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"Are they still here?" Abby asked

"Out by the pool"

"May I?" Abby gestured, indicating that she wanted to walk through

"Of course," Shelly followed Malachi as he kept pace with Abby "I heard they found the girl orking for Dirk on his Black Swan Do you think Bianca ht have beenkidnapped and assaulted by the same man? OrI ?" She sounded both puzzled and concerned

"We’re not taking chances," Malachi said

"This is so distressing!" Shelly murmured

The Mortons were a handsome couple in their late sixties or early seventies, who both looked fit and tan Abby envied them for a minute They appeared to be the kind of people who’d worked hard, raised their children--and survived to enjoy their golden years together

She quickly introduced herself and said that Bianca Salzburg was probably fine, but with the sad state of events lately, they were trying to asped softly "Oh, that lovely, lovely girl!" She turned to her husband, "Henry, she was so pleasant, wasn’t she? She joined us for breakfast" As he nodded, she looked at Abby "This is Bianca’s first trip to Savannah She’s froo--her fae the new office for her coot here, she’s been absolutely thrilled, the city’s so beautiful We told her we’d been corandkids live there, but we love to spend a month in Savannah every year"

"It’s one of the reed "Did Bianca say anything about her plans for the day?"

"Why, yes She said she’dlunch with hiet--what did she say, Henry? The Irish pub?"

Henry Morton murmured "Yes, Connie The Irish pub"

"Henry, if you know so, you have to speak up," Connie Morton said

"You see fine for both of us," Henry said

Connie rolled her eyes Her husband smiled at her

"Shelly is pretty sure she left around eleven," Malachi told theht," Connie said "She waved to us as she alking out"

Abby thanked them; when Henry expressed serious concern about Bianca, she promised they’d call the bed-and-breakfast with any news

They bade Shelly and the Mortons goodbye and headed out

"They were a lovely couple," Abby said as they walked to the car

"Yes" He nodded thoughtfully "I have a feeling they’ve been together for years--and that they’re still in love"

"I envy the to envy anyone yet The world’s out there for you"

"Yes, I know They just made me think of my parents The world was once theirs, too But they died before they made it to where the Mortons are now"

"And yet," Malachi said softly, "what they had was probably better than what et even if they live to be over a hundred"

That was true, but Abby randparents as ed the subject back to work

"So, we’re going to see Helen?"

"Yes" When they drove alongside Colonial Park Ce space and slid into it

Abby frowned "Helen’s at the hospital Why are we here?"

"I know I thought we’d stop for a minute"

"Oh Okay"

He was already out of the car She followed as he walked through the le He kept ht for the bench where he’d seen the ghostly old couple and pointed therave

Abby hung back and watched She saw Malachi approach therave and bowed his head

After a few minutes, Abby inched closer Malachi spoke quietly "Good afternoon," he greeted the pair "I’m sorry for your loss Your son?"

The man appeared startled and looked at his wife Then he looked at Malachi again and Abby heard his voice, like paper shifting on the wind

"You are speaking to ive my intrusion"