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I asked, “You think this book could give you enough to es stick?”

“I’ to reserve my opinion until I see the book”

We finished lunch, returned to the Hall, and went directly to the property room, where Yuki checked out Connor Grant’s manuscript on how to build a bomb cheap, fast, and well

“It’s not proof of anything, but it goes to intent,” she said cautiously

I had hoped for ht to have low expectations The manuscript was circumstantial at best

Yuki said, “The book ht incriminate him, but we need Joe’s testimony to corroborate Grant’s confession That’s critical But even that doesn’t guarantee a slam-dunk conviction”

Joe was no longer comatose, but his consciousness was impaired It was impossible to knohat he would recall when or if he recovered from his traumatic head injury

Yuki and I talked about Grant’s computer, our hope that the explosive material in Grant’s house would be found at the bomb site Then we split up She went down one floor to Len’s office, and I worked with Richie in the squad room for the rest of the day

We were thorough, but slogging through half of Connor Grant’s hundred-plus boxes of tests and ter and fruitless

When the day was finally done, I called ho Mrs Rose Then I drove to the hospital

Joe had a new room with a chair and aand a whole lot of flowers I taped an abstract crayon drawing to the , signed by the almost-two-year-old artist in residence on Lake Street I told Joe about Yuki, and Grant’s arraignment, and then I watched TV in Joe’s room for about an hour

He never opened his eyes, and he never spoke a word about Sophie Fields, me, Julie, or anyone else

He slept

&nbs

p; CHAPTER 25