but one that
carried at least to the end of the aisle. I want to know where Clark is, why he isn t here with you. He
nodded at her meaningfully.
She caught on at once. I told you, he just went to get gas
Clark turned into the aisle where they were. His look of fear eclipsed when he overheard what Keely
said. He seemed to relax.
I m back, he told her. In the nick of time. He joined them and grinned at his brother. What are
you doing here?
I came in to get a book and found Keely, Boone muttered. Why didn t you take her with you to get
gas? he asked suspiciously.
I told him that I wanted to check out that canine anatomy book I was telling you about, she said to
Clark.
Oh. Right, he agreed quickly.
Boone gave them both a glare as the light overhead went out. Now I won t have time to check on
mine, no thanks to both of you. He turned on his heel and stalked out, pausing only long enough to
speak to the librarian.
Keely rushed back to grab her own book and take it to the desk, telling the harassed librarian that
she d be back on Monday to check it out and apologizing for keeping her late.
The librarian smiled and said it was all right, but she followed them right out the door, locking up
behind her.
That was close! Clark exclaimed when they were in the car heading back toward Keely s house.
How long had he been there?
Just a couple of minutes, she lied. I thought we were in big trouble!
We would have been if he d seen Nellie get out of my car and into hers, he said. What a break that
he was talking to you down an aisle instead of in front of the window!
Yes, wasn t it? she agreed.
I ll have to plan better next time, he said, almost to himself.
Did she like the necklace?
He chuckled. She loved it! I ordered her a Gucci suit to go with it and had it sent to her apartment,
he added. She was very grateful.
She could imagine the form that gratitude took, but she wasn t saying anything. She was still
wondering what Boone expected her to do now. She couldn t bear to tell Clark she d sold him out.
Not that she had, really. Boone wasn t stupid. Clark underestimated him, as usual. It was par for the
course that Boone was always three steps ahead of everybody else.
Nellie really is beautiful, she commented, for something to say.
Absolutely. He grinned at Keely. You didn t have any trouble before Boone showed up?
None at all. I was fine.
I ll have to plan better next time, he repeated. Boone s smart. I have to work hard to keep him in
the dark.
I m sure you ll come up with something, she replied.
We will, he replied. We re in this together, remember.
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