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Showered, she unlocked her door and went downstairs Liam was in the kitchen, dressed and ready for work, coffee cup in his hand as he read the paper

"No way out, I guess I tried to control theto be sensationalism Don’t take it to heart," he told her

She poured her own coffee and ca the headline

Death Strikes Again at Cursed Merlin Estate

"Hey," she said, sighing softly "At least it’s an estate I’ to need help…being buried?"

"Probably"

"I’d like to take care of it--or Cutter would, more exactly," she said

He set his coffee down and pulled her to hiainst the top of her head, and there was soesture "That’s nice," he whispered softly Then he looked at her "Hey, I just thought about so about the book that wasfrom the rare-book room at the library and oing to say, but didn’t"

"Oh, he’d said so seen Cutter for a while, but his secretary told me he’d been out recently But I still can’t see how Joe Richter could be responsible for anything…or that he would kill over anything in Cutter’s house He did have free rein here"

"After Cutter was dead," Liam said

Kelsey studied hiistered in the rare-book roo to do with this?"

"I don’t I have to start somewhere"

"But you don’t even know all the people"

"I know the na to run traces on the people I don’t know I don’t have evidence, but I have a really good hunch, and I believe I’s A million-dollar diamond can create obsession, and an obsession can create a complicated case"

"Satanism--and diamonds," Kelsey said

"Connected so, and they were close together Touching Kelsey started at the sound of Avery’s voice

"All right, all right, enough already," Avery said, entering the kitchen He walked past the two of the for the coffeepot "So, you know, I have to ad place I’ot a dolphin that hangs around by your dock, did you know that? Cool creature I walked out, and it followedto it, and it’s as if it listens to ainst Liam His arms were around her waist, and she set her ar in the comfort of the moment

Liam said, "Dolphins are incredible creatures I have a friend at one of the facilities just a few islands up, over the Seven-Mile Bridge They’ve done a research with them They can count, they know colors and they definitely have personalities This one may have escaped captivity I’ll make a few calls"

"And lock him back up?" Avery asked

"If he was born in a facility, his life will best be spent in his--or her--home You didn’t check out the sex, did you?" Liam asked

"I wouldn’t kno to check out the sex," Avery said

"When aHe let go of Kelsey "I have to go in--I need to do a lot of interviews and try to trace Gary White’son it, but…I need to be out there Your assignun, read the book and search for a little golden reliquary worth aat hio outside--"

"The cri up when I walked down to the little beach and dock area," Avery said

"I’ll check with the out the back entry, too Keep an eye on any open door"

"I’ll be watching out for Kelsey," Avery told him, his tone fierce He heard the sound of his own voice and tried to lighten the tone "Hey, what do I anio Our superhero is based on o, too," Kelsey said lightly

Liam smiled at her, kissed her lips and said softly, "Stay safe, watch yourself, watch the doors, stay with Avery"

"You trust Avery?" she teased

Liariround check Avery has no ties to Key West He was at Hollywood High years ago, has two unpaid parking tickets and is otherwise an upstanding citizen"

"You did a background on hed "Good ave pause "I need someone to trust co room "Come on--lock me out"

Kelsey followed hiht was pouring in, and the house did look like a fascinating museum-home, with dusted antiques and curiosities here and there It felt like the home she had always known and loved, unique but warm