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"I’d bet the big bucks that he did," Sa," Jenna said, opening the refrigerator door for the salad she’d tossed and setting it on the table "It sounds as if we’re trying to prove that Malachi did co at her and hiding a smile If he were ever in trouble, he would definitely want her in his corner She was determined and passionate in her defense She sincerely believed in Malachi’s innocence When he ith Malachi and heard the youth speak, he believed in him, too When he looked at the facts, he felt that belief waver

Jenna wasn’t wavering

"What’s going to happen e make it to trial is this--the state will ht They will put forth every reason he would naturally have been the one to co whether or not to put Malachi on the stand, because they will try to crucify hi and articulate as he ith us, he’ll be a good witness in his own defense I don’t know yet--I have to look at this frole, because that’s what the prosecution is going to do One of the things I have to create is reasonable doubt, and one of the best ways to do that is to think like our opposition"

"Or find the real killer," Jenna said, sitting opposite hi at him "That’s what you did in your last case And, now, you have ators"

He kept his eyes level with hers and hoped that his years as an attorney had ood liar "That’s wonderful, of course"

Jenna gazed at hiood "I ith people who can find the tiniest discrepancies on film, and who can find out about any piece of inforwork, phone work, paperwork--anything you want So your problem would be…?"

"I don’t have a problem I said, that’s wonderful," Sa man down here," Jamie said cheerfully

"Soulash The very best!" Jamie said

When the food was dished out and Jenna was seated, Saood attorney can act and speak and write up suin for doubt And we also start out with the question, where do ant to go? We’re going on the premise that Malachi S the boy for the other murders, the state will have as their default assumption that the same person or persons ton Since they were all bloody killings committed by some kind of a sharp blade in a fairly small area, all known to the boy--it seems like a plausible assuht have actually co the victi at the Smith murders, but if we can also cast doubt on the police’s assu thes We’ll question friends and whatever relatives we can find, and we also need to know if they were thought of fondly in town--or if they were thought of at all The killings ht have been random or specific, but I’d bet on specific That means motive, and we need to find out why soht have been convenience, or there ht have been a more practical reason"

"I need to see the house," Jenna said

"Why?" Sa to be a lot of blood spatter People were killed there"

"The house itselfto talk to the ghosts?" he asked drily

"Maybe," she said evenly "Saht We do knohat happened But I need to see all the sites--we have to go to Andover and see the barn where Peter Andres was killed, and also get into the neighbor’s house But we need to start with Lexington House You know that! You’re going to defend Malachi You need to know exactly what happened And you’re friends with Detective John Alden, so…"

Sa We’ll start with the house"

Lexington House Jenna had never actually been in the old colonial building, but she had an idea of what the arrangement of rooms would be like; many such homes had been built in a similar manner The porch led to a mudroom, and beyond that was an entry hallway The hall stretched the length of the house, the staircase to one side The first door to the right would lead to a parlor Upstairs, there would be four bedrooms, two on either side of the house

Detective John Alden led the way, ripping off the cri the front door for the on hooks in the sainst the wall There was a long hallith doors leading off to either side of the house, and a set of stairs against the left wall that led to the rooms above They followed John Alden to the first door on the left

Blood re--there was so o, two of them in this room

Two here, in the parlor Mr Abrahanated the positions where their bodies had lain

"You can move into the room about three feet--no farther," Alden warned

"We appreciate your assistance in being here, John," Sa his answer "We do have a chief of police," he said "And the chief wants every possible effort made on this case so that there aren’t anyaround out there The ends--it’s a seventeen-year-old boy who has been accused I worked hard for this badge, it’s so I’ve alanted And I don’t want any surprises e get to court on this one"

"Noted," Sam said "And still appreciated"

"Just be careful where you’re walking," Alden said gruffly

Jaht