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"I didn’t kill Anthony Beale," she said evenly "I didn’t murder anyone Ray was already dead I just kept hi back to life"

"So, who killed Beale?"

She looked down at her hands again, shaking her head "It ot in his way"

"And what about old Rutger Leon? Did you do him in-- or was Aaron in theat hier’s dead?"

She was honestly surprised, Sean deterer Leon’s body was found yesterday His torso and head, at least"

Her frown remained "Were they found--separately?"

"Yes"

"I can’t i alive tooCallie"

"Well, so exasperated "I’d tell you at this point if I had done so, don’t you think? Especially since you’re not believing a word I say to you anyway" He reached over and opened the passenger door so that she could get out "I’ve got to go to work I’er’s body Then I’ with the task force By the way--should I buy all uys crosses?"

"Yours is very nice," she murmured tartly

"It doesn’t bother you?"

"I’ve always loved religious art And I adore churches Lucian is alwaysfun of me I pray a lot" She hesitated, then said, "Some vampires are weakened by crosses They won’t stop thembut a cross can buy soespecially during the daytiarlic? Truth or hten She didn’t know if he was ive hiarlic Garlic in the blood s"

"And I can kill one with a stake through the heart?"

"If you get the chance to get a wooden stake through his heart"

"Or decapitation?"

"Yes, decapitation kills va I can give the guys on the force when I tell theht before they haul ie stared at hi to you," she said "I’ve riskedto !"

"Sean--"

"Maggie, I’ you, I swear One way or another, there’s a terrible killer out there I just have to go to work"

"But you still don’t believe ood if you don’t believeout the front"I don’t know, Maggie, think about how fantastic it all sounds" He stared back at her "I do know this"

"What?"

He suy is, I have to go catch him For you, for me, for New Orleans Parish Because I’ain, because I love you And we’re going to have soie shook her head very sadly She touched his cheek "I love you, Sean But no, there is no future

Not unless you can trust ot out of the car, and iie!"

But it was too late

She didn’t look back

CHAPTER 15

He walked into the office, barely aware of the ringing of phones, the hustle around him