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"Did they get anything off that partial guerprints, if there were any, weren’t necessarily easy to ht not be in any law enforcement database

Malachi stared out at the river One of the big paddle wheelers was going by; the hter traveled all the way to shore

People looked at hi late But tourists, in s wo to theroups, the horror was removed They could sympathize, but this wasn’t their home, and it wasn’t their friend, lover or child who’d been killed or was edy It wouldMalachi could see on the river Not then

"I guess I’ll call it a night" He turned to Jackson "They’ll watch hiht?"

"There’ll be a man on his house at all times," Jackson said

Malachi nodded "Good" Then he frowned, shaking his head "Jackson, so me Helen talked about a sound Tap, tap, tap Does thatto you?"

Jackson looked tired "They weren’t taken by the ghosts of Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly," he said "Tap, tap, tap I don’t know I’ll try to think of things that could make that kind of sound And I’ll see that the whole team is aware"

"It’s hard," Malachi said "Situations like this always are But," he adht others"

Jackson ed a smile "So, you’re in? As more than a consultant?"

Only if we find Bianca alive, Malachi thought

"Assu we solve this," he said

"We’ll solve it," Jackson vowed "We have to And ill We have a perfect record so far"

They left the riverfront together, parting ways on Bay Street Jackson had brought his car and Malachi didn’t want a ride for the few blocks to the Dragonslayer He could dry off enough walking back, then he’d slink up the stairs before anyone noticed hionslayer was still open when he returned, but he didn’t pause to speak to anyone; he just started up the stairs Grant, at the host stand, saw him and waved, and he waved back None of the barflies was present, nor did he recognize anyone at the tables

When he entered the apart over to him and threw herself into his arms

"I can’t wait to tell you what happened!" she said excitedly before drawing back "Ugh You’re all wet!"

"I went swi," Malachi said He was sorry theinto her eyes

"You found Bianca?" she asked excitedly

"No I dove into the river to get to Aldous’s yacht" He inhaled "Abby, the rowboat Roger saw on the river--it belonged to a ship owned by one of Aldous’s companies The police searched the ship, welco?" she asked "Other than that a rowboat fro ship broke away?"

"Maybe that’s all it is But I also found a scarf on his yacht that ht have been used as a blindfold And that would hold up in court?" she asked

"Abby, we’re searching for a killer We’re not in court We’re trying to find a young woman while she’s still alive"

Abby let out a breath "I know," she said,Aldous, Dirk, Roger, a an eye on Bootsie, of course"

"He’s seventy!"

Malachi nodded "But we have to watch everyone, Abby Everyone as faonslayer," he went on "Gus knew so because of what he’d seen here There’s no way out of that Don’t forget he found one victiain She looked deflated but see by Bianca doesn’t standand resilient She ht," Malachi said "He wants a captive ill fall in love with hiive himself away somehoe’ll never find him," Abby muttered

"We will," Malachi said with assurance "He was afraid when he caht Why he came when he did, I don’t know Maybe just to prove that he could"

"The only people with keys are--"

Malachi interrupted her "How closely did Gus watch his keys around his friends?" he asked

She pursed her lips and then sighed "He kept his keys on a hook behind the bar," she said "I guess anyone could have borrowed them and had copies made"