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He hadn’t really heard the door open; he just became aware that someone ith hihed

"If you’re looking to do soton House, it’s down the street at the end of the block," he said, not unwarmly

The costumed intruder just stared at hiravated He’d seen si out of the old days when the Puritan ministers tried to scare their flocks with pictures of an evil, horned and tailed devil Of course, this person didn’t really have a tail He earing a cloak, with a hood, the horns stuck out from the hood The mask was red and black--of course, the devil was red, like a fierce, burning fire--or black, in the way that a heart could be black, and the costume was damned creepy and scary

"Hey!" he said "My house--I don’t re you in!"

The person stood very still for a moment--alure drew its hands from beneath the folds of the cape

Earnest was briefly aware of a shining blade

He barely had time to throw his hands up to protect his face…

And all to no avail

He are of a crunch as the ax hit his skull; he was even aware of the warm spray of blood that sailed around him, oddly beautiful Red like the devil hi

"Jenna!"

She gave herself a shake,in front of her; his hands were on her shoulders His eyes, gray and sharp, were hard upon hers

She knew that John Alden was standing right behind hi in front of the ht she was a squeamish crackpot, especially not in front of John, who had yet to judge her as such

"Yes, I’ve pictured it as you said, Saht I think that Earnest Covington caht have been anticipating the pleasure of looking at the pictures again The killer just walked right in and killed him"

Sam nodded He turned to John Alden "Thanks, John I’ to let killers loose on the streets, I swear I appreciate your helping see to it that the defense has all the facts"

"Well, I don’t want the prosecution losing on a technicality--as in the defense not having everything it’s legally due," John said He looked at Sam "Hey, come on, I’m not a mean or horrible man! I feel sorry for the kid But I feel even sorrier for Peter Andres and Earnest Covington… And the Smith family, of course"

The last was definitely added as an afterthought, Jenna was certain

"All right then, we’ll get out of your way, John," Sam said

"I drove you here," John reht Keepelse," John said

"Will do," Sa it with his elbow They walked outside

"The car is down the street, at the grass by the cliff-side park," Jenna said

He nodded, walking alongside her They passed Lexington House and both of them paused Crins warned the curious off: arrests would be ton’s house is seriously just a block away," Jenna murmured

"Yep"

"Well, you won’t have a proble is concerned--if Malachi is charged"

"Oh?" he asked her