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"I’ve turned this rooed, I’m very proud of it," she told hireat stereo system, a wide-screen television, a DVD player and coazines, DVDs and CDs

"Great place," he told her

"What’s your place like in Jacksonville?" she asked him "Don’t tell me Ultramodern Every convenience"

"No I think my house actually has a few years on yours But, sadly, I’ve never taken the tiht an old house?"

"I h I probably shouldn’t have bought the place The historic board would probably like to do uely and started back down the stairs He followed She turned at the foot of the stairs and started along the hall, then on out to the backyard Though not heavily planted, there were flowers here and there It was simple and attractive

She pointed to a raised bed that sported a riot of bougainvillea "When I was digging to create that little stand, I dug up bones," she told him

"Oh?"

She turned and looked at hiencies Forensic anthropologists came out They decided that the bones were Calusa Indian, a tribe that disappeared hundreds of years ago No one was terribly surprised When the Spaniards first caht Cayo Hueso Island of Bones," he said Her eyes seee She didn’t seerateful for his presence

Not because it was hih she had chosen to leave the group, she didn’t really want to be alone

"You’re getting at so," he told her "I’m just not sure what Feel free to spit it out anytiht tone

Apparently he hadn’t Either that, or she si her

"Don’t be silly Do you want soh coffee standing around at the tiki bar to last until I’ else?"

He hesitated slightly "How about I take you to lunch?"

She cocked her head, as if thinking, then deterht fit into her plan "I’ll take you"

"You’re kind of touchy about that et, I can put in for expenses"

She shook her head "I just want to choose the place"

"Choose away"

"All right Thanks"

She locked the back and started toward the front again, pausing only to sift through thedire," she o"

She locked the door as they left, and started back down Duval Street

"Where are we going?" he asked her

She glanced at hiht you preferred your Conch insider places"

"It’s a cool Hard Rock," she told him

He wasn’t surprised when they arrived and she knew the young people acting as hosts at the door He wasn’t surprised, either, when she opted to sit inside--Deep South natives of any kind usually preferred air-conditioning to the chararden atmosphere of an outdoor café

The restaurant was located in a handsome historic home, late 1800s, with some of the old incorporated with the customary decor of the chain After they walked up the stairs, she pointed out a guitar signed by Jimmy Buffett, and a number of pieces of Elvis Presley and Beatles memorabilia

After they had ordered drinks--she opted for alcohol that afternoon, choosing an island concoction with an umbrella--she told him the place was supposedly haunted

"Is anywhere not haunted here?" he asked her

She shrugged "Ask our waitress," she told hiirl whose eyes widened when Genevieve encouraged her to tell Thor about the ghosts

"The place really is haunted," she assured him