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Hadley folded her ar You think I’d touch a dead animal? Do I strike you as that type?" She had a point As much as Emmaline would love to arrest Hadley for cri her perfect little manicured hands dirty "After I talked to Frankie, I went straight to bed to get soed in a brief fantasy in which she slapped some cuffs on Teeny Tiny and Mirandized her Put her in the holding cell Happy thoughts

"Do you always drink alone, Miss Boudreau?" E married to a winemaker certainly developed my appreciation for wine, Officer But not always Soether"

Em didn’t take the bait "Make sure you don’t drink and drive"

"Oh, I’m perfectly sober In fact, it sounds like Jack shouldn’t be alone I’ll go on up and check in on him"

"No need, Miss Boudreau The police have this covered"

Hadley scowled "Well, I think Jack could use some co up there right now I hope not to see any trespassers Have a good night"

She left the Opera House and walked across the green, past O’Rourke’s, which was already ju, and down the street to her own little place She needed to feed Sarge Might as well bring Super-Pup, too, if she had to hang out at Jack’s

Sarge twirled in circles of joy when she cah the door, Squeaky Chicken clutched in his mouth "Hi, handsoe hi with joy Em ruffled his sides with both hands and let hiood boy? Huh? You are, buddy! Coe did his business in the backyard, Eloith femininity the way Hadley’s apartment did, that was for sure But it was a happy space There were a few pictures on theon her badge the day she’d graduated froo, both of the The furniture was comfortable and sturdy (rather like herself) Lots of books in the built-in shelves A beautiful Tiffany lareen

This house here she’d spent the happiest times of her life, aside from those years with Kevin This was rown up, which was so, the ease hich her parents had sent their only child away for the bulk of every suela close by their sides; even after the divorce, they were unable to split up because they ht not see her as much

Well They had done Ee," she said, as her dog raced in through the doggy door "We have guard duty tonight"

CHAPTER TWENTY

JACK FOUND THAT cooking had taken on greater i to think about A science podcast was playing on his coh, he wasn’t really concerned about the possuured, probably one of Josh Deiner’s friends And if so, Jack sort of deserved it, didn’t he?

His phone buzzed with an inco text Hadley Great

Heard about "incident" 2day U ok???? Xoxox

Was it so hard to spell out the words? Text-style spelling wouldseem idiotic He opted not to answer

That was aon the counter

Pls let hed

U want 2 coive her that

I can come 2 c u if easier :)

And now a smiley face, for the love of God

Give me a call, ok???

No, thanks, he wouldn’t

Miss u!!!

Worried about u!!!

It was the emotional equivalent of nails on a chalkboard

And now the phone was ringing Three guesses as to who it was He didn’t bother picking up, but he did text her back I’ off his cell, but he didn’t have a landline And his grandfather had been looking a little gray lately Jack had asked Jereo to the doctor without a gun to his head

He added sausage to the garlic and onions he was sautéing This would be a good dinner Then again, food hadn’t tasted like much these days Oh, and there was Mrs Johnson’s chocolate cake for dessert He picked up his phone and called her

"Just wanted to thank you again for my cake," he said

"Oh, Jackie, don’t be silly! You know I love you best," Mrs J cooed

"I do know that, and I lord it over my sisters whenever possible And Dad" He sht?"

"That’s none of your business, Jack darling"

He shuddered "You’re right Thanks again, Mrs J"

Maybe he should get a dog Lazarus wasn’t much in the co, the cat rubbed against Jack’s ankle in a rare show of affection, then hissed and ran under the couch

A knock cahten He turned off the stove and went to the door If that was Hadley, he just ht call the police

It wasn’t Hadley It was the police, still in unifor a stuffed ani "Hey," he said, opening the door "How are you?"

"This is police business," she said, already blushing "Levi madedinner You can stay"

"No, we’re just, u"

"For what? For dead possums?"

"Basically Mind if I walk around your property?"

"Not at all I’ll corabbed his jacket "Hey, buddy," Jack said, bending down to pet the puppy, riggled in ecstasy, then whipped his toy--a chicken--back and forth Lazarus darted out and ran under a bush, the better to spy on the dog Jack stood up, catching the smell of Emmaline’s shampoo