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"Yeah" Dwayne drank , or How are you? or Beautiful day, ain't it?"

Nick looked at Dwayne "She says, Beautiful day, ain't it?"

"Nan, that ain't right" Dwayne's thin face twisted into a tight little knot with the effort of trying to think "She says, Beautiful day, isn't it? Yeah, that's it Isn't it"

"Sure glad we got that straight," Jereene went on with a doggedly determined air, "point is, she's a nice lady, even if she did swipe that painting Me and Dwayne shouldn't have said that stuff about her deliberately screwing your brains out just so you wouldn't figure her for the thief Iwith you? It's a daood reason, if you ask me Goes to show she's size," Nick said "Far as I can tell, you were a the first to hear the rus between us, you can tell ene and Dwayne exchanged nods "It was that prissy old bitch, Mrs Burke, wasn't it? Re to Carla fro a couple of quarts of chocolate fudge swirl and they were right across froe juice Acted like they never saw us"

"Sure," Dwayne said "I remember Old Lady Burke and Carla from the beauty parlor"

Nick saw Jeremy's eyes narrow a little at the naot to his feet

"Thanks, Eugene," he said "You, too, Dwayne I appreciate the information And the beer, too"

"Salass down on the bar next to Nick's

"Ain'tcha gonna finish your beers?" Eugene asked, looking offended

"The thing is," Nick said, "you've given us a hot new clue and we've got to get to work on it iene sounded pleased "How about that, Dwayne? We gave 'e picture it'll be on accounta us"

"You'll have our undying gratitude," Nick said

"I like the sound of that," Eugene said "You sure you don't want the rest of your beer?"

"I wish I could hang around to finish it, but time is of the essence," Nick said "Help yourself"

"Don't ene picked up Nick's unfinished beer and dulass

Dwayne did the salass

"That strike you as sanitary?" Jereht

"The alcohol probably kills all the gerene and Jere after the endless night of the Total Eclipse Nick reached for his dark glasses "What's with Mrs Burke? You know her well?"

"No, but roup," Jereether every Wednesday and Saturday for nearly forty years"

"Which ht be able to tell us where Mrs Burke got the story"