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"He’s one of er said

"A leprechaun?" she said again

Just then there was a pounding on the door He checked the peephole, then threw the door open and let Sean in

Shauna stared at Sean O’Casey, then at Jagger

"He’s a leprechaun?" she demanded

"It’s the hormones in the milk," Sean said wearily

"Shauna, I knoho you are--I saw you at the assembly Please, I know your capabilities, have so her head "At least he’s a very good-looking leprechaun"

"We’re all good-looking We just don’t tend to be tall," Sean assured her

They would be fine together, Jagger decided, as he paused in the doorway "Hang onto your cell phones, and be ready to go wherever I send you whenever you get a call"

"Whatever you say, sir," Sean proates to the cemetery were still open

Fiona walked in, aware of the chill tendrils of the growing breeze at her nape, aware of the shadows taking shapes between the monuments and mausoleums

The fas had been pristine and beautiful, but where time and the elements had led to corrosion and decay She and her sisters kept up the MacDonald toone, and the three of the that should have been maintained

She walked over weeds and stones, and wove through broken bits of funerary art, past a row of fine vaults and toward a towering angel

Past the angel, she reached an expanse of grass that led toward the fa

David Du Lac

Jagger headed straight to Underworld

Valentina was at the hostess stand, but he didn’t bother to stop and speak with her He strode straight into the courtyard, looking around When he didn’t see David, he turned and headed for the h the double doors

Valentina caer?"

"Where’s Fiona?"

Valentina shook her head "She was here around lunchtio"

"I want to see David Or Mateas Grenard Is either of theht now," a voice booainst the wall and strode toward Jagger "What is it? Why are you looking forfro the cemetery immediately before the third murder was discovered And now I can’t find Fiona MacDonald--or her sister So you will talk to me, and talk quickly, or--"

"I was never anywhere near that cemetery!" Grenard interrupted in protest

"You also purchased a nightgown like the ones worn by the victiht a nightgown," Mateas protested

Jagger reached into the lining of his jacket for the stake he carried at all tier said softly

"So what? I’m innocent!" Mateas cried He started to bare his teeth, his fangs growing, saliva dripping from theer felt his own fangs growing, felt the fury begin to ripple through him

Fury born of fear Fear for Fiona

"Stop, please!" a voice interrupted

It was Abigail Or Anne, as she was now called She rushed forward, holding Billy’s hand and dragging him with her "Please, stop!" she said "I don’t knohat’s been going on today, but Mateas has been here with us for hours He’s been teaching s I need to know"

"She’s telling the truth," Billy said

Jagger’s phone rang This time it was Tony Miro

Apparently Tony had taken over the database search when Sean left to stay with Shauna

"Hey, boss I went further on that dead guy thing--you know, the ed Folks in the city were crazy They dug hiht after he was buried and chopped hi around this city in any way, shape or forer of some kind Sorry, boss, wish I could be more helpful Says he died without children, so this has to be some kind of a fluke I’iven er snapped the phone shut and headed straight to the hostess station He didn’t see Valentina, but he did see her friend Sue

He walked up to Sue and took her by the arm "That was you before, wasn’t it?" he said

She flushed "So what? Valentina just wanted some time off, so she asked uy over there, soI wanted to see if he would like me"

He didn’t reply He was already halfway back to the church

"Billy, you stay put with Abigail Mateas, you co?"