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“How long were you out? Did the First Lady talk to you when you came to?”

“She asked me about your life and your weaknesses. I told her I only worked at the museum and didn’t know you well. That you weren’t the best boss, so we didn’t talk.” He flicked a look at me. “She didn’t believe my lie and injected more meds into me. It made me weak.”

“She did it, or someone else?”

“She did it,” he said. “There was evilness in her eyes. She said I’d be useful. I assumed she was going to use me to blackmail or hurt you.”

“Well, she didn’t get to. You’re safe now.”

Was the First Lady working for Ashton? Or maybe The Trogyn?

“I was in another building with other people. But then they moved everyone. I pretended I was unconscious but saw thenumber 207 on the new building. So I changed the date on my watch and dropped it, hoping you or someone would find it.”

“I did. But I didn’t know what the numbers meant.”

“Yeah, it was a long shot. But I tried.”

A knock sounded at the door, and Agnes poked her head in.

“We were just talking about you.” I waved her in.

She entered with a bag of food. “Oh, yeah?”

“I’ve got to go. Rest up.” I winked at Joseph. “Do what you need to do. Life is too short.”

“I just saw Vanessa,” Agnes said. “She looks well.”

“She is.” I leaned in and whispered, “Make the workaholic eat and rest.”

“Got it.”

After a hot shower with Vanessa, I tucked her into bed and lay next to her.

She described her ordeal. “They’re experimenting on people with dangerous drugs. I saw a man go crazy from Serum100. Did they locate Dr. Messina and Brody C. Harris?”

“The authorities are on it. Their faces are everywhere in the media worldwide.”

“Worldwide?” Her eyes widened.

“Musepaper and Orion’s media companies have extensive reach. They’ll be caught. Don’t worry.”

“Before I forget, you need to check this.” She reached for her phone at the charging station. “Brody bought an artwork from me.”

She told me how she’d inserted a tracking device Vivian had given her into the painting. “I haven’t looked at the tracker recently. Maybe that can help locate him or something.”

“My Lily Pad has some spying skills. I’ll look later. You need to rest.”

Her eyes warmed. “I’m part of the Super Spy Girl group.”

I laughed. “What’s that?”

“A group of intelligent women with unique missions. Sort of like the Bond girls.” Mischief gleamed in her eyes. “My mission, For Your Heart Only, is complete.”

I smirked. “What exactly is that mission?”

“To see if your feelings for me are real. We’ve had several painting sessions where you confessed your love for me. So they’re real.”

“You could’ve just asked me, and I would’ve told you.”