Page 33 (1/2)

And then…

She thought she saw so But…

He was just an outline in the air, and he wasn’t real, he was certainly part of her iainst the wall there, thumbs hooked into the low pockets of the period coat he earing He had on a hat A tricornered pirate hat

He was dark and strikingly handsome, and not really there…

She blinked The apparition faded But then she heard Liam whisper, "Yes, stay, thank you"

"What?" she asked

He turned back, looking at her "Hmm?"

"You just spoke You said, ‘Yes, stay, thank you’"

"Must beher shoulders "Be careful, do you hear ht…"

"Soreat deal at stake I proot Where’s the box with that ic trick? You wanted it dusted for prints I’ll take it into the station, let them look into it there I can’t promise you much--there may be a number of prints on it Or just yours"

She hurried to the crate and produced the box with theblack shadow cloths He kissed her lips lightly and headed to the door again She followed hiainst the door for a minute Oddly, she felt as if she weren’t alone She h the air as if she could feel an unknown entity, but she couldn’t

She didn’t feel the fear that she sometimes did, the fear that ht

But she still didn’t feel as if she was alone She had seen so Or she had als to do She gave herself a ain

When her hosts She had wanted to be able to see her, feel her, just tell her one last tiood mother she had been, what a brilliant and kind woman At least, with her father, she had been there at the end He had known her heart, kno much he was loved

Of course, her mother had known, as well But her life had been cut so short

"Moave her no answer She walked back into the kitchen to find Avery She had a lot to do, and, eventually, she was going to have to get back to work

Outside, Liam cursed hi to stay at the house to watch over Kelsey, so he couldn’t curse the ghost for ain No choice but to curse hi civilian in the crio?" he asked her

She stood, shaking her head with disgust "Nothing And we searched, and we’re good I know soure we have to be yokels down here in the islands, but we’re good at our jobs, and better than any outsider because we kno to search beaches, the water, swamps, rid out there There was no sign of anything No one even left a damned foa to find," Liam said "The killer took his weapon, there’s been rain, so no footprints, and I’m sure whoever did this was extreht of soert asked

"No Who the hell has a stiletto-type weapon on theone bad?" Liaet into this house They want so in it Gary White saw the Or he was killed on purpose just to scare people away That’s roup are the best I’ll see you later, Yolanda"

"Well, you’re good at what you do, too, Liaive you more"

"Not your fault It’s just that ato find"

"I hear you But the killer was soodbye to her and headed to his car The cri down Lia in to the station as he did so He wasn’t going in right away; he had a few stops to make, and he wanted tojust about everyone everywhere to find out when Gary White had last been seen