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There was a rail-thin girl stretched out on the sofa in shorts and a tank top, bra visible through the fabric Her bare legs were thrown over the ar me to a view of the blackened soles of her feet She was pretty in a pouty sort of way Her dark hair was long and her eyes were lined and ss that sparkled when she moved her head A full ashtray rested within reach, but happily forjust then There were three beer cans on the coffee table, two of theuidly she extended her hand, picked up the third can, and took a long s before she put it back again I could see a series of overlapping circles on the tabletop where she’d placed the can If I counted rings, I could re-create the timeline of her alcohol consu crossed the room and settled on the floor close by I looked at Sutton, anticipating an introduction, but none was forthco I’m reluctant to discuss a client’s business in front of someone else, especially in a circumstance like this when I had no clear sense of their relationship I wasn’t sure what he’d told her or how much I was at liberty to reveal

Sutton said, "So what’s up?"

I glanced at the girl "Would you prefer to talk on the porch?"

"This is fine She’s cool"

I opened the flap onthem to him "Take a look at these and see if you spot the kid whose house you visited"

He stared at the photographs, holding them close to his face I watched his attention shift from face to face He pointed and said, "That kid"

I peered over his shoulder "Which one?"

"Hiartner in thechin, ears that protruded like the handles of a jug

"Are you sure?"

"Of course His naht of him in years His dad eht until the faone It was like this big disgrace Does this help?"

"Absolutely The address won’t be hard to find unless Kirkendall was his bio-dad and the couple got divorced If hiswho his stepfather was"