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Beth had cooked--and cooked, and cooked She had gone for just about every staple known to Southern Louisiana--corn bread, jareens, pecan pie, bread pudding, shrimp salad and more

It astounded even Ashley that she could have prepared such a feast so quickly, but then, when the reenact a murder, Beth did run one of the finest restaurants in the area There was still a crowd for lunch; Jackson, Ashley, Jake, Frazier, Cliff, Beth and herself

She noted--as she was sure Cliff did--that their guest investigators did not treat him as a suspect; they treated him as one of the fa up, he’d been the big brother Ashley had never had, even though he was about thirteen years older than her and had been actuallywith her dolls and video ga haunted by an annoying Confederate in full dress unifor roorateful for that fact He’d been in the office with her when she’d been giving Jake the list, and he’d been terribly annoying, wanting her to punctuate every detail regarding everythat Jake would turn around and see hih and tell her that the felloas an actor hired to torment her

But Jake didn’t see the e delusions about the dead They were all probably brought on by thethe massive meal, they all spoke as casually as possible in the after Jackson and Jake relayed the conversation they’d had down at the police station until Cliff had left the that he had work at the stables

Ashley pretended to listen attentively while wondering again if she had i as real as flesh and blood--had carried on awith her She looked here and there around the rooal would appear in the flesh--or the appearance of flesh!--sweeping off his great plu a booted foot upon a chair, perhaps

But though he had been a pest in the office, he didn’t show She was so busy worrying that he would, however, that she barely heard as being said She wondered if Frazier had ever seen the man--or even Cliff After all, one way or another, they were all related

Then one word that Jake uttered brought her to

…diving…

"Diving?" she asked

"I believe that the ht have thrown his weapon into the Mississippi," Jake explained "He’s organized, and intelligent Such a killer would know that the murder weapon would be searched for immediately, and that he couldn’t be found with it on his person or his property So if it were me, I’d throw it in the river as quickly as possible Actually, I think the killer had Charles with hiht hi the case, he’d have thrown the weapon into the river while he returned to wherever he had co back at Jake as if she dared hied on the property If that was the case, the killer could have taken him into the cemetery, where he bayoneted him to death, and went on to return to his room The river has a terrific current, too"

"That’s possible, too," Jake said evenly "But I think he threw it in the river--the weight of a weapon could have easily caused it to sink"

"I’htened, looking around the table at the three investigators

Jake shly unlikely that you have the strength needed to carry out as done"

"Thank the Lord!" Beth said

"But Cliff could be guilty," Frazier said

"We certainly hope not," Jackson said

"Wait!" Ashley protested She didn’t believe that Cliff could be guilty, but she didn’t believe that any of the men who had acted like children on the day of the reenactuilty of such a heinous cri out police divers?"

"Yes," Jake said, frowning slightly "I’ really soon But I want first crack, before the water is churned by a team of four or five"

"But--are you authorized?"

"We are working co-jurisdiction," Jackson said, glancing at Frazier "Adarandfather’s friend, and Adareat deal happen"

"Ashley, you know that I knohat I’et started now"

"I’ll ith you," she said

"Ashley--" Jake began