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When she spoke, it was in a rush "There are spirits of all the people gunned down or murdered in or near the theater, and now those spirits are possessing the h him She’d sounded as if she’d come out of it with all her senses Noorried

Not that spirits didn’t exist Not that people wouldn’t think he was crazy if he ever told the truth

He just didn’t believe that spirits were possessing theHe wanted to knoho and what And why

"Jennie, maybe someone pushed one of the mannequins at you," he said "Maybe one of those people, whoever they are, were in theAnd that’s probably why it looked like the clown mannequin came after you"

"Yes, maybe It can be so dark and shadon there It’s funny The theater’s always had that feeling Of being haunted Maybe being haunted is the saood before Now, I don’t"

"You’re right not to feel safe--but it wasn’t ghosts of the old theater doing bad things"

Tears stung her eyes "Am I too old, Sloan?"

"No, Jennie You’re not You walked in on so at the theater and you do it well That has nothing to do with the fact that you stu people, and that someone needed to silence you"

"ButI’ an officer in the hospital, so you’ll stay alive I’ve given orders that no one else be told that you’re awake," Sloan explained He squeezed her hand "Jennie, you’re going to be okay"

She nodded "I love that theater, Sloan I was never an actress But I love working with the actors I love fixing the costus uns for the annual duel"

"I did With blanks"

"One of the guns had live aun with live anantly

"When did you load the guns and where did you leave theht before," she told hiht have been an hour or so before I went down to the baseuns?"

"On the prop table It’s backstage left, in one of the theater wings Even if we--or the actors--are perfor outside, we stick to protocol with the props and costuotten to them But no, that wasn’t really true; it had to be soh the theater unnoticed The cast and crew had been working outside most of the day, but they certainly went in and out The housekeeping staff went in--and anyone ht duck their head in But only someone who knew the theater would knohere to look for the props

"Sloan, I would never, ever hurt an actor! Please, you have to believe ly

Maybe Jennie wouldn’t, but so you can think of, please callyou It was the clown"

"Thanks, Jennie Now rest Get better," he said, and left

He reiterated to the staff and the officer on duty that he didn’t want anyone else knowing that Jennie was conscious He checked in on Jih, but both were soundly asleep The resident told Sloan that the Houghs were both doing fine and could be released; Sloan asked that they be kept at least one ements for their protection

He finally walked out of the hospital and headed for his car The ht But as he drove out, the desert seemed cast in shadow and mystery The sand, he knew, hid many secrets of the past Not soht drily Moet back to town

The show had let out when Jane returned downstairs fro stuffed with an oversize T-shirt for the night and the few toiletries she’d need

She hadn’t heard froan would remain at the theater, alert to all possibilities, so she called Logan and told hiave her his customary admonition to be careful; she proers was on duty when she entered the Old Jail He greeted her cheerfully, but she felt she was being watched She wondered if Mike had warned that the "agent" who had rented Trey Hardy’s cell had already caused trouble

There were Do Not Disturb signs on the other cell doors she passed; she was obviously the last one in for the night Turning her key in the door, she stepped in, then sat on the bed "I’m here I wish you’d talk to me I wish I could understand what you want me to know"

There was no response She stood, brushed her teeth and prepared for bed She left only the sht on in the bathroo was quiet She waited Lack of sleep took its toll and she dozed off long before she intended

She beca by her side Half-asleep, she assumed that Sloan had returned from the hospital and decided to join her When she rolled over to touch hi thick and icy, and she jolted awake, barelyto suppress a scream

He was back Trey Hardy

He was at her side He watched her gravely for a minute

"I see you," she told him "I see you clearly"