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“That’s right Did you go inside?”

“Well, I…” Ralph didn’t see any point in adet two feet beyond the door “I started to, you know Then I sa there were lights on that aren’t supposed to be on I thought it was s the door, like”

“Good thinking” Roarke crouched down, studied the locks, glanced up idly at the security caht was off, and it shouldn’t have been “Do you usually work alone?”

“Oh no, sir But since, you know, the building’s closed because of that guy getting dead and stuff, ht ht, nobody ever got to cleaning the bathrooave us clearance to go back in since they got what they needed already”

“Yes” Roarke had been infor were not cleared

“We’re not supposed to pass the police barriers onstage or back Super said they’ll give you a bitch of a shock if you try to mess with them”

“Super is quite correct”

“So, I’m just supposed to deal with the bathrooms is all I popped for it ‘cause I can use the money, you know?”

“Yes” Roarke straightened, smiled at the boy “I know very well Well then, Ralph is it? We’ll just go in and see what’s what”

“Sure” There was an audible gulp as Ralph stepped inside behind Roarke “You know, they say a murderer always returns, like, to the scene of his crime”

“Do they?” Roarke’s voice was mild as he scanned the area “You’ll learn there’s very little always in the world, Ralph But it’s possible they could be right this time around”

The rooms beyond the anteroo up the stairs from the lower level Roarke started down, tucked a hand in his pocket where he’d slipped a sotten the call of a potential break-in

He followed the gloard the under-stage area

He s-sour punch of it, and a nasty undertone he recognized as death

“Yes, I’ht this time,” he murmured, then turned the corner