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Annoyed at my lack of attention, Rusty cleared his throat “And you found the body?”

“Yes I told the dispatcher that when I called nine-one-one”

“And you performed CPR?”

“I did, but I think he’d been gone for a while at that point”

“I thought va his eyes at me

“I don’t have to, but it doesn’t mean I can’t,” I told him “Do I need to call a council representative? I’hts Act of 2002”

“We’ll let you know,” Rusty said “For right now, let’s just say that you’ll probably be hearing froain”

Rusty cleared out of the shop as if his polyester pants were on fire The ambulance crew drove aith the body—I couldn’t think of it as Mr Wainwright I was alone And it was suddenly so quiet Numb, I sank into a chair behind the counter and stared at a ledger next to the register I could ht’s chicken scratch, a reminder for ers over his indented scrawl, leaned ainst the counter, and cried

I’ I re for ether the words to respond The smallest movement took too much effort

“I’ve been calling you all evening,” he said, co behind the counter to check me over for obvious contusions and stab wounds “Nor on?”

“Mr Wainwright’s dead,” I said, tongue slow and heavy I heldinto hysterical tears again Gabriel wrapped his long arms around me, and I suddenly didn’t care where he’d been or what he’d done The i was that he was there, at that moment, when I needed him

“Was it one of us?” he asked

“Oh, no, completely natural It was a heart attack,” I said, ain “He was an old ood life …”

Gabriel pressed me to his chest and let me sob there, until the front of his shirt was soaked “Better?” he asked

“No,” I said, wiping at my nose “I ht now I’m not one of those women who are beautiful when they cry”