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I start pacing again as I think about his answers. More questions keep popping in and out of my brain, but I can’tfocus. I don’t want to talk about all my festering memories in detail. Or about Virginia. How do I keep this vague and passive?

“I’ve got it!” I pat myself on my back at my genius.

“Is it a bug?” Kimi asks in concern as he watches me flailing.

“Kind of. Questions are a lot like bugs. They scuttle out and then run when you see them. Anywho, did you know mebeforethat?”

Perfect.

“No? Was I supposed to?” He looks confused as he rolls Mitri 2 in his lap. “Can I phone a friend?”

“Who did you have the Old Man watching me for?” I continue. I have to keep him on the ropes.

“Me. Even you don’t listen? What the fuck, wifey?”

“Is he lying, bailiff?” I turn to Ben solemnly.

“He isn’t,” Ben mutters with a head tilt. He looks like he’s getting hungry. I need to finish this up.

“Huh. Then I guess you’re innocent. You may step down. You’re free to go,” I give Kimi a low bow, and he bounces to his feet.

“Hear that? I’m the best there ever was guys! Innocent! My charges have been dropped.”

“We need some decorum in this courtroom, sir,” I tell him with a raised brow of censure.

“Sorry, I’m just excited,” he looks contrite, and I nod.

“That’s understandable. Next up.” I turn on Mitri with a glare. He straightens subtly as he eyes me. His hands are away from his guns, which confuses me.

“Did you take me to that vamp club so I would be too weak to fight back when we got to the mansion ofbullshit lies? Was it a distraction? Pretend to help me so you could flatten me later?”

My rage suddenly takes a dive as I pout at him. “Like, literally. Thathurt, Mitri. My body was an accordion. I went all.” I slowly collapse my hands together and clap at the end.

“You didn’t even help me up you raging jackass,” I finish helplessly.

“What?” Mal turns to Mitri with a low frequency hum of danger. “When did this happen?”

“Right?” I turn to the dragon with wide eyes. “Totally rude. Chivalry is dead.”

“Nyet. I would not betray you.” He sounds absolutely pissed even though he isn’t emoting.

Join the club, buddy. We might bake cookies.

I turn to Ben for judgment.

“He isn’t lying either.” He sounds mad about it, too. We’re all mad, and we should be.

“How can you tell? He’s probably the best poker player there ever was.” I look at Mitri curiously, trying to figure out what he saw that I didn’t.

“His scent, baby,” he looks at me sadly. “Remember?”

“I…. Don’t remember that,” I mutter with a frown.

“What happened to her?” Mal asks in a horrified tone.

“Oh, drop the fake concern, TGT Strangler. No one’s falling for it.” I roll my eyes hard enough to spin around.

“I guess Mitri is innocent, too. I’m running out of people to be mad at, Ben.”