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"I practically collided with her when I burst out of the tent at the sound of the scream," Olivia said

"Did you see her?" Frank asked Dustin

"No We’d been up during the night," Dustin said "I woke up and found Aaron on his way to the women’s tent He orried because he didn’t see Mariah--who’d gone to the stream for water When Mariah came back, half the caet back to sleep I stayed out by the caain I went back into , but then Mariah screa after her"

"Sandra was outside when I came out of the tent," Olivia said "But Dustin didn’t see her when he ran ahead, a few minutes before I stepped out"

"But she could have come out of the tent just before you did?" Frank asked

"It’s possible, yes," Olivia agreed

"Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve got to get ," Dustin said "I do want to be there for that autopsy, and we’ve got friends coet to know your friends, right?" Frank’s question wasn’t really a question

"You bet," Dustin promised

Frank nodded "Stay in close contact"

"We will"

Ji his hat "Liv, take care of yourself," he said quietly

As they left the station and drove to Olivia’s house, Dustin noted that she still looked shell-shocked He wished he could do so--and he kneas only going to get worse once she got over the sense of numbness It protected her, to some extent, from the full reality of her losses Still, her whole world had to be reeling

When they pulled into the yard, she let out a yelp of joy, leaping out of the car before he’d turned off the motor

Malachi Gordon stood on the porch He ith the very tall cowboy agent Dustin had met at the office, Sloan Trent, and tomen He quickly realized that the women were Jane Everett and Abby Anderson He hadn’t had a chance to one to Tennessee, but he’d studied some of the information on them Jane Everett was an artist who had frequently worked with the Texas police before joining the Texas Krewe Sloan Trent had joined after working with Jane on a situation in Lily, Arizona Abby Anderson and Malachi were a couple; they’d s that had occurred in Savannah

Olivia wasn’t bothering with formality at the moment She ran over and was lifted into her cousin’s ar around Introductions were s about the in her pocket for her keys, but even as she twisted the lock, they heard so behind the door, which appeared toto open it froan to bark excitedly

"I’ve got it," Dustinher aside The Krewetheir weapons Malachi pulled Olivia against the wall as Dustin drew his oeapon and threw open the door

Sa up with jubilation Dustin holstered his weapon and stepped inside, greeting the dog and fir him down But as he stepped into the entry, he heard excited words

"I did it! I touched the door I touched the door and it al soth!"

Marcus Danby had finally decided to ain

15

Olivia understood why Malachi had changed his life--why he’d stopped working for himself to become part of the Krewe

She’d known plenty of people ould get excited and swear they’d seen General Rufus Cunningham seated atop his warhorse up on a hill

She’d never believed that there were so many people who actually spoke with the dead and that she could sit in her own parlor serving tea to the living while the ghost of Marcus Danby was a he’d told Olivia and then Dustin It had been hard, he’d explained to her, to be soot too tired, he assuhost sleep" because he knew he faded, and he wasn’t sure where he was It seeth to ed to make it look as if there was someone on the other side of the door; he was heartbroken and disturbed to discover that Aaron Bentley had now joined his ranks He went frohtness in a whirl of e six people who could see and hear hi that happened during the ca trip and what had occurred so far that day Malachi listened gravely, then asked, "The deputy sheriff in charge, Frank Vine, he’s really come around? He’s ready to have us here?"

Dustin nodded "He wants to meet you all and he’s asked that we keep hiuy He had the fragments of the dart I found analyzed, so they’re all aware that these deaths aren’t accidents at all It’s been iuard everywhere The deputy should’ve gone in with Aaron thisBut despite the information about the dart and the fact that Aaron nearly died, I don’t believe anyone thought the killer could possibly be in his house, ready to finish him off"