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It was Saround, the table landing with a loud crash At thatcloser Sahtness in her head, and she knew she was going to faint, with darkness and stars bursting before her eyes

But Sam ran in her direction, and his arm snaked around Samantha before she could strike He lifted her off her feet, swinging her around to crash land on top of Cindy

"I always knew you wanted to touch me, honey," Samantha said, dazed

Then Jenna saw no more The stars in front of her eyes burst, and then beca up, Jenna felt a bit as if she were on display

There were soat her

A doctor in a white uniform and a stethoscope in his hand A concerned nurse in a pert white hat Uncle Jaela, Will, John Alden--and Sa her hand His gray eyes were so misted with concern that it seemed her heart ached, rather than her head

"Ah, you’re back with us again," the doctor said "Well, that was a pretty good wallop you got on your head, and I know you’re an RN, Miss Duffy, but you’re staying right here tonight, you understand You should know that a good concussion is definitely so!" Jaht here, till you say that it’s fine for her to leave"

"Ditto," Sa her hand

"May we have just a minute?" John Alden asked

"Aat all," Saood, I swear I’et up"

"All right, but not too much stimulation--the rest of you out of here in two one, John Alden said, "Jenna, I just want to say--well, I just want to say that the wo his head with a sone in to see that the charges against Malachi Sainst Saer and Cindy Yates, and you will be called to testify in court, and God knows, Sa the them"

"Who knew?" Jao quite so crazy over the perceived injury done a child?"

"Well, we did think that maybe Andy Yates was that furious," he reminded her "We didn’t think that a mother would resort to that kind of violence That’s still the way of the world--we don’t like to think that the female of our species can be so violent and diabolical And I sure didn’t suspect that the affair ith Cindy Yates, not Andy," Jackson said apologetically

"Oh, ela!" Jenna tried to sit up to address her friend

"No!" the as a cacophony froently pushed her back down

"I’ela told her "I’ The rock came from the trees the minute I turned to watch the house But, honestly, I was already getting up when Jackson caent stakeout"

"They would have just gotten us both inside," Jenna said

"Maybe," Angela said "And maybe not"

"Listen," Jackson said, "our two h all of it later--when you’re up to it Coet your rest, and don’t you dare try to get up again"

"Wait!" Jenna said She looked at her uncle "How is Malachi?"

Ja talk on the phone, and I’ll go and pick hie school in New Hampshire--one that has an extensive music departuitar now, and while I’ him situated, he’ll have the piano at ain, I’ll warrant In the entertain to make it He’ll have support now, and belief Music, he told ift fro priest! A nun made it that way, once!"

Jenna nodded and leaned back, sela and Jackson Apparently, John Alden would have felt left out if he hadn’t, so he did, as well

She caught his hand "Thanks for being a good cop, John," she said

"I didn’t want to believe any of you," he said "Me The man who should have learned the ood cop because you illing to be honest and not blindly insist that you were right You’re a good cop because you pursued justice, not ego," she told hiain and left

And she was alone with Sa closer and holding her fingers tenderly "Such a brat, still! You were supposed to be at the house"

"I never said I wouldn’t go to Lexington House," she told hiood as a lie"

She srateful that you ca, of course Anyone can be taken by surprise I’ht have been the one to commit the most vicious murders, but Samantha is one mean opponent! How the hell did you find us?" she deether," he said "I knehere they were--but I didn’t knohere Sa you You didn’t answer"

"But--did you just figure I would have gone to Lexington House?" she asked

He lowered his head "No," he answered after a minute