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“So then what?”

“When Bull got back fro aitin’ for hi claimed that Ham had named Bull as his killer”

Rose stifled a gasp “But ould Ha?”

Jasper shrugged “Maybe he didn’t lie Oras nobody knew for sure, Ferg could pin Bull to the wall, like he’s alanted to do”

“But ouldn’t Bull just tell the truth? I was out of the country, where the law couldn’t reach me”

Jasper rolled another cigarette froets coeezer named Ned Purvis Ned advised Bull to take the blame and plead self-defense”

“But why? Bull didn’t shoot Ham Prescott I did”

“I know But by Purvis’s reckoning, no jury would’ve believed that a fourteen-year-old girl, as gone without a trace, had pulled the trigger And he was right It took soun, but when the pistol finally turned up at the scene, Bull was acquitted Self-defense Pure and simple And you’re in the clear”

“So it’s over”

“Dead and buried, just like old Ham”

“How many people know the truth?”

“Ned Purvis passed away five years ago Susan would’ve known, but she’s gone, too That leaves just you, me, and Bull”

“What about Ferg?”

Jasper lit the cigarette and took a long drag “Let’s say, just to speculate, that Ha to accuse you noould be to ad’s hands weren’t exactly clean that night We know enough to smear his reputation, even if it’s too late to send him to jail”

“But there’s no statute of limitations on murder If the truth came out, where would I stand in the eyes of the law?”