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.Honeycutt? Matt could see where this was going and he didn t like it. Yes, he heard himself say, while his mindworked desperately for a plausible explanation. I was trying to avoid running over a fox.And Yet there was a report of a brand new Jaguar lingering in front of your house, just far enough awayfrom the streetlight to be inconspicuous.A car so new that it had no license plates.Was that, in fact,your car, Mr.Honeycutt? Mr.Honeycutt s my father! Matt said desperately. I m Matt.And it was my friend s car And your friend s name is& ? Matt stared at Elena.She was making wait gestures, obviously trying to think.To sayElena Gilbertwould be suicidal.The police, of all people, knew that Elena Gilbert was dead.Now Elena was pointingaround the room and mouthing words at him.Matt shut his eyes and said the words, Stefan Salvatore.But he gave the car to his girlfriend? He knewhe was ending his sentence so that it sounded like a question, but he could hardly believe Elena scoaching.Now the sheriff was beginning to sound tired and exasperated. Areyou askingme , Matt? So you weredriving the brand-new car of your friend s girlfriend.And her name is& ? There was a brief moment when the girls seemed to disagree and Matt hung in limbo.But then Bonniethrew her arms up and Meredith moved forward, pointing to herself. Meredith Sulez, Matt said weakly.He heard the hesitation in his own voice and he repeated, huskilybut with more conviction, Meredith Sulez. Now Elena was whispering rapidly in Meredith s ear. And the car was purchased where? Mr.Honeycutt? Yes, Matt said. Just a second He put the phone into Meredith s outstretched hand. This is Meredith Sulez, Meredith said smoothly, in the polished, relaxed tones of a classical music diskjockey. Miss Sulez, you ve heard the conversation so far? Ms.Sulez, please, Sergeant.I have. Did you, in fact, lend your car to Mr.Honeycutt? I did. And where is Mr. there was a shuffling of paper Stefan Salvatore, the original owner of the car? Page 115 Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlHe s not asking her where they bought it, Matt thought.He must know. My boyfriend is away from town right now, Meredith said, still in the same refined, unflappable voice. I don t know when he ll be back.When he is, shall I have him call you? That might be wise, Sheriff Mossberg said dryly. These days very few cars are bought with cash onthe line, especially brand-new Jaguars.I d like your driver s license number, also.And, in fact, I d verymuch like to speak to Mr.Salvatore when he returns. That may be very soon, Meredith said, a bit slowly, but following Elena s coaching.Then she recitedher driver s license number from memory. Thank you, Sheriff Mossberg said briefly. That will be all for May I just say one thing? Matt Honeycutt would never, ever remove stop signs or yield signs.He s avery conscientious driver and was a leader in his high school class.You can speak to any of Robert E.Lee High School s teachers or even the principal if she s not on vacation.Any one of them will tell youthe same thing. The sheriff didn t seem to be impressed. You can tell him from me that I ll be keeping an eye on him inthe future.In fact it might be a good idea if he stopped in the Sheriff s Department today or tomorrow, he said, and then the phone went dead.Matt burst out, Stefan s girlfriend? You, Meredith? What if the car dealer says the girl was a blond?How are we going to work that out? We aren t, Elena said simply from behind Meredith. Damon is.All we have to do is to find him.I msure he can take care of Sheriff Mossberg with a little mind control if the price is right.And don t worryabout me, she added gently. You re frowning, but everything is going to be fine. You believe that? I m sure of it. Elena gave him another hug and a kiss on the cheek. I m supposed to stop by the Sheriff s Department today or tomorrow, though. But not alone! Bonnie said, and her eyes were sparkling with indignation. And when Damon goeswith you, Sheriff Mooseburger will end up being your best friend. All right, Meredith said. So what are we doing today? The problem, Elena returned, tapping an index finger against her upper lip, is that we ve got too manyproblems at once and I don t want anybody and I mean anybody going out alone.It s clear that thereare malach in the Old Wood, and that they re trying to do unfriendly-type things to us.Kill us, for one. Matt basked in the warm relief of being believed.The conversation with Sheriff Mossberg had shakenhim more than he wanted to show. So we make up task forces, Meredith said, and we split the jobs between them.What problems dowe need to plan for? Page 116 Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlElena ticked off the problems with her fingers. One problem is Caroline.I really think someone shouldtry to see her, at the very least to try and find out if she has one of thosethings inside her.Anotherproblem is Tami and who knows who else? If Caroline is& contagious somehow, she might havespread it to some other girl or guy. Okay, Meredith said, and what else? Someone needs to contact Damon.Try to find out from him anything he knows about Stefan leaving,and also try to get him to go in to headquarters with us to influence Sheriff Mossberg. Well, you d better be on that last team, since you re the only one Damon s likely to talk to, saidMeredith. And Bonnie should be on it, so she can keep No.No Calling today, Bonnie pleaded. I m so sorry, Elena, but I just can t, not without a day of restbetween.And besides, if Damon wants to talk to you, all you need to do is to walk notinto the forest,butnear it and call to him yourself.He knows everything that s going on.He ll know you re there. Then I should go with Elena, Matt reasoned. Since that sheriff is my problem.I d like to go by theplace where I saw the tree At once there was a protest from all three girls. I said I dlike to, Matt said. Not that we should plan for it.That s one spot we know is toodangerous. All right, Elena said
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