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Malachi sed and immediately pulled her to hi

They needed to talk, of course His words downstairs had been hter, then blank stares and aardness Sullivan had started cleaning the bar Grant had cleared his throat and walked away Dirk said he’d had enough to drink for the night, and Aldous and Bootsie had quickly agreed They were out the door before Abby and Malachi hadseemed to matter Her body’s memory kicked in, a physical memory that resided in her skin, her uilty for ashe possibly could to assist the police and Krewe unit in finding the killer Jackson had said they needed sleep But she needed this iving a second’s thought to Jackson’s advice

They began to shed their clothing, their lipsThey touched, then broke away, helped each other andSoon they were back in the bedroo about anything but this man--the taste of his flesh, the feel of his lips and hands upon her His kisses warmed her where they fell; her body sparked to life with the brush of his fingers The pressure of his body was vital and arousing, and she returned his passion with an urgent hunger of her own The thundering of her heart seeain They looked at each other, and they whispered words that ible They broke apart to deliver hot wet kisses, then arched together, teasing and arousing, until he thrust into her and their pace beca to a sweet crescendo, exploding fiercely, and taking theradually relaxed, and the glow of co with so in such a state, feeling like this with another person, was nothing she’d ever encountered before Abby sht that they hadn’t even known each other until this had begun, that their homes were in different places and that she had no idea what the future would hold But life seldo to these

She wasn’t sure what she expected hiood sex, if not so more intimate and personal, like, My God, that was the most extraordinary experience I’ve ever had

Maybe that was her line The words whispered silently in her head

Malachi raised hi on his lips as he quizzically said, "Certifiably crazy?"

Shift gears! she told herself

"I know you’re not certifiably crazy I just don’t knohat they’re going to think," she said "You never cease to amaze me I’ve been warned host, and it sounds like you’ve never said anything, either--and then you announce to a bunch ofaround"

"You don’t think it was a good idea?" he asked

"They all looked at you as if you’d lost your mind," Abby said

"Hure I’uilty party will start thinking Because I planted it in his ht be around," Malachi told her "He’ll start looking over his shoulder"

"So there’s a method to your madness?"

"There’s always a method to my madness" Dark hair fell in a swath across his forehead She thought he wasthere, than any male could be "Sadly, however, there’s little method to my social skills," he said He bent over and kissed her lips with a lingering wistfulness "You’reincredible That’s lame But you are"

She s her against his chest She felt cherished, and yet

She felt respected, as well He would want to shield her froer, she knew But she sensed that he would also have faith in her

But as happy as she ith her personal situation, she couldn’t stop thinking about as going on She wanted to ju woman who’d probably been taken She felt she should rush to the river again, run up and down the street, do anything rather than nothing And yet she knew that such feelings orthless; she’d learned about patience, being precise, following clues--controlling the impulse to become so emotionally involved that you couldn’t act Or acted recklessly

Trust was iood cop and that Jackson Crohat he was doing

And still her mind raced

"Taptap, tap, tap," she ," Malachi said

"Really?" She rose up to htfully

"It h, I’ll figure out what"

"And you still include Dirk and Roger in your suspect list?" Abby asked

"I do If they ht, we’ll know"

"Oh?"

"Will’s been keeping an eye on Roger since he left the tavern this afternoon He didn’t stay here long, had a quick drink, then took off" He shook his head "I believe his e my touch But, for now, don’t worry Lie down We have officers out there watching and searching On the riverfront Cruising around city halldown the east and the west sides of the city There are people out there, Abby Let the, she lay back down beside him

Music Helen had heardbefore Abby saw her

That meant the killer had been out on the water He’d been within their grasp

Tap, tap, tap

She felt Malachi stir and ain

They fell asleep