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Ge mother of two She and Allie were a wonderful teaht, and Gema was pure ebony Gema had lost her own mom just before her tenth birthday Allie filled a nice place in her life

Geie, I hate to bother you on a Saturday, but I’m worried"

"What’s the matter?"

"It’s Allie"

"What about her?"

"She isn’t here"

"She didn’t come in? Have you called her?"

"Well, she did co was neat as a pin when I arrived The door was unlocked I thought nets or croissants, but Hal, behind the counter, hadn’t seen her"

"Did you call her house?"

"No answer"

"Did you call the police?"

"They said they couldn’t fill out reports on every woman andered away for a few hours"

"Did you remind them that we had a homicide just outside our doors hours earlier?"

"I did Didn’t help"

Maggie hesitated "Gema, don’t worry I’ll call the cop who caht there?"

"Yes, I’lad to be busy"

"I’ll call Lieutenant Canady and be right in ie, I’ but lying around on the porch in the sun Allie is special, and I don’t care what they say--if she isn’t at work, soht there"

Maggie hung up and stared at the phone She felt a deep-seated fear, and she wanted to shake it off

She closed her eyes tightly, wondering if she wasn’tShe dug around for it, stared at the numbers, then dialed He answered with a curt "hello" on the first ring "Sean?"

"Maggie?"

"Sean, I’m sorry to bother you now, but it seems that one ofa few hours--we think--but she’s incredibly conscientious and I’m worried Could you--could you possibly meet me at the shop?"

"I’ll be there," he said briefly

The line was dead Maggie stared at it, then quickly hung it up She called out to Peggy that she was leaving, grabbed her handbag, hopped into her sandals, and hurried out of the house

Ge about a custo the door

She sighed with relief as she saw the tall, handso toward the door, followed by his younger apprentice She apologized to the teenager, asking her if she could cooirl paid any attention to her or not; she hurried toward Lieutenant Canady

Instinctively, she reached out He took her hands "MaggieI understand that you don’t usually worry about aperson so quickly, but if you knew Allie--"

"Hey, it’s all right, we have to worry about alltoo long, they soreat sely assuring He had a strange power, she thought It ca, from a confidence that dwelt deeply in his soul

"Still, thanks--"

"There’s an officer co behind me ill take down inforht away"

"I wouldn’t want you to do anythingwrong"

He flashed her another s an underpaid and overworked cop I can break a few rules when I want"

She already felt better

"Maggie’s on her way as well I’ ihtly behind him "Radio Carl in the car Find out if he’s reached Allie’s hoto help you feel a little calain "Maybe a spiked cafe au lait? Valiu the shop open regular hours And I’m too unnerved to calirl So, tell me about Allie I know I spoke with her yesterday

She’s a very attractive wo Silver hair, silver eyes, slim, personable She must be excellent at sales"