Page 42 (1/2)

"That doesn’t seee or a sick sense that you needed revenge in a future generation," Will said "We’re looking for soht have coal that day"

"What about Hank Trebly?" Angela asked

"Trebly--that was his ancestor’s name, too"

"See what you can find on hihed as one site after another came up blank "Not found," she said "Sorry We need Jake He’s the one who can find anything on a computer"

"Could you take over for a fewme!" Ashley pushed away fro at her

He nodded "Sure Why don’t you go and try the attic with Jenna? See if you can sense, or even find, anything there?"

She nodded "I’rab some water first And a cheese stick"

"Food!" Will said "We haven’t eaten since break fast"

"All right, everybody, ela said

"Every man for himself There’s no Beth to feed us delicious delicacies today"

"We’llThen she leapt up "Angela is right! Every man--and woman--for themselves! And dibs on the crab cakes!"

As they started for the kitchen in a suddendown the stairs

"Anything?" Angela asked her

Jenna shook her head, frustrated "I can feel her, and I’ve talked myself blue But she won’t appear for ela said

"I knoho can reach her She’s been trying to reach him," Whitney said

They all stared at her

"Jake," Whitney said "Before we even knew about Charles beinghiht was about to lead a tour But then we couldn’t find her The way he described her, she was a Southern white woh a croe were at Café du Monde He toldto talk to him, and I said that was rather ridiculous, because she was across Decatur Street, and there was a lot going on, and unless she had been shouting, he couldn’t have possibly heard her But now, I think it allto coela was thoughtful for a et back on the coets back, we’ll just lock hi to getover bills long enough"

Frazier wasn’t sorting through their bills He was seated there thoughtfully, staring down at his hands

"Graiving her a brilliant set so rooht away

"Grah "Ashley, I can’t help being afraid that if this drags on, we’re going to lose the place"

"I won’t let that happen!" she promised him "I swear, I won’t let that happen"

He lifted his hands "It’s a house, Ashley It is built of brick andthat Beth was right, that we should just leave People are iree," she told him "But we have the best of the best on this They will find the killer They will find hi et one of those reality prograhost docuh I shudder! But I’ll shudder away, if it helps us keep Donegal Plantation"

Grinning, she headed into the kitchen Even with Beth gone, it didn’t have to be every man for himself There was plenty of food for everyone; Beth kept her leftovers well-packaged and dated

Ashley found guht want it when they caht Frazier lunch on a tray, and then realized that it was late afternoon It would be late when they were hungry again; they’d call out for pizza, ela," she said

"Yes?

"What happened to the cops ere always outside?" Her grandfather’s concern re patrols now, since they found the new bodies in the bayou The logic is that this house is filled with agents--and since others were killed at the bayou, the cops areall over the property Are you all right with that?"

"Sure I’d rather have a houseful of agents anytime," she assured her

When she had finished her ol, she walked out to the back porch She shouldn’t call Jake; he was busy, but she decided to call him anyway; she could just let him know that they were all fine

He answered on the first ring "Ashley? Everything is all right?"

"Everything is fine I just thought that I would call and tell you so Is, uh, is everything all right with you?"