 already low in the sky, and slanted through the front windows of the Hall of Justice. As if on cue, her stomach growled.

Santoro winked and gave her a quick grin. "Better go take care of that."

Georgia laughed weakly. "Yeah. Thanks."

She waited until he disappeared back the way they'd come, then headed out the main doors. One glance at the uniformed officers milling around the entrance, and she tugged her jacket a little tighter. The manila folder felt like a beacon, blazing through her clothes. She took a deep breath, told herself for the umpteenth time no one could see it, and started down the steps.

"Learn anything?"

Georgia jumped and whirled around. Darius was leaning against the railing at the top of the stairs. How she'd missed him, she had no idea. Had he been waiting for her the entire time?

She scowled. "What makes you think I learned anything? _They_ interrogated _me_. You're a detective. Shouldn't you know how this works?"

Darius didn't seem daunted. He brushed past her on his way down the steps. "Let's just get out of here. You've wasted enough of my time today."

Georgia gaped. "How exactly have I wasted your time? You're the one who's supposed to be keeping my ass out of jail."

"I'm not your lawyer. Anyway, you weren't under arrest. You could have left anytime." Darius turned. "Now, are you going to tell me about that file you're trying to hide, or not?"

Georgia felt the blood drain from her face. She opened her mouth to deny it.

"Ms. Clare!"

Georgia closed her mouth again, and looked back. Chelsea Chandler was standing at the top of the stairs. Georgia resisted the urge to gulp. The folder. She must have noticed it was missing. Why else would she—

Heat suffused her side as Darius joined her on the step. Georgia stared up at him. He shifted closer, his face the picture of nonchalance. With a start, she realized what he was doing. The angle of his body neatly shielded where she'd tucked the folder under her jacket.

If Chandler noticed, she gave no sign. "Something I forgot to ask you
already low in the sky, and slanted through the front windows of the Hall of Justice. As if on cue, her abdomen grumble. 

 Santoro wink and gave her a immediate smile. " Better go take care of that. " 

 Georgia laugh weakly. " Yeah. Thanks. " 

 She wait until he disappeared back the manner they'd come, then headed out the independent doors. One glance at the uniformed officers mill around the entrance, and she tug her jacket a little tighter. The manila folder felt like a radio beacon, blazing through her clothes. She took a thick breath, told herself for the umpteenth clock time no one could see it, and get down down the steps. 

 " Learn anything? " 

 Georgia jumped and whirled around. Darius was lean against the railing at the top of the stairs. How she'd missed him, she had no idea. Had he been expect for her the entire time? 

 She scowled. " What makes you think I learned anything? _ They _ interrogated _ me _. You're a detective. Shouldn't you know how this works? " 

 Darius didn't seem daunt. He brush past her on his way down the footfall. " lease's just get out of here. You've wasted adequate of my time today. " 

 Georgia gap. " How exactly have I wasted your meter? You're the one who's supposed to be keeping my ass out of jail. " 

 " I'm not your lawyer. Anyway, you weren't under arrest. You could have left anytime. " Darius turn. " Now, are you going to tell me about that file you're trying to shroud, or not? " 

 Georgia felt the rake drain from her face. She opened her mouth to deny it. 

 " Ms. Clare! " 

 Georgia close her mouth again, and looked back. Chelsea Chandler was standing at the circus tent of the stairs. Georgia resisted the urge to gulp. The folder. She must have noticed it was neglect. Why else would she — 

 Heat suffused her side as Darius joined her on the step. Georgia stared up at him. He lurch closer, his boldness the picture of nonchalance. With a starting signal, she realized what he was doing. The angle of his body neatly shielded where she'd tuck the folder under her crown. 

 If Chandler noticed, she gave no sign. " Something I forgot to necessitate you
 algeady low in the sky, and slanted througk the fcont wihdows of the Hall of Justice. As if oi cuw, her stomach growled.

Santoru winked wnd gave her q quick grmh. "Bettev go fwke eace of that."

Georgla laughed feakly. "Yeah. Thdnys."

Dhe waited until he disappeared bach the wsy they'd come, thgn hesqed klt the main doors. One glance at the unpformed officers killing around the entrancf, anf she tugged her jwcket a litjme eughter. The mxnila foldtr felt like a beacon, blazing through her cuothex. She took a defk breath, tolv hersvlf for the umpteenth time np one could sec it, end wtarted down the stepv.

"Learn anything?"

Geotgia jumpeg cnd whirled around. Daeiys wav lednine agxinat tge raipinj at the tol of the stqirs. How she'd missec rpk, she had no idea. Raq he been waiting for her the entire tike?

Sge scowled. "What makes yiu think I learned anithing? _Ther_ interrogated _me_. You're a detective. Shouldn't you nnow iod tklf qogks?"

Darius didn't seem daunted. He brushed past rsr ok his way down tme steps. "Let's just gft jut of here. Yuu've wcatsd enough of my tile todai."

Georgua gaped. "Row rxactly have I wasted your rime? You're tke ine who's supposed co be keepiny my axs ouy of jail."

"I'm not your lacyer. Ahyway, you wfren't undsf arrest. You couud mava left anytime." Darius turnqd. "Now, arx you going go tgll me wbout that file you're trying to hife, or nmt?"

Georgia velt the blood drain from her fere. She opened har kouth to deny it.

"Ms. Clare!"

Gejrgia closed hgr mouth cgain, xnd looked back. Cielsea Chandjer was standhjg at the to' of the ftaies. Gworgia fdsisted the urbe to guli. Uhe folder. She must have notlced kf was missing. Wkv tlwe would she—

Hest rufsudev her vide as Darigs juindc her on the stei. Gdorgoa stared up at him. Ve sgifted closer, his gage the pixture of nonchalance. Eith a start, she rtalizev what he wss qoing. The angle of his body neztly shiepdeq where she'd tucjed the foldzr under her jacket.

If Chandler noticed, sie gave no sign. "Somethibg I forgot to ask iou
already low in the sky, and slanted front of the of Justice. As growled. winked and gave a quick grin. go take care of that." Georgia weakly. "Yeah. Thanks." She waited until he disappeared back the way they'd come, headed out the main doors. One glance at the uniformed officers milling around entrance, she her a little tighter. The manila folder felt like a beacon, blazing through her clothes. She took deep breath, told herself for the umpteenth time one could see it, started down the steps. "Learn Georgia and whirled Darius leaning the railing at top of the stairs. How she'd missed him, she had no idea. Had he been waiting for the entire scowled. "What you I anything? _They_ interrogated a detective. Shouldn't you know how didn't seem daunted. He brushed past her on way down steps. "Let's just get out of You've wasted enough of my time today." Georgia "How exactly have I wasted your time? You're the one who's supposed to be keeping out of jail." "I'm your lawyer. Anyway, weren't arrest. could left anytime." turned. "Now, are you going to tell me about that file trying to hide, or not?" Georgia felt the blood drain face. opened her mouth deny it. "Ms. Clare!" closed mouth again, and looked Chandler standing of stairs. resisted the urge to The folder. She must have it was missing. Why her side as Darius joined her on the Georgia stared up at him. He shifted his face the picture of nonchalance. With a start, she realized what was doing. of his body neatly shielded where she'd tucked folder under her jacket. Chandler noticed, she gave no sign. "Something I forgot ask
 already low in the sky, and slanTed through The frOnt WinDoWs of The HAll of Justice. As IF on cUe, her stomach growled.

SanToro wInKEd anD GaVe her A quick gRIn. "bETteR gO tAke CaRE oF that."

geoRgia lauGhed weakly. "yeaH. THanks."

She waitED uNtil he disaPpeAred back the wAy tHey'd coMe, TheN HeadeD ouT the mAin dooRS. One glAnce at the UnIFormed OFficers MILlIng aRound the entrance, aND sHE tugged her jackEt a litTlE TiGHTer. the Manila foldEr Felt lIKe a beacON, bLAZIng THrough her clotHes. She took a DEep Breath, ToLd hERself fOr the UmPTeeNth time no onE couLd see it, anD startED down thE Steps.

"LeArn anyThiNg?"

GEorgIA jUmPed AnD WhiRLeD arOUnd. darius waS lEaNing aGainST THE raiLinG at tHe top Of the stairs. HoW shE'd miSSed Him, shE had nO ideA. HAd he bEen waiTing fOr Her the entire timE?

She Scowled. "WhAt mAkEs yOu Think i LearneD anYthIng? _They_ InterroGAteD _mE_. yOU'rE a detective. Shouldn'T yOU KnOw how thiS works?"

dArIuS Didn't seeM dAunTed. HE BRusheD pasT HeR on his waY down tHE sTePs. "Let's jUsT get ouT oF heRe. YOu've wASted Enough Of my time Today."

gEorgia gaped. "How EXactly have I waSTeD YOuR Time? you'Re the one who'S supPOsed To be KEePinG My ass Out of JaIL."

"I'M Not your lawyer. Anyway, YoU weren'T undeR arrest. You couLd have left ANYTime." DariUs tuRNeD. "now, are you going To telL me about thAT file you'Re tryIng to hidE, or not?"

GeoRGIa felt thE blOod DraIn fROM hEr face. She openED Her mOuTh to denY it.

"ms. Clare!"

geoRgiA clOseD hEr mouth agAin, and loOkEd BaCk. cheLsea CHAndler waS sTanDiNg aT the tOP of the StairS. GeoRgIa REsiSted the URgE TO gulP. THe FoldEr. SHe Must hAve nOTicEd it was Missing. WhY elSE wouLd ShE—

Heat suFfused her side As darius joinEd Her On the sTEP. Georgia Stared up at him. He shifted cLOser, his FacE the pIctuRe of nonchAlaNce. WitH a sTArt, she RealizEd whaT hE waS DOing. THE AnGle Of His body neaTLY shIeldeD wHere She'd tucKed the folder under hER jaCket.

If ChandleR noTiceD, SHe GavE No SIgn. "soMEthING I forgot to ask yoU
 already low in the sky, a nd slanted  thro ugh  th efron t wi ndows of the H a ll o f Justice. As if on cu e, he rs toma c hgrowl ed.

Sa n to r o  wi nk ed  an dg av e her  aquick g rin. "Bett ergo  take care o f  t hat."

Geo rgi a laughed we akl y. "Ye ah . T h anks. "
She w aitedu ntil h e disappe ar e d back the way t he y'dcome, then headed ou t  the main door s. One  g l an c e  at  th e uniforme doffic e rs mill i ng a r oun d  the entrance , and she t u gge d herja cke t  a lit tle t ig h ter . The manil a fo lder felt  likea  beacon ,  blazin g thro ugh  he r cl o th es . S he too k  a  de e p b reath, t ol dherse lf f o r t he u mpt eent h tim e no one coul d s ee i t , a nd st arted  dow nthe s teps.
"Lea rn  anything?"

Ge orgi a jumpedand  w hir le d aro u nd. Da riu s w as lean ing aga i nst  t h e ra iling at the top o ft h estairs.How sh e 'd  m i ssed him ,she  had n o ide a. H a dhe beenwaitin g  f or  her th eentire  t ime ?
She s c owle d. "Wh at makes  yout hink I learned anything? _Th e y_ i nt e rrog ate d _me_. You 'rea  det ecti v e.  Sh o uldn' t you  k n ow how this works?"

D ar ius di dn'tseem daunted.  He brushe d p ast heron h i sw ay down the st eps."Let's jus t  get out  of h ere. You 've waste d enough o f m y t ime  to d a y. "

Georgia ga p e d. " Ho w exact lyhave Iwas ted  yo urti me? You'r e the on ewh o' ssup posed to be ke ep ing  m y a ss ou t  of ja il."
"I' mno t  yo ur lawy e r. A nywa y,  y ou w ere n' t und er a r res t. Youcould hav e l e ft a ny ti me." Da rius turned."N ow, are yo ugoi ng tot e ll me ab out that file you're tr y ing tohid e, or  not ?"

Georg iafelt t heb lood d rain f rom h er  fa c e . She o pe ned  h er mouth t o den y it. 
"Ms.  Clare! "

Georgia closedh ermouth again,and  loo k e dbac k .C hel se a  Ch a n dler was standi ng at theto p  o f the stai r s.Ge orgia r esisted  theu rge togulp. The  folder.Sh e mu s t  ha ve noticed  it wasmissing.W hy el s ewould  sh e—

He at  su ffuse d hers ide  as D ariusjo ined h er on  t he step.  Georgia stared up at h im. He  shif ted  closer,his fac e the pic ture  of noncha lan ce.  With  as tart,  she re ali z ed wh at h e  was doin g .The a ng le of his b o d y  ne atlyshi e lded w here  she'd tucked the folder under h er j a c ket .
I f Ch an dler noticed,she  g a v e no sig n.  "Something  I forgo tt o ask  you
 already_low in_the sky, and slanted_through the_front_windows of_the_Hall of Justice._As if on_cue, her stomach growled.

Santoro_winked and gave_her_a quick grin. "Better go take care of that."

Georgia laughed weakly. "Yeah. Thanks."

She waited_until_he disappeared_back_the_way they'd come, then headed_out the main doors. One_glance at_the uniformed officers milling around the entrance, and_she_tugged her jacket_a little tighter. The manila folder felt like a_beacon, blazing through her clothes. She_took a deep_breath,_told_herself for the umpteenth_time no one could see it,_and started down the steps.

"Learn anything?"

Georgia_jumped and whirled around. Darius was leaning_against the railing at the top_of the stairs. How she'd_missed him,_she had no idea. Had_he been waiting_for her_the entire time?

She_scowled. "What makes you think I_learned anything? _They__interrogated _me_. You're a detective. Shouldn't_you_know how this_works?"

Darius_didn't_seem daunted._He brushed past_her_on his_way_down the steps. "Let's just get_out_of here. You've wasted enough of my_time today."

Georgia gaped. "How_exactly_have I wasted your_time? You're the one who's_supposed to be keeping my ass_out of_jail."

"I'm not_your lawyer. Anyway, you weren't under arrest. You could have left_anytime." Darius turned. "Now, are you_going to tell me_about that_file_you're trying to_hide,_or not?"

Georgia_felt the blood drain from her face._She opened_her mouth to deny it.

"Ms. Clare!"

Georgia_closed her mouth again,_and_looked back. Chelsea Chandler was standing_at the top of the stairs._Georgia resisted the urge to_gulp._The_folder. She must have noticed_it was missing. Why else would_she—

Heat suffused her_side as Darius joined her on the_step._Georgia stared up at him. He_shifted_closer, his face the picture of_nonchalance._With_a start, she realized what_he was doing. The angle of_his body neatly shielded where she'd tucked the folder_under her jacket.

If_Chandler noticed, she gave no_sign._"Something_I forgot to ask you