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The next time I woke, the IV had been removed and the doctor had been replaced by a nurse’s aide who helped own, and put fresh sheets on the bed, crankingposition so I could see the world It was nearly noon I was famished by then and wolfed down a dish of cherry Jell-O the aide rustled up from somewhere That held one down to the hospital cafeteria for lunch, and by the ti on the door

The restrictions must not have applied to Lieutenant Dolan, however, because the next thing I knew, he was sitting in the chair, leafing through ae suit He looked exhausted fro jawline, which was ill-shaved His thinning hair was rus under his eyes and his color was bad I had to guess that he’d been out late the night before, a azine and saw that I ake I’ve known Dolan for maybe five years, and while we respect each other, we’re never at ease He’s in charge of the homicide detail of the Santa Teresa Police Depart-ment, and we soators and I’ to defend my occupational status If I could find a way to avoid homi-cide cases, believe me, I would

"You awake?" he said

"More or less"

He set thehis hands in his coat pockets while he stood by my bed All my usual sassiness had been, quite literally, bloay Lieu-tenant Dolan didn’t seem to kno to handle h to talk about last night?"

"I think so"

"You remember what happened?"

"Some There was an explosion and Olive was killed"

Dolan’s mouth pulled down "Died instantly Her hus-band survived, but he’s blanking on things Doctor says it’ll coht for soe bomb Black powder, we think I have the bo evidence What about the parcel? You see anything?"

"There was a package on the doorstep when I got there"

"What time was that?"