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Hemy bounds--"

"Then don’t do it, Chief Inspector"

"--but this is no ordinary situation You’re an important man"

"And Brian isn’t?"

"Of course he is But he’s also a convicted felon A youngabuse and alcoholis drunk"

"What do you know of that case?"

"I know he admits it I heard his share And I knoent to prison for it"

They walked in silence around the village green, the rain fro warmed up It was early yet Few had risen Just thearound and around the tall pine trees And Ruth and Brian on the bench

"The little girl he killed was hter?"

Thierry stopped too and nodded "Aimée She was four years old She’d be twelve now If it hadn’t happened Brian went to prison for five years The day he got out he caized We didn’t accept, of course Told hihter’s laashing their car I’m afraid a lot of the chores had sort of fallen by the wayside I was drinking heavily and wasn’t s Once a week he showed up and did chores, for her and for us He never spoke Just did theht up with hi toAbout why he drank and how he felt It was exactly how I felt I didn’t ad in common with this horrible creature But Brian knew Then one day he toldfor a drive And he took "

They were back at the bench

"He saved ladly trade that life for Aimée I know Brian would too When I was a few iveness"

Thierry stopped on the road

"And I gave it"

"Clara, no Please"

Peter stood in their bedroo just his pajale spot on that beautiful body she hadn’t touched Stroked Loved

And didn’t, she knew, love still His body wasn’t the issue His o," she said