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"I know I’m from the area," Sam said

Wilson stood up, perhaps e to a lay out with the ho our conversation, but I’m needed"

Sam stood, as well "Thank you for your time," he said He started toward the door

"Mr Hall," Wilson called

Sam stopped and turned back

"But, was the devil busy at work in Massachusetts in 1692? Yes He is always busy So, please, don’t delude yourself The devil is still alive and well and busy in Massachusetts, in the world, just as he was in 1692"

6

Little had changed at Sedge’s Market since Jenna was last there Milton Sedge ran a clean store with neat, tight aisles and five checkout lanes Bananas and prins advertised the daily deals He had long been a holdout as far as credit cards went, but he, like the rest of the world, seemed to have succued was that

A friendly girl at one of the registers directed Jenna to a rear office She didn’t get far, however, before she saw the e hi an e so pleasantly enough, but efficiency and survival seemed to be on his mind

"Dates, Richard--co once it’s past its date That’s hoe couys Quality--and assurance!" he said firmly

The worker was a sliorously with his coe?" Jenna asked

He turned to look at her, a balding e nose andto compensate for the loss of hair on his head

"Yes?" He stared at her, as if trying to decide if he knew her or not

"Hi I’ her hand

"Do you want a job?" he asked skeptically, openly studying her

She shook her head "No, sir I’ with Saave my statement to the police"

"Yes, sir I know that you did I’ to hear what you have to say with my own ears and, also, to ask you, of course, if you’re certain about your statement"

He nodded, distracted An elderly woman with a cart had come next to them "Milton, where are those bananas?" she de senile, are you? The bananas are in the fruit section!" Sedge said, scratching his head "Show soland coood New England common sense There are no bananas in the fruit section, and that’s why I’nant

"Richard! Will you go to the back and see that the bananas are restocked!" Sedge asked

"Yes, sir!"

"Let’s step into ested "It’s just to the left, behind the pharmacy"

A few seconds later Jenna was seated on a foldout chair between boxes of crackers and he was behind a desk stacked high with invoices He folded his hands on the desk

"I’ve taken souff over this, I’ll have you know But what I sahat I saw!" Sedge said "What is--is And that’s just the way it is"

"What do you uff?" Jenna asked him

He looked at her as if she had lost her mind, as well "Guff! Guff! Grief! All kinds of misery Folks around here believe that Malachi killed Earnest Covington, and that I’ht But that boy was in this store fro, read every label on every can I think he just liked being away frouy’s body at six-thirty and claimed he’d been dead for over an hour So, if someone is mistaken, it’s the damned doctor who showed up on the site, not ular He was always on a budget, so he was like Eleanor, de to knohere the daily specials could be found Except that Malachi Smith didn’t demand The kid was polite Yeah, I can see where his class eyes Bad haircut But he was polite He was always stopping to get so off a top shelf for the old ladies He waited his turn in a line He paid with cash"