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“I got that for Robbie for our anniversary The two of us have a good e” Joan turned off the car and faced Claire “That’s why I know that Robert didn’t try to kill me, Claire He doesn’t want to be a er He’s pretty obsessed with his ie, and that title would ood tiht We have love and companionship Honestly, that’s all we need”

“And Samuel Alton?”

“Who? Say, is that coffee and so yummy I smell?”

Claire opened her car door and Joan reached over to the glove box with her bandaged arm She took out a pistol

Claire said, “Whoa What’s that for?”

Joan shrugged and said, “Sorinned and started waving the gun like a rodeo clown as she took Claire around the side of the house and out to the patio

Once they sat down at the table, Marjorie came out and said, “Welcome, Dr Washburn Would you like a mimosa to start?”

Claire said, “I’ll have orange juice without the chao back to work after breakfast”

Joan was standing at the edge of the patio, sighting various objects on the property over the top of her gun, from the statuary to speciun at so, she said, “Pytoo, pytoo, pytoo”

Claire said, “Joan? Is that thing loaded?”

Joan called back, “Of course it is I’ve also got a license, if you’re wondering, and I’ve gone out to the range to practice You can never be too careful when you were almost murdered”

“Coive it back after I leave, okay? It’s just for et me?”

“You’re silly,” Joan said, laughing, but she sat down and put the gun on the table The ently spun the gun so it was pointing toward the horizon

She let out a s wildly in her chest

Marjorie brought out the breakfast It was a mushroom and fines herbes frittata that smelled delicious and was paired with a side of oven-fresh warm bread Claire’s stomach rumbled, so she unfurled her napkin and placed it in her lap She was just lifting her fork when she heard what sounded like a gunshot