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"I’ve lived my whole life with the family cemetery in full view from my , Beth," Ashley reminded her "And Jake’s here," she added quickly

"Jake’s here?" Frazier said, and it see better

"Yes, yes, Jake’s here," she said, nodding It ht be best to let them think that Jake had been in the ce

Two police cars pulled into the front The driver of the first seeht on down by the side of the house, slowly passing the onlookers who had gathered outside The second car came to a halt by the first Ashley quickly ran down the steps from the porch to ue, who had been on call when she had reported Charles Osgood as ue asked her Behind hiood He’s in the ce hilancing at the other man who had approached theal, with the parish sheriff’s office," he explained He was so pleasantly nondescript, she wondered whether that was part of his act "Can you take me to the body and explain, please, how you happened to discover it?"

"I woke up after I’d gone to bed I thought I saw lights out there, and I went to investigate," she said

"You ran into a ceht that soht be out there?" Mack asked politely He and Drew exchanged a glance There was suspicion in his tone, despite the even level

She let out an exasperated sigh "I have lived here forever My dead ancestors are in that cemetery I’m not afraid of it!" she said "The worst we’ve ever found before has been potheads and frat boys I anantly

"Looks like you should be," Drew Montague ue," Mack Colby said, "can you keep people away froates? The forensic creill be here shortly Miss Donegal, please take me to the body Did you touch him? Are you quite certain he’s dead?"

"He’s dead And, no, I didn’t touch hirandfather was by her side

"Perhaps," he said icily, "it would be best if you investigated the dead hter difficulty?"

"If she’s right, this is a"And you are--?"

"Frazier Donegal We’ve not met, but you’ve surely known that this property was here and ns it My granddaughter insisted we call thisbad had happened None of you seeht; a rescue vehicle caie Merton, a ed froer’s seat He was a nice man; Ashley knew him He soh the former New Yorker had lived in the parish for almost thirty years, he was still affectionately called the Yankee doc

"Ashley, Frazier, sorry to see you here under unhappy circu

"Daet to the corpse," Mack Colby said "Lead the way With any luck, no one has disturbed the crime scene"

"No one has Jake Mallory is in the ce over the scene," Ashley said

Mack Colby stopped walking "And who the hell is Jake Mallory?"

"An old friend," Ashley said

"A good old boy Great!" Mack Colby overnment," Frazier in formed hi around in my jurisdiction!" Colby said

"Frankly, I don’t think he and his team fiddle with cases I think they solve the at hi about Jake’s tea just as indignant as Frazier

Before he could respond, she said, "This way"

"Ashley, they can surely find the body on their own," Frazier said, worried about her and apparently not at all fond of Detective Mack Colby

"I’h it was difficult to do so with dignity when she was running around in a white nightgown

She turned quickly, assu that Beth and Frazier chose to folloell; she was certain that corpses did not fall into Beth’s usual life But she didn’t protest; Frazier was proud and would insist on seeing what happened on his property And there was no stopping Beth when she ate, Mack Colby said, "Stop! Who has touched this gate?" he asked

Ashley turned to stare at him "Possibly? Hundreds of people Maybe thousands There was a reenactment here yesterday It was after the reenact that we reported to the police"