Page 15 (1/2)

She paused, looking at hied!"

In his astral forh "I was a victim of false arrest, Miss O’Hara And my end was untimely and unjust!" He appeared to let out his breath "But that doesn’t etting chuht be crazy "He’s not a murderer, Bartholomew He’s not"

"How do you know?"

"I just know I just-know"

"You must keep your distance," Bartholomew said

"Don’t worry-my brother’s on his way here And, supposedly, Lia the murder as a cold case"

"I don’t like it, not one bit," Bartholomew said

"Well, I’m sorry And please hush up and mind yourself My uncle may own O’Hara’s, but I’d just as soon his customers don’t all insist to him that I’m crazy and talk to myself!"

What see in Key West didn’t bother hirandparents’ hoood The old place spoke of conch chowder on nights when the teood seafood So, and sorandmother had knitted throws for the furniture, and they were as neat and tidy as the day she had died Her tea service remained on a sed little-his rock band and Sports Illustrated posters were still on the wall Okay, so that needed updating

Being here, however, was not painful

The museum was painful

And when he walked into O’Hara’s Pub with Liam, it was painful, as well

It was the last place anyone aded The bar ell-crafted any, and there were a nuh wooden backs Wooden double doors opened to the sidewalk Air-conditioning slipped out, but that happened with most establishments on Duval Street O’Hara’s served typical Irish fare, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and a choice of corned beef or Canadian bacon and cabbage "Leprechauns" were thin-sliced beef rolled in pastry and "banshees" were drink concoctions that seee offered Irish hts It was apparently a popular notion because the place was packed when he entered with Liam It seemed, however, that unlikelevel, and at the back tables, it would actually be possible to carry on a conversation Closer to the stage, it was louder, but not so painful that your head pounded or you felt the need to escape

Katie was at her co so, as they seemed perplexed over their choices They all smiled and stepped back Katie looked up at him suddenly, almost as if someone had tapped her on the shoulder and pointed out that he was there She didn’t sain, he told hiry

He noticed that a lot of locals still came to O’Hara’s It was a little closer to the southern side of the island than some of the other popular and must-see haunts, such as Sloppy Joe’s or Captain Tony’s Many of the bars didn’t sell food, either, especially after a certain time O’Hara’s served until 1:00 aht serve as late as 5:00 a on Jamie’s mood and as in the place That wasn’t written on any of the brochures given out by the Chamber of Co at the waitress, calling her by name Obviously, he knew her Clarinda

"Shepherd’s pie and a Guinness," he said "Thank you"

At first, it appeared that the girl was trying not to look at him, then she stared him in the eyes and cleared her throat "Welcome back, David," she said

"Thank you"

"I’m Clarinda I’m a conch, too," she said

"Nice to meet you, Clarinda," he said

She blushed "You spoke to rade school You talked to us about being a soldier"

"I hope I said all the right things," he said

She smiled "You did Well, uroup of young people in Florida State T-shirts were singing a Kiss song They weren’t bad

"You know, I don’there?" Lia dinner?"

"There are lots of restaurants here," Lia the past," David said

"The last place she was seen," Liam said "God, David, you knoant to help you I just don’t see what being here is going to do for us"

David lifted his hands "I don’t know, but doesn’t it see?"

"What do you ht-so I can’t help but see things thatthe place"