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"Alicia," Jake said, "honey…"

That’s when a police officer poked his head into the roo on?"

"She fainted," Jake said, exasperated that everyone was crowding hinant," the police officer said, nodding "That’s what the 9-1-1 call was about from Cliffside Art Gallery The chief is on his way Does she need medical assistance?"

"The chief?" Jake asked What the hell was that all about?

"Yes, the police chief He’s been wanting to ask the young lady soe, if you would, sir We have a couch she can lie down on until she feels better," the clerk said

"What’s wrong?" Toht," Jake assured hi to discuss as the h he didn’t believe Alicia would be all right And Jake wasn’t sure he believed it, either Noondered if she had actually fainted in the restrooallery and had only said she’d turned into the wolf

"Is she pregnant?" To news" Jake gave To look as the police officer followed the to someone on his phone Jake didn’t want any of this to becoe until they could sort out the details

"Yeah, she’s at the bank, just like Suzie said she was But she’s fainted again," the police officer said

Jake lay Alicia down on the couch as she stirred and opened her eyes, her lips parting in surprise Not only were Jake and his brother and Peter watching her as Jake crouched next to her, pushing her hair from her face, but three clerks, the police officer, and a couple of suitednearby

Jake squeezed her hand "Let’s get you honancy test As soon as they returned to Silver Town, he was having Doc Weber exanant and that could be what had affected her He wanted to ht

The police chief strode into the roo up on the sofa, despite Jake wanting her to lie still longer "I’ as she looked beyond him at the police chief and police officer in attendance

But she didn’t look like she was fine at all Her face was still deathly pale

"The Denver police want to speak with you, Miss Greiston," the police chief said, as he drew closer and peered down at her through silver-rilasses He looked similar to his son, Detective Hanover, who had questioned her the day before at her aparted appearance that randfather type At least toward Alicia

Jake suspected the chief’s denant and was sick because of it Chief Hanover looked like he could be as tough as granite if he wanted to be

"The police," she parroted wearily

At this rate, she was going to be talking to police all over the state of Colorado

"Yes, Miss Greiston My son told me you were at the scene of Ferdinand Massaro’s murder The Denver police ant the details But I have a couple of questions for you also Since you’re looking a little peaked, if you don’t mind, I’ll just ask you here If everyone will clear out" He directed the coreeably and quickly filed out of the staff lounge

The chief glanced at Tom and Peter, but Alicia said, "I’d prefer to have Jake and his brother, Tom, and Peter, our sheriff at Silver Town, stay, if it’s all right with you"

"Certainly" The chief sat down in a chair and said, "My son tellsat Spruce Creek Trail Can you tellelse to say I left a wreath of flowers for my mother like I do once a week I assumed the two o with them I refused Then they left"

"They left," the chief said, "after you shot one of the , but waited for him to speak further

He cleared his throat and continued "Witnesses said they heard gunfire and saw one of theup a storlad she didn’t offer any other explanation for what ht have occurred Finally she said, "Did the man seek medical attention?"

"No, not that we could learn of But if they e think they were, they would have seen so incident to the police"

She didn’t say anything further, but her unspoken expression said voluhtly in a way that

"We’re on your side in this," the chief finally said, sounding resigned "If I could put Mario away for life, I’d do it But I don’t want you getting yourself killed in the process, young lady Nor do I want you to get into trouble for doing soal" He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down at the floor as if he were trying to decide whether to say anything further, but he hesitated<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>