page23 (2/2)

I put my hand on his wrist “Rich, do you want another partner?”

He laughed, said, “Delete the last forty-two seconds, okay, Lindsay? I’m an idiot, and I’m sorry”

“I’m serious”

“Forget it Don’t even think about it”

Rich checked the rearview mirror and turned the car into the strea a strained s like this ever happened”

Chapter 30

THE POPULATION OF COLMA, California, is heavily skewed toward the dead The ratio of those below the ground to those breathing air is about twelve to one My mom is buried at Cypress Lawn in Colma, and so is Yuki’stheir parents here, too

It would appear to the casual observer that I was alone

I’d put flowers at the base of a pink granite stone engraved with “Benjamin and Heidi Robson,” two people I didn’t know Then I sat on a bench a hundred feet frorass-scented breeze puffed out the tent flaps where the Malones’ funeral was in progress

My Glock was holstered under my blue jacket, and the microphone inside my shirt connected me to the patrol cars at the entrance to the cely kid named Ronald Grayson, or soer with a penchant for torture and murder It didn’t happen every tiive themselves a psychic round of applause

I hoped we’d get lucky

As I watched, Kelly Malone stood in front of the group of fifty, her back to the pair of coffins And I saw Richie, his eyes on Kelly as she gave her eulogy I couldn’t hear any of the words, just the sound of a laer in the distance and soon enough, the squeal of the winch lowering the coffins into the ground Kelly and her brother each tossed a handful of earth into their parents’ graves and turned away

Kelly went into Rich’s arms and he held her

There was soether, as if they were still a couple I felt a painful pull in ut and tried to shut it down When Kelly and Rich left the tent and walked with the priest in h to see my eyes

I spoke into the collar ofin”