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Whatever retort Swindler may have wanted to make went unsaid as Frannie walked out fro was already dead and she was preparing to go to the funeral He wanted her in the green gown or nothing at all Yes, nothing at all was preferable

"You’re awake," she said

"Barely"

She s after hio now"

"Frannie, I don’t think it’s wise to leave you alone--"

"Jier" She patted her side "He’s aware I knoell how to use it Besides, he put himself in harm’s way earlier I think he deserves a bit of trust"

Swindler gave Sterling one last glare, designed to kill a lesserfor the door, he stopped momentarily to touch Frannie’s cheek "Just watch yourself"

Frannie followed hie onto the stoop After closing the door, she turned the lock Sykes’sprevented hih, she walked toward the bed, co her with those cobalt-blue eyes

"That inspector…he’s in love with you," Greystone said quietly

"All of Feagan’s lads are" Brushing off his words, she walked to the chair and sat

"Not like he is"

"We’re friends, nothinghis legs over the side of the bed and pushing hi position "You did knoho attacked you and you knehat he wanted"

"I didn’t knoho he was And they would just worry"

"I wasn’t close enough to hear everything, but I did catch the na to do with the boy?"

"Possibly He ran away I spentfor him I came aith four children but none of the Sykes was outside your residence last night and probably saw us taking the lad to the orphanage He nized me I don’t know Perhaps the boy told him"

"Why didn’t you explain all this to Swindler? He could arrest this Sykes fellow--"

"For what? It’s not against the law to threaten"

"He sent someone to hurt you"

"What proof do I have that he was behind it? I didn’t get a good look at the fellow, so there’s no one to testify And even if I did knoho attacked me and Jim located him"--she shook her head--"Sykes is not soainst He is the devil incarnate"