Page 77 of Just Beachy

“Fine,” I snap. “But make it quick. I’m all out of patience for bullshit.”

“Right. I hear you. I get it.” Marty’s talking so quickly, he sounds like he’s about to hyperventilate. “Just give me a second. I need to, need to catch my breath.”

I roll my eyes, but I don’t hang up.

“Bottom line,” he continues, “the rookie’s not working out.” He draws another deep breath. “And now that you’ve had all this positive attention and become a national hero kicking butt and saving your grandmother, they want Cassie Everheart back onMurder 101.”

I blink. This is not at all what I was expecting.

“Best of all, they’re ready to throw buckets of money at you in order to get you back.”

For a long, lovely moment I savor the fact that they want me back. That they’re offering me a chance to act again.

Then I realize just how happy I am here with Grand and Luke and the life I’ve begun to build. My attempted rescue of Grand may have gotten a little messy, but she’s healthy andalive.

Who knows, maybe itistime for me to learn how to solverealcrimes instead of just pretendingto.

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