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I�grinned�at�him,�feeling�the�weight�of�the�amulet�pressing�against�me.�No�way�was�I�ever�
taking�this�off�now.� With�you?�Absolutely. �
36�
About�the�Author�
Cari Z is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She works, travels, writes and speaks
poor French, but at least the French is improving. Slowly.
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If�you�liked�TREASURED,�you�might�also�enjoy�SPIRTED�by�the�author& �
37�
A�single�pink�orchid�sat�on�my�desk�when�I�returned�to�the�station.�Just�the�one�flower,�
elegant�and�exotic,�curving�slightly�towards�my�chair�with�its�sweet smelling�blossom�
perfuming�the�room.�And�it�was�growing�out�of�my�coffee�cup.�
Damn�it! �I�swore.�I�threw�the�paper�sack�that�held�my�lunch�onto�my�desk.�No�way.�No�
way�in�hell.�I�stormed�out�of�my�cubicle�and�down�the�hall�to�where�my�supervisor,�Jack�
Myers,�spoke�on�the�phone�in�his�own,�much�larger,�office.�He�held�a�hand�up�to�forestall�any�
speaking�on�my�part�while�he�continued�nodding�into�the�phone.�I�waited�with�ill�grace�until�
he�hung�up�a�few�minutes�later,�and�then�I�exploded.�
I m�not�doing�it! �
Andrea. �He�tried�to�placate�me.� It�wasn t�my�idea,�but�the�commissioner�insisted�on�it.�
Try�to�be�reasonable. �
Reasonable? �I�exclaimed.� How�can�I�be�reasonable,�when�you re�handing�my�case�over�
to�that�arrogant,�selfish,�ass kissing�little �
Andrea,�you re�keeping�the�case.�O Connell�will�just�be�assisting�in�the�fieldwork.�It s�
safer�for�you�to�have�backup�anyway.�Someone�inside�the�clubs,�not�just�sitting�in�a�squad�car�
a�block�away. �
It�was�reasonable,�but�I�didn t�want�to�listen.� He�can t�tear�himself�away�from�a�mirror�
long�enough�to�be�helpful.�Jack,�I ve�been�working�on�this�case�for�three�months�and�I�deserve�
to�be�the�one�to�see�it�through.�Just�because�the�police�commissioner�thinks�Darren�O Connell�
is�the�greatest�thing�since�the�inception�of�forensic�thaumaturgy�doesn t�make�him�a�good�
man�in�the�field.�He s�a�lab�rat�disguised�as�a�caped�crusader.�He�doesn t�follow�orders.�He �
Steals�glory? �Jack�interrupted�softly.�His�voice�was�kind�but�his�expression�was�firm.� I�
know�how�you�feel�about�O Connell.�I�know�you�two�have�a�history�together.�But�you�said�it�
yourself,�Andrea.�You ve�been�working�the�case�for�three�months.�You�still�haven t�managed�to�
get�your�hands�on�a�sample�of�the�drug.�We�need�to�know�what�we re�dealing�with�in�order�to�
hunt�down�the�people�who�are�manufacturing�and�distributing�it,�and�this�stuff�has�the�fastest�
half life�of�any�magical�narcotic�we ve�ever�encountered.�We�can t�hold�the�people�who�sell�it�
because�as�soon�as�they�turn�out�their�pockets,�the�stuff�disappears. �He�sighed�heavily,�the�
lines�in�his�face�deepening.�
Meanwhile�we ve�got�everyone�from�runaway�kids�to�the�wife�of�a�state�senator�getting�
sick�on�the�stuff.�O Connell s�skills�fit�this�case.�The�police�commissioner�thinks�we�need�him�
to�close�it,�and�I m�tending�to�agree�with�him. �Jack�heaved�himself�up�from�behind�his�desk�
and�walked�around�to�me,�then�took�one�of�my�hands�in�both�of�his.�
It�wasn t�strictly�professional,�but�I�didn t�care.�Jack�and�I�went�way�back.�He�was�one�of�
the�only�people�in�the�world�I�could�truly�call�a�friend,�him�and�his�wife�Moira.�The�only�other�
person�in�this�part�of�the�country�I d�known�as�long�as�them�was�Darren,�and�our�relationship�
hadn t�turned�out�so�well.�
He ll�be�back�pretty�soon.�He�had�some�sort�of�official�luncheon�to�get�to�and�couldn t�
wait�for�you.�When�he�comes�back,�let�him�read�the�case�file,�okay?�Try�to�be�polite.�You re�
both�adults.�Both�professionals.�Both�cops.�You�can�do�this. �
It�was�all�true,�and�yet�I�felt�like�a�whiny�teenager.�Something�about�Darren�pushed�my�
angst�button.�Maybe�it�was�his�showmanship,�maybe�it�was�that�his�career�had�gone�so�much�
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