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"He designed Glen’s house, didn’t he?"

"Not really His father was the original architect when the house was built back in the twenties Dwight did the restoration," she said "I think I need a drink Do you want one?"

"Sure, that’s fine," I said

She reached for the brandy decanter, relass stopper She laid the neck of the decanter against the edge of one of the snifters, but her hands were shaking so badly I thought she’d crack the glass I reached over and took the bottle fro her a stiff shot I poured , it was the last thing I wanted She gave hers a perfunctory swirl and we both drank I sed and my mouth came open automatically as if I’d just risen to the surface of a swi pool This was clearly fine stuff, but I didn’t think I’d need my teeth cleaned for a year I watched her cal desperately to recall the accounts I’d read of the incident in which Costigan was killed It o As nearly as I could reht and had shot Dwight to death after a struggle in the bedroom I’d been off in Houston for a client so I hadn’t followed the events very closely, but as far as I knew, it was still sitting on the books as an unsolved homicide

"What happened?" I asked

"Don’t ask and don’t interfere I pleaded with Bobby to let it go, but he wouldn’t listen and it cost him his life The past is the past It’s over and done with and I’et it I don’t care, and if you’re smart, you won’t either"

"You know I can’t do that Tell "

"Nola, I’ to find out whether you tell me or not If you lay it out for o any further than this Maybe I’ll understand and agree to drop the whole thing I’otta play fair"

I could see the indecision written in her face She said, "Oh God," and put her head down for aabout a lunatic Someone so crazy You’d have to swear… you’d have to promise to back off"

"I can’t make a promise like that and you know it Tell ure out what has to be done"

"I’ve never told anyone except Bobby and look what happened to him"

"What about Sufi? She knows, doesn’t she?"

She blinked at me, momentarily startled at the mention of Sufi’s name She looked away from me "No, not at all I’ on Why would she?" The answer see, but I let it pass for the ti her?