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"I wonder if it occurred to people that he ht have been in trehter without her having to reic accident," David said

Lias the ME, Franklin Valaski, had said the day before when he had studied Cutter Merlin’sexpression, cohter

She had fallen, but her eyes were open, her lips ajar…

And Cutter had been found with a relic in his hands and the book in his lap

In Defense froick

Just what the hell had the old bastard been up to?

"I wonder if Kelsey will come back?" Katie mused "Actually, I wonder what she’s like now Do you think she becairl?"

"I don’t know," Liam said He was curious He wanted to see her It had been a long tione She was the only one who had ever teased his

And he suddenly prayed that she had becoirl, that she would stay away and that whatever cursed the Merlin house, huht, it was a dinner of shepherd’s pie that he had to leave It had just arrived, and the call caain

"Lieutenant, I know you found kids last night, and I can’t believe they’re back, but we’ve just gotten another call This ti at a bed-and-breakfast across the way He saw lights on at the Merlin house, and he’s certain he heard a screahts on because I had an electrician out The lightbulbs are all new I left a light on inside the living roo frohts didn’t bother Mr--" Lia as Jack checked his notes "--Mr Tom Lewis, from New York City What bothered hiht I’ out," he said

He slid off his bar stool He’d been alone thus far that night, though Katie orking her Katie-oke, and he knew that David would be in soon Clarinda had taken his order and delivered his food She ca this reheated when you get back?"

He sain?"

"Yep What rinned at him "You don’t usually leave your dinner for drunks on Front Street"

He nodded, thanked her and assured her that he’d be back

On the street, he looked for Bartholohost, who usually hovered near or around him It disturbed him to realize that he wished that Bartholomeas around

He wondered if he should call for backup, but decided that he would be able to see in the house that night, and he wanted to , he parked out on the road and walked onto the property

When he reached the house, he moved quietly up to the porch When he touched the front doorknob, he carefully twisted it and once again found it open He pressed it inward carefully, re as silent as he could

To his surprise, he heard conversation co fro I thought we could find so that no one would notice, and hts in a place that wasn’t a hellhole," so to take a shrunken skull? There aren’t even any auess what? I don’t like this place! It’s creepy and scary That da us in!"

"Don’t be ridiculous This is a house--that’s all there is to it Things are things The dead are dead, and I don’t know about you, but I’h a hundred pounds and can be sold easily," said a second speaker "He’s supposed to have all kinds of jewels, dia This is bad I don’t feel good about taking anything out of this place It may be cursed, you know?" said the first voice

There seeht hesitation between the two; Liam alht, so the house is…weird Creepy We look fast, we get out--fast Hey, I was always kind of close to old Merlin Ran errands and stuff He owescreepy will happen if we’re just careful about taking e need, and not robbing the place blind"

It was enough Aware of his gun in its holster beneath his light cotton jacket, Lia casually into the kitchen

The first ly blond hair and a scruffy face, let out a startled yelp

The second one spun around as if he were ready to pounce on the threatened danger; he saw Liam and backed down