Page 18 (1/2)

He surveyed the table They all stared back at hi," Cherry said "The house has had a thorough history done, which was easy because it went froinal faanization"

"An oral history," Tyler said politely

Cherry sat up very straight "Would you suggest ue?"

"Not at all, Mrs Addison," Tyler assured her "But oral history can be like the whispering game Tell a friend, who tells a friend, and by the tied Don’t worry, I’ to learn so he didn’t know or couldn’t access in his files They were all looking to hi it out

"You don’t think our guide--Ms Leigh--ht have, er, helped Mr Mitchell die, do you?" Cherry asked

Tyler was startled by the question Maybe he shouldn’t have been Despite Allison’s obvious grief at the loss of a colleague, the police had questioned her long enough

He reh

But he also had a good sense of people; he was seldom fooled

"No, I don’t Julian Mitchell was a physically fitaround with him, she could have forced his chin down on that bayonet," Tyler said

Nathan frowned "Cherry, that was horrible! To say such a thing"

"However," Ethan said, druht have been looking for Allison’s research"

"Ethan, don’t be ridiculous," Cherry said, waving a beautifully manicured hand in the air "Her so-called research sheds no new light on anything She’s found a few quotes and notations we didn’t know about She has nothing new" Cherry paused "She did mention to e She’s been co with some professor there who claihly doubt this and I warned Allison he’s probably a fraud or the letters were faked, but I believe she still ate"

Cherry didn’t exactly roll her eyes, but her opinion of the unnamed professor’s research was evident

Tyler stood and said, "Well, Mrs Addison, here’s the thing about history It belongs to everyone and it’s not ie or when attitudes change--views on slavery being an obvious exah will follohere her research leads Thank you all for your time and your faith We’ll keep you advised of everywe’re able to determine"

Oxford and Pierson stood politely when Tyler did He could tell they were going to talk about hiht; he’d learned from the by nightfall He returned to the house and did an inventory of the ee on anyone’s private property, but figuring out the best way to erator, a microwave and a coffeepot Not much, but it would do, especially since they were located in the heart of the historic district, which placed the a mental list of a few supplies to pick up, he left the house and walked over to Allison’s, about half a h the historic district, he listened to the sounds of excitement from parents, couples and children, all thrilled to see the fah Independence Hall

He understood Allison’s deep passion for Philadelphia and its history He often felt that the greatest achievement of American democracy had been freedom of speech and of the press, freedoms that could be abused at tiovernht in ain of the two different paintings of Beast Bradley It was remarkable what one ht to his own views

He tried Allison’s door; she didn’t answer He tried her cell phone next but got her answering ive him a call

After that, he stopped at the hospital The children weren’t there today but Haley Dixon was sitting by her husband’s side, holding his hand She didn’t see Tyler at first and he felt a hard tug at his heartstrings--no relationship in the world was perfect, he knew that But the love and tenderness in Haley’s eyes as she watched her husband, her hand curled around his, was beautiful