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The hanging tree

They heard the door open

"What the hell is going on in here?" Pete Dryer demanded in his husky, authoritative voice

"Thank God!" Sean breathed "Pete, we found this bastard lurking around in here," Sean said

"Is that a fact?" Pete demanded "What are you, some kind of a sicko? You killed your own sister, and now you’re back at the scene of the crime?"

"No!" Sam cried out "Get this jerk off me, for God’s sake"

Sean stood Pete pulled out his cuffs "Time to pay the piper, you little snot-nose creep!" Pete said

Pete was here It was all under control

"Whether he killed anyone or not, Pete, he was breaking and entering here," Katie said

"Oh, what, it’s your place because you’re sleeping with Beckett?" Sam demanded "That asshole- everything in a skirt!"

Katie ignored him "I have to run upstairs for just a ht? Sean, you can fill Pete in? I’ll be right back"

She didn’t give the, and he looked worried, as if speedit in," Pete said, "but I’ll drag the little goon in myself Tell me exactly what happened, Sean"

"Katie, what the hell…?" Sean deht back down!" she swore

She wasn’t afraid Her brother was there, and Pete had Sam Barnard-he’d be cuffed any hts had coe orange-and-purple light that filtered in froures rose all around her Pirates, ss Navy men and soldiers, Union soldiers, Confederate soldiers They posed, ready to speak, ready to ure there was posed with its back to her as it dangled froe plaque on the floor, noting the tree, telling its present location, stating its grim utility as a means of execution

On the wall, closer to the exhibit, was a sly written up ser, when no velvet ropes had barred visitors fro of Eli Sed for his criht up with a reckless killer"

Underneath it Craig Beckett had noted that S in the city today He had left behind a daughter

The cursive handwriting was difficult to read Katie leaned closer

As she did so, there was a trehts went out

As they did so, her asped as the room fell into a shadow land of darkness

She knew the killer

And she kneas in theis fine," Lia his phone shut

"What the hell do you uess there was soht"

"What?"

"Sam Barnard was at the museuuess between Sah to Pete Dryer and he arrested Sa on Anyway, she’s supposed to be at work now Should I leave you there?"

"Yeah You’re sure everything is all right?"

"The lieutenant called it in He had it under control," Liam said "Look, I’ll leave you at the bar, and I’ll head to Katie’s house, and then, if she’s not working or at her place, I’ll ’s place Your place Whatever"

"All right, thanks," David said

He didn’t knohy He’d been the one pointing out all the reasons that it had to have been Sa the insanity of Duval Street David turned the corner and headed into O’Hara’s Katie had not set up

He found Clarinda and caught her by the arm "Katie, where’s Katie?" he demanded

"She hasn’t come in yet" Clarinda’s eyes widened "She isn’t with you?"

"She’s with Sean She ith Sean"

"Jamie just sent Jonas to the house She hasn’t answered her phone, and neither has Sean Ja fire," Clarinda said "Oh,to my house If she shows up here, call me immediately Screw Jamie and every customer in this place, Clarinda, and callthe hell out of me!" Clarinda said

"Just call me!"