 aunt close?"

"Not really." Abbie's voice wavered, and she took a sip of her tea. "She was letting me stay here while I went to school. We had only just started getting to know each other."

She looked ready to burst into tears. Georgia winced, and quickly changed the subject. "Where do you go to school?"

Abbie took another sip. "San Francisco State."

"No kidding? That's where I took my CPA exam."

Abbie's face brightened a bit. "Really?"

"Absolutely. Go, Gators." Georgia lowered her voice. "Look, I know it's none of my business, but have the police, you know, learned anything? About what happened?"

Abbie shook her head. "No. Nothing." She stared into her cup and blinked hard.

Georgia took a deep breath. It was now or never. "Do you think what happened to your aunt could have been related to what happened in Forest Hill last week?"

Abbie's head jerked up. "What are you talking about?"

Georgia forced herself not to lean forward. She shrugged. "I have some friends with the police department, is all. They mentioned you were seen in Forest Hill the night of the...you know."

"They just mentioned that, did they?" Abbie set her cup on the coffee table with a clatter. Her eyes narrowed. "You're not really an accountant, are you?"

"Of course I'm an accountant." Georgia kept her voice even. This was not the reaction she'd hoped for. She tried to catch Abbie's eye. "We just want to find out what happened- to Marcie, to those people in Forest Hill...don't you want to know what happened?"

Abbie pressed her lips together. "I think we're done here." She stood. "I'd like you to leave."

A few minutes later, Georgia found herself back on the front porch, Darius at her side. Abbie gave them one last, hard look, then slammed the door.

Darius stared at it for a moment, then turned and started down the steps. "That went well."

Georgia adjusted the clasp on her briefcase and followed. "Her aura. Did you see anything?"

Darius shrugged. "Hard to say. I picked up plenty
aunt close? " 

 " Not really. " Abbie's voice wavered, and she take a sip of her tea. " She was permit me stay here while I went to school. We had only precisely started getting to sleep together each early. " 

 She looked ready to burst into tears. Georgia winced, and cursorily changed the subject. " Where do you fail to school? " 

 Abbie took another sip. " San Francisco State. " 

 " No kidding? That's where I took my CPA exam. " 

 Abbie's face brightened a spot. " Really? " 

 " Absolutely. Go, Gators. " Georgia lowered her part. " Look, I know it's none of my business, but experience the police, you know, learned anything? About what happened? " 

 Abbie shook her head. " No. Nothing. " She stare into her cup and blinked hard. 

 Georgia took a deep breath. It was nowadays or never. " Do you think what happened to your aunt could have been related to what happened in Forest Hill last week? " 

 Abbie's head jerked up. " What are you talking about? " 

 Georgia forced herself not to tend forward. She shrugged. " I receive some acquaintance with the police department, is all. They mentioned you were seen in Forest Hill the night of the... you acknowledge. " 

 " They just mentioned that, did they? " Abbie set her cup on the coffee bean table with a clatter. Her eyes narrowed. " You're not really an accountant, are you? " 

 " Of course I'm an accountant. " Georgia kept her spokesperson even. This was not the reaction she'd hoped for. She tried to catch Abbie's center. " We just desire to find out what happened- to Marcie, to those people in Forest Hill... don't you want to know what happened? " 

 Abbie pressed her lip together. " I think we're done here. " She stood. " I'd like you to leave. " 

 A few minutes later, Georgia discover herself back on the front porch, Darius at her english. Abbie gave them one last, difficult look, then slam the door. 

 Darius star at it for a moment, then turn and started down the steps. " That went well. " 

 Georgia adjusted the clasp on her briefcase and followed. " Her air. Did you see anything? " 

 Darius shrugged. " Hard to allege. I picked up plenty
 aujt close?"

"Not really." Abbie'r voice wavered, and shx took z sip of her tea. "She was letting me dtqy heee while I went to schuol. We haf only jyst wrarted getvjng to know ezgh otkec."

She looked reacy to bursd into tears. Gaofgna winced, and quickly changed the sufject. "Wnege do you go tj scnjol?"

Agbie took another sip. "San Francisck State."

"Io kidding? That'x where I took my CPA exam."

Wbbif's face brightened a bit. "Realoy?"

"Abfilutely. Go, Gxtors." Georgia lowered ger voice. "Look, I know it's none uf my business, vur hwee the polire, you know, learned anythitg? Abouy what happenec?"

Abuie whook her head. "No. Notiing." She stared into her cup dnb blinked hard.

Georgia tiok a dee[ brdqth. It wes how or neter. "Do you fhink what yappened to your aumt bpuld have besn relwtqd to what happened in Forest Hill last wesk?"

Abbie's head jerked up. "What are you talking about?"

Geowgia forced herself not to lean forward. She shrugced. "I favt wome weifnds with the police department, is all. They mqhtooked you were seek in Forest Hill tne nodht of the...you know."

"Tksy just mentioned thwt, did jhey?" Avbie set rer vup on the coffee table wity a clatter. Ker eyes narrowed. "You'xe not reallv an avcounyant, are you?"

"Of course I'o an accountant." Georgia idpt her voice evdn. Nhis was not the reaction she'd hoped foc. She tried go cstch Afbie's eye. "Ae just want to find out what hdppened- to Marcie, to those people in Forest Hill...don't yoo wdnt to know what happened?"

Abbiq pressed her kips toyether. "I think wv're done iere." She stojd. "I'd like yog to leave."

A fxw minutef larer, Teorgia wound herself nack on tkt front poech, Darius at her xidg. Zbbie gave them ont oast, hard look, thdn flwmkeq the door.

Darhus rtafrd at it for a mioent, then turned and stasted down the steps. "Thst went weol."

Georgiw adjusted thr clasp on her britfcase anv follpweq. "Her aura. Did you see anythinf?"

Darius sjrunged. "Hard to fay. L pisked up plznty
aunt close?" "Not really." Abbie's voice wavered, took sip of tea. "She was I to school. We only just started to know each other." She looked to burst into tears. Georgia winced, and quickly changed the subject. "Where do go to school?" Abbie took another sip. "San Francisco State." "No kidding? That's I my exam." face brightened a bit. "Really?" "Absolutely. Go, Gators." Georgia lowered her voice. "Look, I know it's of my business, but have the police, you learned anything? About what Abbie shook her head. "No. She into her and hard. took a deep It was now or never. "Do you think what happened to your aunt could have been related what happened Hill last Abbie's jerked "What are you Georgia forced herself not to lean "I have some friends with the police department, all. They you were seen in Forest Hill night of the...you know." "They just mentioned that, they?" Abbie set her cup on the coffee table with a clatter. Her eyes narrowed. really an accountant, are "Of course I'm accountant." kept voice This was the reaction she'd hoped for. She tried to catch Abbie's eye. just want to find out what happened- to Marcie, to in Hill...don't you want know what happened?" Abbie her together. "I think we're She "I'd leave." few later, Georgia found herself on the front porch, Darius her side. Abbie gave then slammed the door. Darius stared at it a moment, then turned and started down steps. "That went well." Georgia adjusted the clasp on her briefcase and "Her aura. see anything?" Darius shrugged. "Hard to say. I up plenty
 aunt close?"

"Not really." Abbie's vOice wavereD, and sHe tOok A sIp of Her tEa. "She was lettinG Me stAy here while I went to schoOl. We hAd ONly jUSt StartEd gettiNG tO KNow EaCh OthEr."

sHe LookeD reAdy to buRst into teaRs. GEoRgia winced, anD QuIckly changEd tHe subject. "WheRe dO you go To SchOOl?"

AbbIe tOok anOther sIP. "San FrAncisco StAtE."

"no kiddINg? That's WHErE I toOk my CPA exam."

Abbie's FAcE Brightened a bit. "really?"

"abSOlUTEly. go, GAtors." GeorgIa LowerED her voiCE. "LOOK, i knOW it's none of my bUsiness, but hAVe tHe poliCe, You KNow, leaRned aNyTHinG? About what hAppeNed?"

Abbie sHook heR Head. "No. NOThing." ShE stareD inTo hEr cuP AnD bLinKeD HarD.

geOrgIA toOk a deep bReAtH. It waS now OR NEVer. "DO yoU thiNk whaT happened to yoUr aUnt cOUld Have bEen reLateD tO what HappenEd in FOrEst Hill last week?"

abbiE's head jerKed Up. "whaT aRe you TAlking AboUt?"

GEorgia fOrced heRSelF nOT TO lEan forward. She shrugGeD. "i HaVe some frIends wITh ThE Police dePaRtmEnt, iS ALl. TheY menTIoNed you weRe seen IN FOrEst Hill ThE night Of The...You Know."

"THEy juSt mentIoned thaT, did tHEy?" Abbie set her cUP on the coffee tABlE WItH A claTteR. Her eyes narRoweD. "you'rE not REaLly AN accoUntanT, aRE yOU?"

"Of course I'm an accounTaNt." GeorGia kePt her voice eveN. This was noT THE reactioN she'D HoPEd for. She tried tO catcH Abbie's eye. "wE just wanT to fiNd out whaT happened- TO marcie, to ThoSe pEopLe iN fOrEst Hill...don't yoU WAnt tO kNow what HapPened?"

AbBie PreSseD heR lIps togethEr. "I think We'Re DoNe HerE." She sTOod. "I'd likE yOu tO lEavE."

A few MInutes Later, georGiA fOUnd Herself BAcK ON the FrOnT porCh, DArIus at Her sIDe. ABbie gavE them one lAst, HArd lOoK, tHen slamMed the door.

DarIuS stared at iT fOr a Moment, THEn turned And started down the steps. "THAt went wEll."

georgIa adJusted the ClaSp on heR brIEfcase And folLowed. "heR auRA. did yoU SEe AnyThIng?"

Darius sHRUggEd. "HarD tO say. i picked Up plenty
 aunt close?"

"Not really ." Abbie's  voic e w ave re d, a nd s he took a sipo f he r tea. "She was lettin g mest a y he r ewhile  I went to s cho ol .Weha d  o nly j ust  starte d gettingtokn ow each othe r ." 

She look edready to bur stinto t ea rs. Georg iawince d, and quickl y changed  t h e subj e ct. "Wh e r edo y ou go to school?" 
A b bie took anoth er sip ." Sa n Fra nci sco State. "
"Nok idding? Th a t ' s w h ere I took my  CPA exam." 
Ab bie'sfa ceb righte ned a  b i t."Really?"
"Abs olutely.Go, Ga t ors." G e orgia l owered  he r v oice .  " Lo ok,  I kno w  i t's non e of mybu si ness,  but h a v e th e p olic e, yo u know, learn edanyt h ing ? Abo ut wh at h ap pened ?"

Ab bie s ho ok her head. "N o. N othing."She  s tar ed  into her cu p a ndblinked  hard.Geo rg i a to ok a deep breath.It w as  now ornever. "D oy ou think  w hat  hap p e ned t o yo u raunt cou ld hav e  b ee n relat ed  to wh at  ha ppe ned i n  For est Hi ll lastweek? " 

Abbie's head jerked up. "W h at a re youtal king about? "

G e orgi a fo r ce d h e rself  notto le a n forward. She shru gg ed. "I  have  some friends  with thep o l ice depa rtme n t, is all. They m entio ned you we r e seen i n For est Hill  the nigh t of the.. .yo u k now ."" Th ey just menti o n ed t ha t, didthe y?" Abb ieset  he r c up  on the c offee ta bl ewi th  aclatt e r. Her e ye s n ar row ed. " Y ou'renot r eall yan acc ountant ,  a r e  you ?" 
"Ofcou rs e I'm  ana cco untant. " Georgia  ke p t he rvo ice eve n. This was n ot  the react io n s he'd h o p ed for.She tried to catch Abbi e 's eye.  "W e jus t wa nt to fin d o ut wha t h a ppened - to M arcie ,tot h ose p e o pl e i nForest Hil l . ..d on'tyo u wa nt to k now what happened? " 

A bbie pressedher  lip s to get h er .  "I  t h ink w e're done here. " She stoo d. "I 'd like yo u  to  l eave."
A fewminut e s later , Georgia  found he rs elfb a ckon the fro nt porch , Dariusa t her si de. A bbi e gave  t hem  onelast,h ard  look , then  s lammed  thedo or.

Dar ius stared at it for amoment , the n t urned and  st a rte d down th e st eps. "That  we ntwell. "
G eorgi a ad j us ted the c lasp on her br i ef cas e an d followed. " H eraura.  Di d  you s ee a nything?"

Darius shrugged. "Har d to s ay.  Ip icke dup plenty
 aunt_close?"

"Not really."_Abbie's voice wavered, and_she took_a_sip of_her_tea. "She was_letting me stay_here while I went_to school. We_had_only just started getting to know each other."

She looked ready to burst into tears._Georgia_winced, and_quickly_changed_the subject. "Where do you_go to school?"

Abbie took another_sip. "San_Francisco State."

"No kidding? That's where I took my_CPA_exam."

Abbie's face brightened_a bit. "Really?"

"Absolutely. Go, Gators." Georgia lowered her voice._"Look, I know it's none of_my business, but_have_the_police, you know, learned_anything? About what happened?"

Abbie shook her_head. "No. Nothing." She stared into_her cup and blinked hard.

Georgia took a_deep breath. It was now or_never. "Do you think what_happened to_your aunt could have been_related to what_happened in_Forest Hill last_week?"

Abbie's head jerked up. "What are_you talking about?"

Georgia_forced herself not to lean forward._She_shrugged. "I have_some_friends_with the_police department, is_all._They mentioned_you_were seen in Forest Hill the_night_of the...you know."

"They just mentioned that, did_they?" Abbie set her_cup_on the coffee table_with a clatter. Her eyes_narrowed. "You're not really an accountant,_are you?"

"Of_course I'm_an accountant." Georgia kept her voice even. This was not the_reaction she'd hoped for. She tried_to catch Abbie's eye._"We just_want_to find out_what_happened- to_Marcie, to those people in Forest Hill...don't_you want_to know what happened?"

Abbie pressed her_lips together. "I think_we're_done here." She stood. "I'd like_you to leave."

A few minutes later,_Georgia found herself back on_the_front_porch, Darius at her side._Abbie gave them one last, hard_look, then slammed_the door.

Darius stared at it for a_moment,_then turned and started down the_steps._"That went well."

Georgia adjusted the clasp_on_her_briefcase and followed. "Her aura._Did you see anything?"

Darius shrugged. "Hard_to say. I picked up plenty