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Antinella sat back He didn’t reply

"In the United States," she reminded him, "the man would have been arrested for attempted murder"

"This isn’t the United States," he said, and she winced, thinking she had ruffled his feathers Then he sighed "Here, yes, usually, there would have been an arrest for attempted murder"

She hesitated, then said, "Dr Antinella, did thathad beco his entire co was… beheaded? Is there a belief here that such things can happen? Is that why Maria Britto’s mother severed her head, and… is that why you didn’t perform an autopsy, and why she wasn’t embalmed?"

He set his pen down on the charts on his desk, sat back, and stared at her

"I don’t knohat Adalio thought he was doing, exactly," he said

"But… there was no autopsy You’re a man of science You said that Maria had been killed by aniht, so we can only assume that Gema is dead as well, and animals didn’t bury Gema, nor did they leave the arm for Grant to find," Stephanie said

Still, he paused Then, at last, he said, "I am a man of science Our police are men of the law This is a fine community"

"It’s a wonderful cos here that we should know…"

He looked at her angrily again "There were not ’things,’ as you say, until you arrived!"

"No!" she said, just an emphatically "I agie…

or any of us! This place has been filled with legends for centuries… with stories about creatures… devil dogs, de any of it here"

Antinella studied her again for a long hed "Every place has its history Take your country For years, they taught Ae beasts, and they were talking about the Native Aenous tribes Now, there is a fairer view--Europeans cauns, and their diseases Yes, wars have raged across Europe Every ht, barons have fought… and here, yes, there was one fight that has stayed in local lore since it occurred And," he added softly, "perhaps it has stayed for a reason In essence, your country is new In Europe, the Middle East, the Far East… Africa, history is much older Soray area In mist-shrouded mountains everywhere, there are tales about creatures that aren’t quite huain You will find that many of the people have beliefs similar to those of Lucretia Britto--and Adalio Davanti"

Stephanie nodded, then persisted "You were charged with the autopsy of Maria Britto It wasn’t done

Not at first, not when it should have been"

"No," he agreed

"And it wasn’t because you were afraid of hurting her mother any more than she had already been hurt

That was your official story, I believe"

He picked up his pen again, his fingers tightening around it "Are you conde to find out if…"

"If witches, vampires, and beasts exist?" he queried

"You see," she explained, "I’ to believe that they do And I think you share many of the fears evidenced around here"

"What do you want from me, Miss Cahill? I am a medical doctor--I trained across the world I am a man of science I understand as well that the reater factors in the huined Will I protect my community, my people? Yes Science isn’t always in books--and there are hundreds of un to explore Where there is knowledge sonorance Where there areand the eerie Siood, there is evil You have taken your friend from the hospital

We saved his life Now, it is for you to protect e have given you And est that… you protect yourself as well"

She stood up, aware that he was disive her anything else

"The evil see

"Yes," he agreed "I’m very busy, you know"

"One last question What are the des?"

He shook his head "I don’t knoish I did"