Thread Of Deceit. Catherine Palmer

folded every one of those seventeen used napkins. Used napkins. Folded them.”

      “So what?”

      “The first time you came to Haven, you learned about our dress code. Today you have on a white shirt of your own. You’re not wearing red or blue, because you know the rules, and you follow them. You follow them, because you like them.”

      “That is so lame.”

      “You hated the towel pile. You griped about Terell’s office, but you complimented mine. It’s neat. Clean. That’s because I like rules, too.”

      “Okay, I do appreciate a certain amount of order in life,” she admitted. “That’s not unusual. And it’s not the most important thing about me.”

      “No?” He shrugged. “Then I surrender. What is the most important thing about you, Ana?”

      Now he had backed her into a corner. Clever. But Ana had escaped from many corners.

      “What’s most important about me can’t be the least bit important to you,” she said. “I’m not the issue here. Haven is. Tell me why you and Terell are so interested in these kids. In two short visits, I’ve observed a child with a bruised cheek, another hiding like a scared rabbit in a corner and a third with cerebral palsy being coerced into playing basketball. That’s enough to set off my alarm bells. What’s going on over there, Sam? What’s with all the rules? And why is Terell forever fawning over the little girls? What are you two men getting out of this?”

      “Hold on now. Fawning over little girls?” His brow furrowed. “What are you insinuating, woman? I give you access to Haven, and this is what I get in return? You’ve seen what we do. Terell and I are helping the kids. Don’t you dare write anything else.”

      Standing, she shouldered her bag. “And don’t you tell me what I can or can’t write.”

      She pushed in her chair, and started for the door. Halfway there, she swung around, stormed back to the table, grabbed the napkin and wadded it into a ball. Then she tossed it at Sam, who caught it neatly in his hand.

      She could hear him laughing as he followed her to the door.