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"Not a pleasant sight, our old friend Gary," Valaski said

"I don’t know of any relatives They’re working on that at the station," Liam said

"Well, let’s hope they don’t find any," Valaski said

Liam nodded The scent in the room was a horrendous mixture of chemicals and decomposition Valaski handed him a white mask to filter the air Liam accepted it without coreed So?"

"Well, our friend Gary died of so like a pinpoint prick to his heart Actually, the death appeared to have been a heart attack, or heart failure, but!" Valaski announced "I’m an old buzzard, and I don’t fall for e of society In this ue, no matter how rich and powerful or poor and sad in life, we find the truth"

"Franklin, there is no one rateful for your honor and your expertise," Liam told him, "but, come on Please Explain"

"Well, here you go Coht have appeared that the heart was ripped up soon after death, the body was in such a sad state There are bits and pieces of sharp coral in the area of the peninsula spit where he was found--probably dredged up years ago when harbors were fashioned for the ships…or, who knows? I’rapher God knoe have h I suppose I could--"

"Franklin All right We’re looking at an area whereconstantly, and away froo, we have roots, we have crabs…and there’s an occasional toss up of long-dead coral I got that So?"

"Well, where he was found, it justthis area--" Franklin pointed to a mass in Gary White’s chest "--where the heart itself bled out Aha! But before the chewing and decomposition, I don’t believe there was a tear of any kind in the man’s chest, or in his heart This looks like it was caused by a needle of so so many centimeters in circumference as an ice pick, but…there is that possibility"

"He was murdered, and murdered by a slim stiletto-like object, possibly a needle, and, less likely but possibly, an ice pick," Lia pleased "Well?"

"Well, a man was murdered and left to rot," Liam said

"Yes, yes, but at least he didn’t die like Cutter He was cleanly uns or talismans in his hands," Valaski said

"Franklin, he was ht have been three or four days, or maybe a week"

"What? You can’t pin it down more than that?" Liam asked, diss, so if he hadn’t died fro of his heart, he would have drowned I believe he was caught under a root or so, I don’t know"

"I thought you people studied larvae, flies?"

Valaski rolled his eyes "We people do But he was underwater No flies No ots No larvae, not at first It’s impossible for me to tell you what day he was killed Please, Lia I have what I do"

"I’m sorry I’m just frustrated"

"Ah, yes Man’s inhu as eerie as Cutter’s death!"

Liam shook his head "Please, Franklin It’s more of a mystery," Liam said

"Oh?"

"Why on earth murder a poor, down-and-outto steal froh-powered He didn’t have a wife or a mistress There was no reason in hell for anyone to kill hireed

"Unless he saw so," Liam said

"And so it does have to do with Cutter and the Merlin house," Valaski said

Lia, or…"

"Or?"

"Or he was siht victim, lured out to the Cutter estate because he was an easy mark No family, a drifter, no friends ould immediately worry about his whereabouts"

"Why would anyone kill for that reason? Unless you have a serial killer on your hands who just seeks out victims," Valaski said

"Not this time, Doc," Liam said

"Then?"

"He may have been lured out to the Merlin house and ed to Cutter Merlin And someone wants everyone to be afraid of the house, to think that it’s hexed or cursed"

Valaski stared at hied "I solve the mystery of the body, my friend The mystery of murder is up to you"

Darkness had fallen when Kelsey awoke