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Agents from the FBI, as well as local and state police, scoured the area Darcy found herself questioned for hours, since her honest answers seemed to due of the investigation froovernh infor more she could explain to them on how she had first discovered the skeleton in the sation, Randy told her, somewhat amused They had a confessed killer, but he was dead, so the only people who had heard his confession were her, Matt, and Lavinia

Darcy deeply pitied Lavinia that day, because she had to explain that years ago, she had thought little of it when he had told her that Susan Hoould no longer be in his life When her ht an affair with Carter would be revenge against Matt, a foolish thing, and she thought that she and Carter had both tacitly agreed that they would never speak about it

But when she had talked to Matt, and read about Darcy discovering the bones in the se to coht have happened years before, soun to fathom until she had returned to Melody House When Carter had pretended that he wanted Lavinia to be with Darcy at the reenactered suspicion, and she had realized that it was time to talk to Matt about Carter She had stayed with Clint until one of the officers had arrived and an ambulance had been called, and then left, still anxious that she edy Clint would be in the hospital for several days He had suffered a concussion

It was late when Adam, Penny, Lavinia, Matt, and Darcy returned to Melody House Later still when they had all showered and changed, and coerator for souilty of souilty of anything when you assu off with another person," he assured her

"It’s so scary I can’t even iine We all…ere all his friends And more," she said sheepishly "And all these years…he killed when it was convenient Hid the bodies--and got aith it" Lavinia shivered "To think…never o there But I didn’t know--I really didn’t even suspect, way back then, that Carter could be…crazy And yet, when you called rinned at her "Lavinia, it’s all right You’re a good friend You came here, and you followed your instincts"

"Everyone has a certain a deeper in theall those years ago It just ined," Adaood? No! And I saw the way you looked at ht have been his accomplice in murder, when he made that ridiculous statement to me!"

"Only for a second of sheer panic," Matt adood, Lavinia," Darcy told her "I don’t think I would have made it until Matt came if you didn’t help me," she said

"See there, Lavinia?" Penny added

Lavinia shivered again "Greater powers…" She stared at Matt, then at Darcy "What did happen at the end?" she asked "Carter rose…and looked like a raging bull Then he was teetering on the bridge, and I could have sworn…I can’t say it"

"You could have sworn that a ghost knocked hie violet eyes fell on hers "Yes," she said quietly

"Carter lost his balance, and went over," Matt said

"But, Matt…" Lavinia began

"When I told my story to the FBI, that’s exactly what I told the "Excuse ot all kinds of stuff to go in eggs How about omelettes?"

Darcy smiled at Lavinia "I think that Susan Howell did make a return, Lavinia She was the lady in white people kept seeing in Melody House Because she was in a long flowing gown, everyone--including me--assumed that she had to be a victio I think she faded away on me, too, every time Carter was around He stalked me from the time I first came here And she was still afraid of him Even in death, she was afraid of him But, today, when she had her chance, she helped us"

"You think Matt really believes that?" Lavinia said

"No," Darcy said She smiled at Adam "But I think it’s what really happened"

Matt came back into the kitchen "They’ve recovered some of Susan Howell’s bones Carter had scattered thee They’re stilla few, but they’ll find them And hopefully, they’ll find the other bodies"

"So, Matt," Pennyconvinced that the things going on here were being committed by sohosts, you know" She gave her attention back to the oetting plates, drinks, silverware and napkins, they continued to talk about Carter Shock, Darcy assuht about it herself, the fact that so many people had seen hi, she felt goose bumps rise on her flesh

"With Susan Howell, it randfather had just died Lavinia and I were falling apart Penny wasn’t living in the house yet It was frequently eht Susan there often She probably really thought that he was going to roup that stayed on the property whenever they chose And yet, that night, Carter would have known that he was alone Maybe he thought that the smokehouse would cover the fuht that he’d buried her so deeply, she’d never be found anyway It’s impossible to kno"

They talked late, over coffee, brandy, and dessert Darcy felt Adah the situation was sad, he was proud of her for her abilities to touch what others could not