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Alive, and strong, and deter," Brent whispered "And he’s… "

Nikkithe ateincredibly loud

"To forward "You’ve tried to talk I haven’t kno to listen"

Brent was at her side "My name is Brent Blackhawk You have no reason to trust me, except that Nikki trusts me," he said "But I’m here to help We’re both here to help To find the people who murdered you"

Julian had promised to be quiet He had seemed to understand, but maybe it was all a little bit too much for him They could hear the soft echo of his voice from within the toain They’re talking to ghosts And asking for help Talking to ghosts," Julian lanced back She could see the shadowed form of her friend hunkered do in the mausoleum

Julian had his hands over his face "What aroaned

She turned back to To hied atraveyard

Then he spoke His voice sounded grating, harsh, like the scrape of heavy equipain

But he spoke And the sound was clear on the air

"Soon… the rear… the ovens They come here… there’s a stash I’o," Nikki said

"No You stay here, in the too with you"

"No Please, Nikki I’m not alone The cops are out there"

Just then, like a strange thunder in the night, they heard a series of soft thuraveyard

Brent shoved Nikki toward the mausoleum "Please?" he whispered desperately

All around them, the mist seemed to swirl

There were ht on shivers

"It’s easier for er, I’m not as sharp," he said, and she knew that his words were sincere

Tohost of Andy Ciello watched, then slowly began to fade

Brent followed the earthly remnants of the soul of Tom Garfield

Nikki exhaled slowly, then turned and quickly found a place inside the to, teeth chattering He looked at heryou?" he said wryly

"Ghosts do exist, Julian," she said, taking his hands, holding them both to reassure hiree, but he also didn’t deny her words He just stared straight ahead, through the wrought-iron gate of the mausoleum

"Nikki?" he said on a breath

"What?"

His eyes seeate

She looked out herself And saw, even as Julian spoke again

"Nikki… so" He looked at her tensely and added, "And it isn’t any ghost"

"You!" Massey exclai He’d spilled his coffee

"What are you two doing here?" the erty! Of all the damn times for him to show up

"You’re in our way," Joulette said

"I rank, fellows, and I repeat, what are you doing out here?"

"We heard a ru in the cemetery," Massey said He looked at Joulette with a frown that de back at hierty In his custo down at theirl was attacked out here the other night," Massey said

"Yeah? And that’s a big deal these days?" Haggerty asked

"She ht have been killed"

The darkness suddenly seeerty looked up "Clouds over the raveyard, too," Massey said, angrily forcing his door open "I am an officer of New Orleans, sworn to uphold the law, and this is my territory Excuse me, will you?"

Joulette, too, exited the car Before he could close his door, they heard the explosion as a shot was fired in the night

Chapter 19

Ghosts were invisible tothe tombs, even as he followed Garfield But the shot that was fired out of the mist was fired at hiel at his side

He dove to the ground, and rolled, finding safety behind a society crypt just as another shot rang out

Thenfootsteps froure running back in the direction fro place

He pulled his Sed between the crypts and sarcophagi, angels, cherubs, broken stone and oing to happen Coh water, he should have found a way to keep Nikki out of the cemetery How in God’s name anyone could know she was hidden in a crypt…

Toure, staring into the toun

A gun that was aimed into the toraveyard sounded, sharp like the bark of thunder in a fierce storure paused briefly, but not for long It took aiure turned