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Dead By Dusk Heather Graham 29350K 2023-08-31

"I have no idea," Stephanie said honestly

"So scary!" Suzette said

Stephanie reached back and unhooked her cross, offering it to Suzette "Here, take this"

"I can’t!"

"Why not?"

"The old fellow gave it to you"

"I know, but you take this one I’ll go and buy one from him tomorrow I’ll take someone with me--someone who really speaks Italian I want to knohat he was trying to say tocrazy!" Stephanie exclaiirl is found buried--but they decide she was killed by ani in her coffin We all dreas Then Grant finds a hu crazy? H"

Suzette nodded lanced at her watch "It’s five Think it will be okay if we go soon?"

"Yes," Stephanie said

"It’s okay if you go right now," Drew said froer

Arturo just sent Giovanni with a car froet some sleep I’ll stay until after he wakes up for real, has so it’s okay if I leave"

"I should stay," Stephanie o, I’ll sleep in the chair I’ll be fine Then, when I’ tossed on the bed and flopped over, restlessly clawing at his neck

"What’s he doing now?" Dreondered worriedly

"Think he’s… allergic toat the cross "Is this his?"

"We don’t know--I don’t re it on him, either," Stephanie said

"Maybe one of the nurses is praying for hiht he needed it," Suzette said "You kno some people feel about actors--especially coht he needed all the help he could get"

"Yeah, but look," Doughis skin! We’d better get it off"

"Maybe," Stephanie y Once Drew had turned Doug over and Stephanie had gotten the clasp undone, he see back into a restless sleep The irritation on his throat seemed to disappear almost immediately

"There, feel better?" Drew asked Stephanie "Get going--Giovanni is here"

At last, Stephanie agreed She felt guilty leaving, but the others convinced her

Outside, Giovanni aiting for the Despite the way he spoke, with the right words and duly respectful of the gravity of Doug’s condition and the events of the day, he looked at the young reed, she’s bunking in with me," Suzette, in the ood," Stephanie said

"Stephanie, Liz will be… alone?" Suzette said

Lena elbowed her in the ribs

"Oh, yeah, right… Clay?" she said, looking at Liz

"We’re very close, of course, but don’t worry about ht now I think I’ in the lobby until they open the restaurant for breakfast"

"And you… well, I guess you’re fine, too," Lena said, looking at Stephanie

"I’ ahead

Fine

Yes, she’d be fine Alone!

Grant was surely in his own place And surely exhausted by noell In the hours that they d been at the hospital, he had probably spent most of his time with the police!

Giovanni pulled in front of the resort Stephanie was the last out, thanking hi come at such a late hour

"My pleasure," he assured her "But… Mr Peterson… he went back to his place"

"Yes?" she said

He flushed handso his cheeks as he looked down She realized that Giovanni--like most of the resort--was surely aware of where Grant had been sleeping

"I thought you ht want to knohere he was"

"Thank you, Giovanni And good night"

She started toward thefor her; Liz and Lena were just ahead "Was the sensuous-eyed young Italian trying to ht?" Suzette asked

Stephanie had to laugh "I get the impression he’d like to spread love around the world But he’s always respectful Hey, you all still be careful, okay?" she said Then she gave the but absolute exhaustion And she wanted desperately to be alone

She nearly ran out back, grateful that it was so close to ht of the sun