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"Salt of the earth," I said

"One h to Tuseman that they could have kissed "I want Merodie released"

"After she serves her thirty days"

"Today, David I want Merodie out today If she’s not free by 3:00 PM, I’ll conduct a press conference outside your office at 3:30 PM That should give the TV people plenty of time to prepare for the six o’clock news"

"Are you threatening me, Genny?" Tuseman wanted to know

"You betcha"

The sun caht, setting even the shadows on fire I felt the heat onWater vapor condensed and rose as fog from my shoulders My clothes were streaked with dirt, and the knees of my jeans looked like I had knelt in a mud puddle, which, of course, I had I slipped off my now shapeless sports jacket and pulled h a damp washcloth

"Where are you parked?" G K asked

I pointed east on Main Street

"Me, too," she said

"I didn’t want to say anything in front of the county attorney," I said as we followed the sidewalk, walking directly into the rising sun

"Always a wise decision," G K said

"I think Nye was telling the truth"

"About what?"

"About Eli Jefferson We have a witness Priscilla St Ana She was on the scene after Nye had his alleged shoving ed," G K said

"St Ana said there was no body on the floor when she arrived"

"Forget about St Ana"

"Forget her?"

"Forget everything Look, McKenzie I’m not Perry Mason I’m not here to solve a crime I don’t even care who committed the criuilty of the cri innocent"

"But what if?"

"There are no ‘But what ifs’"