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Sean turned around and looked at her She was so sad; such a young, pathetic wreck of huet off the stuff," he told her quietly, "or else it will be a e and blue and filling with tears "I want tohe won’t let ainst Sean, clinging to his arer stood about ten feet away, on the edge of the crowd He was looking froirl Ad her murder For a moment, his hands clenched into fists at his sides Instinctively, Sean stepped forward

Rutger held still Sean could see the tension knotting his neck, the veins bulging against his skinny throat

Then Rutger eased back, giving Sean a thu s up around hiive you much more trouble--but haul that son-of-a-bitch over there down to the lock up!" Sean co for a place to run

"Arresta riot," Sean snapped "Hell, I’ll give you any additional paperwork you need--just read hihts and arrest hihly er While a crew-cut, six-footer in his prier shouted out explicit instructions as to what Sean should be doing with hilad to see that Heidi Branson, a capable young policewoirl in hand

Blood still dripped fro her just how she’d been cut, and assuring her that the irl quietly insisted she was all right, then burst into tears

Sean felt hands on his shoulders He swirled around Maggie Sweet Jesus Maggie Eyes dark and worried, flesh pale

She was staring at the corpse With a strange dread Finally, her eyes touched his

"Are you all right?"

"I’ along"

"Thanks You’re a good kid"

She sain

"What about hiie, of course I’m certain"

"Where will they take hiue, of course"

"Oh" She hesitated "Autopsy?"

"Naturally He died an unnatural death"

"But everyone on the street saw--"

"Maggie, honey, you know that there’s always an autopsy"

She nodded

He tugged lightly on her ar to draw her away fro at the girl now "Is she going to be all right?"

"Heidi is great with battered women"

"Is she a junkie?"

"Yes"

"Give ie eluded his hold upon her arhtly on the cheek The girl looked at her "Don’t be afraid," Maggie told her "This is your chance, your real chance to break away"

The girl stared at her Tears welled in her eyes again "I can’t help it I’ "The cops won’t let that scum near you now It’s your chance Get clean Get to another city if you have to This is it Don’t be afraid, take your chance, run with it" To Sean’s aie a tenuous s to try"

"You’ll els You know, like guardian angels Maybe mine atch out for me now"

"Believe in yourself That’s more iirl asked anxiously

Maggie shook her head "No, I’reat cops And I’irl to Heidi then, joining Sean once again

"We’ll get my car," he told her "Sorry, but I do have to do a report on this one"