Page 42 (2/2)

"Well, from what Grant said, so far the coroner hasn’t hadwoman, somewhere between twenty and thirty"

"Still," Stephanie said desperately, "maybe it’s not Geerprints, but if Gema didn’t have theet down to the ue with the coroner and… and look, and see if there’s so that I can identify, but… we may never know for certain Unless…"

"Unless what?"

"Well, unless the rest of the body appears," Drew said one They had been as puzzled and shocked as Grant hi his hands, treone as well

Grant had patiently answered questions posed to hih Arturo

He also assured the local officers that he wasn’t planning on leaving the area He had gotten a little information from them, and he called the hospital to talk to Drew, anxious that he know about the discovery before they all returned--perhaps heedlessly, believing that there wasn’t any danger in the area other than forest "ani ed to Gema--and the fact that they couldn’t be certain, not yet

Hours had passed since he had first returned With all the coht, he still hadn’t seen Clay Barton, though Drew had inforone back to the hospital

Stephanie was still there as well They were all sticking together, taking turns stretching and walking around the lobby, and sitting quietly in Doug’s rooed and taken away, the police finished with their questioning for the evening, and, his call made to insure that the others knew about the discovery and were still together, he was free to return to his own cottage

He did so

Hurrying to the bedrooan to look up names, actors, actresses, and resu, she was glad to see that he was breathing normally

Lena was excited They had almost lost him He had flat-lined for a few seconds while she and Suzette had been gone, and there had been all kinds of feverish activity in the hospital They had brought Doug back

And minutes later, he had opened his eyes He had talked to them all

It had been like a lanced at the peacefully sleeping Doug She smiled, then looked anxiously back at Drew

"Did he re at all?" she asked

"Nope, nothing," Drew said

According to Doug, he’d just come in from the beach, showered, and lain down on his bed for a nap

That was it All that he could recall He’d had drea he could remember

Apparently, they had decided not to tell him about the arm left on Drew’s doorstep Stephanie decided that they’d been right He had just ed to squeak by… he had nearly died There was no reason to tell hi

He re by his side on the bed while Suzette curled into the chair again He earing a standard white hospital gown Looking down at hi a medallion around his neck as well She frowned, certain that she hadn’t seen it on him earlier

She reached out to touch it

It was a silver cross Bigger, heavier, but siered the cross, she realized there was a peculiar odor in the air as well

It was a hospital Hospitals always smelled a little funky

No… it wasn’t that kind of odor

"Garlic," Suzette said suddenly, causing her to jued

"I think it’s etically "I ate uess"

Stephanie s this cross"

Suzette rose, walking across the roo down to touch and study the piece as well

"Looks a lot like yours"

"But, did he have it before?"

"I don’t think so"

"Well, I haven’t seen the crazy oldit"

"Maybe we just never noticed Doug wearing it before," Suzette suggested "Who knows? Maybe he shopped at the old h I think someone just put it on hi like that should be a choice," Suzette said "Should we… take it off of hied "I’ is Christian"

"He could be an atheist, for all I know The discussion never came up between us But I don’t think that he’s Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, or Mosleht to leave it No, we should definitely leave it It may actually be his, and we just don’t know it"

"I think you’re right… besides, he otten it from someone who just wants to be nice and probably thinks it’s a very good thing," Stephanie eous I’d like one Maybe I’ll find the old guy’s place and buy one tomorrow myself" She shivered fiercely "May not help, but can’t hurt Stephanie, do you think that the ar to Gele" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>