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“And then what happens?” Cody asked again. “When will you have news for us?”

Wanda frowned thoughtfully. “Tomorrow,” she announced, “unless George gets temperamental on me.”

“Tomorrow!” Emily was astonished. “I wouldn’t even think that would give you time to put our information in the computer, let alone get the results.”

For the first time, Wanda looked flustered. “I’m very good with computers,” she said defensively. “I know I didn’t grow up with them the way you young people did, but—”

“Oh, Wanda, I didn’t mean...” Emily hesitated, chewing on her lower lip. She wouldn’t hurt this nice lady’s feelings for the world. “I only meant that I didn’t think anybody could work that fast. If you can, then I applaud you.”

The old lady seemed to recover herself. “I guess I’m touchy about my age,” she confided. “When George was installed, it took me forever to learn to get along with him. For a while there, I thought I might actually lose my job.”

“Hey,” Cody said, “you’re not the only one with computer problems. Those blamed things can be more trouble than they’re worth sometimes.”

“You know, they really can.” Wanda gave him a grateful glance. “Let’s go get those pictures and then you can both run along. I’m sure you have many more important things to do today.”

Cody grinned. “This is the most important thing I’ve got to do, period. As far as I’m concerned, you can take all the time you need.”

He and Wanda turned expectantly to Emily. Cornered, she could only smile and agree. Even if it wasn’t true. None of this had the least bit of importance to her. Except, of course, that she didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

Or get involved.

From: MataHari@Upzydazy.com

Sent: Monday, Nov. 2, 7:42 p.m.

To: SuperScribe@BoyHowdy.com

Subject: Hold your horses!

Calm down, will you, Terry? I said I’d go to the Yellow Rose and I did. Answered the usual nosy questions, had my picture taken, the whole nine yards. The lady I dealt with, Wanda Roland, is really nice. I also met a really cute guy. Almost makes me sorry this isn’t for real. :-((Not really.) I’ll let you know if and when I get matched, but in the meantime... Yellow Rose Matchmakers is located in a beautiful old Victorian house in a quiet and shady neighborhood...

CHAPTER TWO

From: SuperScribe@BoyHowdy.com

Sent: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 6:30 a.m.

To: MataHari@Upzydazy.com

Subject: Good girl!

I knew I could count on you, Emmy. Sorry if I pushed. Here’s a rose as a peace offering: @)->—>—Okay, down to business. Wanda Roland is in my notes and I want to know more about her, especially how she gets on with the computers. There seems to be some question about this “completely computerized” claim. Also, be sure to keep me posted on your adventures with the “really cute guy”....

EMILY downloaded her E-mail from her laptop computer first thing Tuesday morning and read Terry’s note at the breakfast table while Laurie looked on with ill-concealed curiosity. When she’d finished the message, Emily wadded it into a ball, which she tossed on the floor for her yellow cat, Archie, to bat around.

“I’m dying of curiosity!” Laurie announced. “What did he say?”

“He who?” Emily reached for her glass of orange juice, trying to compose herself. She wished to heaven she’d never mentioned the “really cute guy”.

“C’mon, that E-mail was from Terry, right? What did that con man want this time?”

“That’s no way to talk about my cousin,” Emily said primly, but she couldn’t help smiling. She’d called him worse herself, but blood was still thicker than water.

“Don’t forget, I know the guy,” Laurie said darkly. “Old Anything-for-a-scoop Kirkwood.”

“Give him a break. This is a new job and he’s trying to make good.” Emily uttered an exasperated sigh. “Do you realize you’ve made me defend him? I must be nuts.”

“You sure are, after he basically blackmailed you into helping him research this story. He tried to pull the same stunt with me but he didn’t have anything to hold over my head.” Laurie took a sip of coffee. She was already dressed for work although she’d come in quite late the night before. This was the first chance the roommates had had to talk since breakfast yesterday.

“He didn’t have to blackmail me,” Emily said. “You know I owed him after he saved my father’s life in that boating accident. I can never repay him for that.”

“No, Em, your father can never repay him for that. Or couldn’t—I guess now that he’s dead, it kind of gets both of you off the hook.”

“Really? Then why do I feel so beholden?”

Laurie shrugged. “Because you’re one of the good guys,” she said with a smile. “You’d probably help Terry even if he wasn’t your cousin and you didn’t think you owed him.” She grinned and added, “But it’s still blackmail!”

“You could be right.”

Laurie returned to the main point. “Was Terry happy you’ve been to the Yellow Rose?”

Emily nodded. “My...counselor or whatever you call her is a delightful old lady named Wanda Roland. I mentioned her in my E-mail to Terry yesterday and he’s apparently heard of her. He wants to know all about her and how she gets along with computers.”

“That sounds innocent enough.”

“Yes, except...there’s something funny about Wanda and computers.”

“Funny ha-ha or funny strange?”

“Definitely funny strange. She talks about using them, even boasts about how computerized the company is, but she touches her computer the way I’d touch a snake.”

“Not with love, huh.”

“Definitely not.” Emily frowned. “She calls her computer George.”

“That is peculiar. Most computers I know are named Max.” Laurie laughed. “So did anything else happen yesterday, except that you met a strange little old lady?”

“Well...” Don’t go on, Emily warned herself. Don’t mention Cody James. She’d never see him again, so why bring him up? “I...uh...” She licked her lips, surprised at the unexpected desire to talk about him. “I met a really good-looking man. I mean, really.”

“Better-looking than John?”

“Much better-looking.”

Laurie rubbed her hands together with glee. “Now we’re getting down to brass tacks!”

“But I don’t want to get down to brass tacks. After John, I’m not in the market for a man, as you well know.”

For a moment, Laurie frowned at her friend. Then she shook her head sadly. “Emily Kirkwood, I don’t understand you at all. Just because your former fiance was a louse doesn’t mean they all are. Every woman without a man is in the market for one, preferably the right one, of course.”