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Ian didn't wait, but went into the house with a brusque, "Get soe lit before you follow" Upstairs, Spade cried out, a harsh sound of grief that aze blurry, I grabbed a handful of the waterlogged sage I'd kept ininside and then up the staircase carrying hting and refilling the jars in the house, trying to forht be too late

I didn't need to follow the bloody shoe prints that led to the first roo beacon I burst into the rooreeted s I didn't even want to name splattered on the wall of the open closet Ian stood to the side of it, Spade at the botto a blood-soaked for and barking while tracking crimson paw prints on the carpet

"I' and Spade's ragged repetitions of Denise's name

I stuffed back the sob of relief that rocketed upon Spade's shoulders

"Let her go, Charles You're probably holding her too tightly for her to breathe"

Spade leaned back, revealing the upper half of ered where I stood Denise had three led holes in her sweater that looked like exit wounds froh tiht placeh to put her down She one after her shooter That hy the assailant aimed for her face next From the wall, her still-misshapen features, and the cherry pie look under the back of her head, he'd eun into her

The accomplice had somehow found this place and attacked when the rest of us were away trying to haotten in? I wondered, still shocked froht of Denise She knew not to let any unfamiliar e in this roo note of the blood-sprayed closet and Denise's condition "No one else is in the house," he stated, confir what ns that Krae jars are overturned or disturbed They o from the looks of it"

Spade brushed a matted clump of Denise's hair back, and I winced at what stuck to his hand

"Can you tell us what happened, darling?"

Froaze see No shocker there; I was amazed she was even conscious She o for her to have healed to this extent, but even with her deh shape I wasn't sure a vae she'd sustained, yet despite the fact that she looked like she'd dove headfirst into a wood chipper, she ed to mumble out a reply

"Lisa and Francineasleep Heardawful noise Ca"

My kitty wasn't in the room at the moment, from the two sole heartbeats I heard now that Dexter had quit barking Helsing was probably hiding downstairs All the recent run-ins with Kraht the kitty to seek cover at the first hint of loud noises, so the gunshots would've sent hiuely pointed at the wall behind her "Pulled hiunshots"

Noose? That snappedfrom the closet rail, the bottom of it hooked into a circle All the clothes were pushed to either side, leaving that single item in the middle, but with the bloody remains of Denise's head all over the wall, I hadn't focused on it at first glance

Bones edged around Spade and Denise to pluck out the belt, a et in, Denise?" I asked, kneeling so we'd bethat could help us find out who he is?"