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"Will it stop someone like Nari?"

"At the least, it would delay her"

"Is there anything else I should know?"

"Yes So that is consecrated If you’re ever in trouble in the streets, get into a church Thankfully, in Venice, remember, there are over two hundred" She smiled "I’ll remember"

Sean took her hand in support as they went up to Jared’s roo, if she needed hiave a little cry at the door when she looked in at Jared He was beyond ashen IVs puh a needle in his arm He looked as if he was dead already

"You’re back"

She started, turning to see that Cindy was slumped into a chair at the rear of the room

She didn’t look ; her beautiful hair had taken on a lusterless hue Her sweater was buttoned wrong

"I’ if her cousin-in-laas going to throw off her touch when she tried to hug her

But Cindy’s malice hadn’t remained She broke into a flood of tears "I love hiht thatoh, God, Jordan! I wasno, I a an affair with that woripped Jordan’s are and distorted

She was on a tranquilizer, Jordan realized

"It’s that wo to die," Jordan said, wishing that she was certain

"I’ve called the police They’re going to come and talk to me I’ve hated to leave himbut you’re here now You?if I’et led herself from Cindy’s frantic hold and went to sit by her cousin’s side

He had been dead still He moved his head then, fro She leaned low "Jared, it’s going to be all right," she said fir you blood It’s going toto cure you" She was aripped her wrist His eyes opened on her "Jordan!" He gave her a weak sive me Police, no, the police, too late, God, noGod can’t forgive ht"

"Nodying"

"Not any to die"

Cindy had heard him and had risen Jordan shifted aside so that she could reach hiain "Jared, don’t you dare die, I love you, I forgive you, I’ll see that she dies, that evil, evil wo hi For a moment, it felt to Jordan as if her own heart stopped Then she looked at thehi

There was a soft tap at the door She looked to it Roberto Capo was standing there She gasped with surprise and pleasure, and walked out He was alive and well On second thought, not too well He looked thin and pinched, and before she could hug hinored the hand and gave hiht"

"Non troppo bene!" he said "Not all right, but hopefullysoon I’m so sorry you orried" She saw that Sean was there, just as he had said he would be "Sean, I’d like you to an

But Sean stopped her "We’ve introduced ourselves"

"A Sean

"Yes," she said and smiled

"We will find out the truth behind the contessa, eh?" Roberto said

"Yes"

He held both of her hands for a hed "I have come to talk to Cindy She calledvery upset She doesn’t kno, but she thinks the contessa nore Jared sick I have come so that she can talk to me"

"Thank God it’s you, and not Alfredo," Jordan ed "Alfredo is here, too In the waiting roo such a skeptic at the ht She looked at Sean

"Perhaps you could go introduce yourself to another Italian And explain " Sean arched a brow to her

"Explain about some of the murders in Alish perfectly"

Sean nodded with relief "Sure"

"Thank you!" Jordan whispered He walked down the hall to the waiting room

"Roberto, maybe you could talk to Cindy here, away from Alfredo She’sshe’s onmuch sense"

"Of course"

Jordan went back into the roo to tell him They have to arrest that woman" Cindy went out of the rooain She watched the ain, stroked his cheek Don’t die, don’t die! I know that you‘re not evil, and you ht have been under the influence of a monster, but in truth, you ’re not one yourself, you can’t become one yourself!

Was his color just a little bit better?

The door suddenly opened again It was Roberto "She’scrazy," he said "She ran out?I will follow"