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"But," Roger protested, "she’s alive! She has to know--"
"She says she saw a pirate," Abby said
"What?" Roger demanded
"She thinks Blue Anderson attacked her"
"Blue Anderson?" Roger repeated, looking at her blankly
"Roger," Malachi said in a firer We’ll stay until Angela arrives Then we’ll head out and start searching for her, okay? Every cop in the city will be on the lookout, too"
Roger shook his head "She’s underground so held on a ship It’s not like they’ll be able to see her"
"We’ll do everything we can," Malachi said
Abby put a hand on Roger’s aret you one of Gus’s old fixes, okay? A cup of tea and whiskey Caler said huskily "Yeah, okay"
By the tiela had arrived Tall, beautiful, controlled, she quickly had Roger talking to her, telling her about Bianca, how they’d o," Malachi told Abby
"Yes, get going," Angela said "Roger and I are fine here"
"The check," Abby began
Angela waved a hand "Roger and Ielse while we’re here And Jackson ot fliers into the hands of the police, and they’ll get theun, but"
Abby gave Roger a kiss on the head "It’s going to be okay," she whispered
He nodded He still looked as if he’d been hit by a brick
Malachi took her arth of the riverfront to the parking area
"Do you actually think she’s been taken?" Abby asked
Malachi pursed his lips "I don’t know Maybe she’s just blowing him off, but we can’t risk it We’ll stop by the bed-and-breakfast first and then go back to the hospital to talk to Helen We’ll see if we can get some kind of clue from her Do you know the woman who’s taken over the Hayden house? Shelly, he said her name was"
"Yeah, Gus knew everyone in town Shelly actually lived up in Charleston I hadn’t heard that she’d turned the house into a bed-and-breakfast but I’ old colonial and they put in a pool about ten years back"
"Tell rasp of the city’s grid layout, with the squares bordered by streets
When he’d parked, Abby ran up the walk The front door was open; she went in The Hayden house had a broad foyer with a staircase that went straight up to a second-floor balcony Shelly had set up a reception desk in the foyer
"Hey, Abby!" Shelly sive her a big hug They didn’t know each other that well, since Shelly was about five years older than Abby But whenever she’d been in town, they’d seen each other often enough Slim and attractive, she must have made a complete aboutface in her life because she’d worked in Charleston as a graphic designer
"Shelly, it’s good to see you," Abby said, returning the hug
"Congratulations, Agent Anderson I understand you’re full-fledged now"
"More or less," Abby said Malachi was behind her by then She saw Shelly’s eyes widen as she looked at him and then at her She wondered how she hadn’t realized fro what she clearly sa--he was an extre man Other women seemed to respond to hi that herself
She gave herself a mental shake Whatever private relationships they had, she couldn’t forget her position, her chosen vocation and what they were here to do
"Hi," Shelly said to Malachi "You two are together?" She evidently approved
"Shelly Hayden, Malachi Gordon He’s a private investigator and a consultant with the FBI," Abby explained "We’re here because one of your guests didn’t show up for a lunch appointht"
"Oh Oh!" Shelly said "Which guest? Oh, it has to be Bianca Salzburg She’s registered, and then I have two retired couples and a fa I made quiches for breakfast and she was so sweet, really loved them She was cheerful when she left here"
"When was that?" Malachi asked
"About eleven," Shelly told hi?"
"No, and I’rill people when they leave," Shelly said "Soe ride--but if they’re going out for the day, well, I don’t feel it’s uests down here when she had breakfast?" Malachi asked next
"Yes, the Mortons were sitting with her at one of the tables on the patio I serve breakfast outside by the pool when I can"