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WHEN HE WALKED INTO the Gideon’s Cove Police Departht o’clock James had been on the phone most of his drive, first with Dewey, then with Lavinia, as out of town herself, then with Maggie Beaue, set up an arraigne for the prosecutor’s office

“Jaeant on duty “Attorney for Parker Welles”

As Officer Dewitt led hi cell, Ja? His heart lurched But no, not crying Singing? And my God, that smell!

“‘Half a league, half a league, half a league onward,’” someone—a man—chanted

“‘All in the valley of Death rode the six hundred,’” Parker answered back

“‘Forward, the light brigade,’” the man shouted triumphantly

She was lying on the steel bunk, an oldher face “‘Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred,’” she said, definitely a panicky edge to her voice

“Your attorney’s here,” Officer Dewitt said, unlocking the door

Parker jerked upright, hitting her head on the top bunk “James!” She hurtled across the cell, and before he knew it, she was in his arh she smelled a little dank from her time in the basement, it was sure better than that other sood in years, her hair silky against his cheek, her body pressed against his

“Parker Always lovely to see you,” heher back

“James, oh, James, thank God you’re here,” she blurted into his shoulder “That man over there, he pooped on the floor, and holy halos, there was sothat horrible poeht Brigade,’ I’ to kill myself”

“I’ht,” James said

She pulled back, eyes ith horror

“Just kidding,” he said, grinning “You’re free to go”

Those beautiful eyes narrowed “You’re a horrible man”

“Hey I’ dealer here”

“My cousin is growing pot in her greenhouse,” Parker said “That’s another thing Pot, James”

“More on that later,” he said, taking her hand and leading her up the stone stairs “Let’s get you home Thanks, Officer”

“You’re welco up a newspaper

“Yes, thanks for nothing,” Parker echoed “What happened to Young Billy? He would’ve come down here and cleaned up that mess, I bet I only called for you a thousand or so times”

“You knofor us all the tie of the newspaper “A lot”

“I’ht it was a fern!”

“Right”

“It looked like a fern” The officer rolled his eyes Parker turned to James “It looked like a fern, James Or a miniature Japanese maple tree It was actually quite pretty And since I’ dealer and in fact e of thirty-five without ever having sarette, I can tell you, I had no idea what it was!”

“And yet a ninety-nine-year-old lady in the nursing home ID’d it immediately,” the cop said

“So maybe she’s a pot smoker! I’m not!” Parker snapped

“Okay, settle down, honey,” James said

At the terlanced at him sharply Then she took a deep breath and flicked the cop’s newspaper “Thank you so much for your hospitality, Officer,” she said “Have a wonderful day”

“You’re that rich chick, aren’t you?” he said, finally looking up “The one whose father is in jail?”

“Yes”

“Runs in the family, I see”

She straightened into princess posture and tilted her head slightly “And inbreeding must run in yours”

“Okay, Parker, let’s go,” Jaet into more trouble” He took her hand ht

“We need to get Beauty,” Parker said “She’s at Maggie’s—at least I think she is Young Billy Bottoms—”

“I already picked her up She’s in the truck”

Ja, she see her face in the dog’s neck Same as she’d done to him

“So Jail,” he said “I guess you can cross that off your bucket list”

“Yes That and a a toe, just for fun”

He glanced at her as he backed out and headed past the diner “You okay?”

“Peachy”

“That hug was nice,” he said mildly