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“No Why?”
“Because he’s writing a book about McKenna’s family”
Jet gave her head a slight shake “But why?”
Cormac seemed perplexed by her question “You know about McKenna’s family?”
“No”
He hesitated so long that Jet kneas bad, whatever it was
“There was a hoirl,” he said gruffly “Fiveher parents, and a baby sister The crime was never solved”
“Actually, I did hear about a o—one of my students mentioned it—but I didn’t realize that it was McKenna’s family” She hesitated, perplexed “And you’re sure Shane’s writing about it?”
“Yes”
“How do you know?”
“Back before Christ roorew up in—and he’d turned it into his study The walls were lined with bulletin boards covered with newspaper headlines”
She looked away and chewed on her lower lip She didn’t knohat to say anymore
“He’s interviewing people, too Asking questions It’s not good It’s just stirring up a lot of bad ave his head a faint shake “Let me take you home You don’t want to be part of this”
She hesitated, trying to understand “Part of what?”
“This…circus”
She still didn’t understand “He’s a very respected writer He’s won a National Book Award—”
“It doesn’tthat book, in our hoood for you to be associating with him”
“Cormac, he’s a writer, not a criminal”
“He deceived us He said he riting a book about Paradise Valley history…never about the Douglases”
“Okay, he has questionable judgment, but I don’t think he’s a bad person”
“Do you knohat a book like this will do to McKenna?”
“But what if Shane can solve the crime?”
Corhtened
She reached out to give his forear that could help the case? It’s possible”
“And he’ll make a fortune off it, too,” he added bitterly
“Make a fortune fro the conversation
Jet spun around, flushing hotly as she spotted Shane standing right behind her How much had he heard?
She forced a quick s about you”
Shane saze wary “So I gathered”
Jet gestured to Cormac “You know each other?”
The corner of Shane’s mouth lifted a fraction, and yet it only seemed to make his expression harder “We’ve spoken Briefly”
Cor on that departure date, Swan”
Shane shrugged “Don’t have one”
“The lease is not being renewed”
“The lease stipulates I’otten that”
“I would think it’s unco someplace you’re not wanted”
“You ht think so, yes But I’ve spent most of m
y life in homes where I wasn’t wanted, so…” His voice trailed away He shrugged carelessly, holding Coraze the entire time