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"He putand dressed me up as a silly maiden in distress for that one," Grant Green recalled, sipping on a beer "Gus was the best The day I applied to work here, I hadn’t even filled out a form and he was short a server, so he stuck an order pad inif you mess up--you’ll be fine!’"

"Gus was like that," Abby said

"Ah, Gus!" Grant said sadly "He was a force of nature I don’t think any of us believed we’d ever really lose hi sooodbye She should have gotten up and joined her

She couldn’t quite e it

As she watched, Jerry Sullivan ca a fresh cup

"New one for you," Sullivan told her "The one you’re holding ed "Gus did think that a shot of whiskey in hot tea solved all" He grinned at her, green eyes sy--I know, ’cause of irl in the 1890s, fresh fro the tea She had a feeling that Sullivan had heavily spiked this cup

He had, but it was good It burned as she sed it, war her stomach, and then seemed to move outward to her limbs

"Thanks, Sullivan"

"My pleasure," he said, and went back to work

She watched hi at the bar with her grandfather’s trio of cronies

"Excuseto the bar

Before she even came near, she realized that theher at the cemetery--few people were that tall with hair quite so dark She wasn’t sure why, but it see a little as she walked to the bar

"Here’s our girl now," Bootsie said affectionately "Our Abby, race such an illustrious tavern"

"Yep, here I a in between hilasses His eyes were green, sharp and enhanced by the darkness of his well-defined brows His features were striking Weathered, hardened, bronzed, but striking His chin was a solid square while his cheekbones were high He had the look of someone who’d seen the harder side of life--but had co Still, his dress was entirely appropriate and she had a feeling he’d be courteous and polite

"Ms Anderson," he said, offering her a hand "My name is Malachi Gordon I’ his hand Fed? Yes, he could be a fed But she doubted it A fed would’ve shown up in a more standard suit, wouldn’t he?

"Thank you It wasn’t necessary for the bureau to send a representative Only a few friends in ency sent a beautiful wreath," Abby explained

"I’m here to see you, Ms Anderson," he said

She was curious but didn’t want to ask any more in front of the others She wondered what this was about Did the agency believe a death in a faent that he or she was rendered less able for duty?

"Thank you for being here," she said, assu hi hiain "To Gus!" they said in unison

Malachi Gordon smiled at Abby She smiled in return

"This is an incredible place," he said "Well-preserved--and yet alive Living history is always the best"

"Yes, well, people do love pirates"

"Thank God!" Dirk shrugged and said, "Ia pirate ship that we take out for tourists every day We do birthday parties and other occasions, too" He produced a card from his wallet to hand the newcoure--she ent"

"Well, who ever said there weren’t a few pirates ahtly

That was very ahed Glancing around, Abby saw that Roger and Paul were about to leave and she excused herself to say goodbye to theer and Paul were old friends and both hugged her warmly She walked out front with theer said, picking up the bundle to open them and lay them on top of the stand As he did, she noticed the headline

Body of College Student Found in River

A thirdto pick up the paper and find out as going on

Ora fourth? Had Gus been murdered by the same person who’d killed three people found in or near the river?