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Jack thought for a moment "Hmm Ate lunch, had a beer Sat here, had a beer Ate dinner, had a beer How about you?"

"Oh, I ran home My place is on the northeast corner of the island, off Roosevelt I’ "Actually, ht, but it’s a lot easier and kind of cool staying at the resort You still live on Stock Island, right? That’s not much farther than me"

"Yeah, I’m still on Stock Island," Jack said "I’d sure love one of those old Victorians like Genevieve’s, but who the hell can afford one now?"

"Maybe we’ll all be able to afford one--if we find the ship," Bethany said

"Yeah, maybe"

Jack was startled when a hand fell on his back "Jack, old buddy You going to buyabout their group and Key West, at so to show up at the bar

Victor had spoken lightly, but he looked strained Like he needed a beer

"Sure Draw up a chair"

Without being asked, Bruce brought over another beer "First round is on the house tonight Frouys need it"

"Thanks" Victor took a long swig fro?" Bethany asked hied moodily "Oh, this and that Stuff to take care of--you know"

They all stared silently at the television again Alex arrived just as an artist’s rendition of the dead woman’s face appeared He took the beer Bruce offered hiht find out who she is So for the poor woman"

"There’s Jack," Victor said as the intervieas shown yet again

Jack didn’t feel quite the same pleasure he had earlier He didn’t like the way Victor had spoken His words had carried a strangely bitter edge

"Jack, you’re famous," another voice commented He looked up to find that Marshall had arrived His arms were crossed over his chest, and he sounded weary

"I thought it was better to talk to the woman than piss her off," Jack said defensively

"I’m not sure we needed to tell her that Genevieve had spotted the corpse earlier, but then none of us could find it," Marshall commented

"Come on Not even the police divers saw it that day," Jack told hiet Marshall his beer, huh?"

They were all still staring at the television, even though the anchor had gone on to report an accident in Florida City, holding up traffic in and out of the Keys, when Jaybeside Jack, for several seconds before anyone noticed he’d arrived

"Sad day, huh?" Jay said after amore?" Bethany asked

"Preliminary reports The ME said she’d been in the water five to seven days," Jay told them

Bethany sed "Was she…drowned? Or…killed first, then weighted down?"

Jay looked at her, wincing "Weighted down…and drowned"

Bethany trembled "She must have been terrified I mean, she must have known…must have been desperate for breath…"

"Do they have any idea where she was killed?" Victor asked

"In the water," Jay said dryly

Genevieve came in then, and they all turned toward her as she neared the bar "Gen!" Victor said, raising his beer bottle

Jack watched her walk in Jeez, she was soant all in one She perched atop a bar stool next to Jay

"Anything new?" she asked him

Jack couldn’t hear his reply, because he lowered his head to speak with her She said so back to him, her expression anxious, but Jack couldn’t hear that, either

"We’ll talk We can have dinner soht this week," Jay said, his tone norht, do you?" he teased

She shook her head "No And I really need to talk to you"

Though she had spoken very softly, Jack was able to make out the words

Just then Thor Thompson arrived Jack studied his euy he’d everA presence A way of walking,When Thor entered a room, no matter how softly he moved or how quietly he spoke, everyone knew it

"Hey," he said si a seat on a bar stool

"Bruce, a beer for our northern comrade!" Alex called

"Northern?" Thor said