“Then we’re at a stalemate.” Dana liked the shrink, but work was work. “When are you and Angus going to get together, anyway?”

Nari blushed. “That’s crazy.”

There was a lot of that going on these days, it seemed. “Why are you in this office, Nari?” Dana asked.

“What do you mean?”

Right. “You know what I mean. This is the HDD’s Island of Misfit Toys. You seem to have your act together.” The journalist in Dana couldn’t let the question go. “Oh, I understand you report back to the agency about the group, and the unit knows that, but why you?”

“I wanted a challenge.”

That wasn’t the full truth. Dana’s investigative instincts awakened. “There’s more, I can tell.” She smiled. “I love a good story.”

“As do I,” Nari said softly.

Dana perked up. She and Nari had hit it off right away and were quickly becoming friends. “Is that a challenge?”

Nari’s dark eyes gleamed. “Oh, you bet. I’ll have the info long before you will.”

“I don’t see how.” If she didn’t talk, and if Wolfe didn’t talk, there was no way the shrink would figure out their case. “I, however, do have connections in HDD.”

Nari reached out and gently stroked Kat. “Okay. The bet is for lunch at Gerviani’s in D.C.”

Dana blew out air. “Wow. You’ve got it.” She looked at the shrink’s expensive blouse. “You must do all right with the HDD.”

Nari chuckled. “Government salary? No. But I did invest well a few years back in a beverage company that partnered with a cannabis company to create drinks for the states where cannabis is legal.”

Dana’s mouth dropped open. “No kidding?”

“Yep. Has been quite lucrative.” Nari scratched behind Kat’s ears, and his purring got louder. “The company does a great job, and someday will probably be bought out. My stock should provide a good retirement.”

“Good for you.” The thrill of the challenge went through Dana. “Maybe we should bet for more than lunch.”

Nari’s smile widened. “Lunch is enough.” She sobered. “Seriously, though. Be careful with Wolfe. He’s lost a lot.”

Dana cleared her throat. “Is that advice from a shrink or a friend?”

“It has to be from a friend,” Nari said. “As a shrink, I can’t talk about him. As a friend, I can tell you that you’d need to be all in or all out with him. After everything he’s lost, he won’t know any other way.”