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Page 182
for plain coffee and a roll called a croissant. Philip chose something called cappuccino and a basket of chocolate chip cookies. Abby was startled by the loud grinding of the machine that made Philip's frothy drink.
They sat at a small table in a corner. Philip put his food down, then seated himself. He looked at Abby, who took a chair across from him. "So," he said, "what did the bastard do to you?"
Abby tried not to feel discomfited by this man's profanity. She had had a few minutes to think about what to say. "Nothing yet. But you see, I have some money of my own, and he seems attracted to me. You stated in anger that he killed your sister. Were you exaggerating? I must know if he is truly dangerous." She did not believe that of Mike, particularly not from the venomous, irrational Philip. What she really sought was how dangerous the man before her was. Despite his obvious anger that was, for the moment, tempered, her special sense told her nothingat least not yet. But maybe he himself would reveal what she needed.
"Dangerous? Hell, he's lethal. And talk about hanging on to your moneyhe's taken all of Dixie's, and it should have come to me. Not only that, my little visit to his office the other day cost me plenty. I've been hounded by the cops ever since. They say I tampered with the elevator. I've had to get my lawyer involved."
"Did you tamper with it?" She broke off a piece of her flaky croissant and put it into her mouth. It tasted delicious and buttery.

 
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