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Eve caught the quick accusation in Elizabeth’s eyes when she looked at Roarke “He didn’t bring ht hi from this location Did you make it?”

“No” Elizabeth stepped back Her hands reached for each other, twisted “No, I didn’t It ht, suddenly Hysterical, overwrought Her nosis is poor I can only think the stress of the last feeeks has been too much for her That’s why I called you, Roarke Richard’s at his wit’s end I don’t seem to be any help We needed someone”

“Why don’t we go in and sit down?”

“They’re in the parlor” In a jittery move, Elizabeth turned to look down the hall “She won’t take a sedative, she won’t explain She refused to let us do more than call her husband and son and tell them she was here, and not to coht be in soer I suppose what happened to Sharon has made her worryhim from God knohat”

“If she called me,” Eve put in “Then maybe she’ll talk to me”

“Yes Yes, all right”

She led the way down the hall, and into the tidy, sunwashed parlor Catherine DeBlass sat on a sofa, leaning into her brother’s ar

Richard raised stricken eyes to Roarke’s “It’s good of you to come We’re a mess, Roarke” His voice shook, nearly broke “We’re a mess”

“Elizabeth” Roarke crouched in front of Catherine “Why don’t you ring for coffee?”

“Oh, of course I’m sorry”

“Catherine” His voice was gentle, as was the hand he laid on her ar wide

“Don’t What—what are you doing here?”

“I came to see Beth and Richard I’m sorry you’re not well”

“Well?” She gave what h as she curled into herself “None of us will ever be well again How can we? We’re all tainted We’re all to blame”

“For what?”