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"He’s waiting somewhere," Stephanie said "Just remember, don’t be in such a rush! You could be out with Mr Wrong when Mr Right finally co"

"I’ll keep that in mind," Lena said

"Arturo,to watch as Arturo strode through the bar

He stopped at the table

"Any word on the irl?" Grant asked

"I’m afraid not We have had so es They’ve questioned the boyfriend, and he is at a loss, too Poor boy, he cries alirl’s mother"

"We’re so sorry," Stephanie said

"They’ve really checked out the boyfriend’s alibi and all?" Doug asked

They must have all stared at him because he continued defensively with, "Well, in the United States, sadly enough, I know the police always start with the husband or boyfriend There have been terrible cases in the United States where a man who supposedly loved a woman brutalized her Of course, wives have killed husbands, too"

"They don’t think it was the boy," Arturo said

"Did he have an alibi?" Suzette asked

"I think not Actually, Maria never even showed up to work the day she disappeared She left her house when her one out anyti yet"

"Maybe she’ll still turn up," Lena said hopefully

"Maybe," Arturo agreed He sounded sad "Ah, well You are having dinner in the restaurant here again?"

"Yes, I guess so," Stephanie said, looking around It seeain

"Sure, why not?" Clay said

"There are a few local places And of course, part of starting this place was to pick up all of the local tourist trade, but… I’ll see that the chef prepares a ht," Arturo said "I’ll have that calaht to the table, Lena And for you, Suzette, the shrimp pasta dish"

"Sounds lovely, thank you," Suzette told hi else?" Arturo asked

"Everything here is great," Grant said

Arturo smiled at last, pleased with the compliment

" Grazie I’m pleased you are all happy The first real test of tourisuests here, of course, as you’ve seen, but local so far… some people down fro in foreign money, of course!"

With a wave, he left them

"Well, shall we all troested "We skipped the whole lunch thing, remember?"

"And actually, that’s a sin in Italy," Lena said

"Let’s go eat, then," Stephanie said

They filed into the restaurant area As Arturo promised, they were quickly served appetizers, the cala fairly early, and the chef was able to come out himself, and bask in their pleasure The conversation revolved around their work that day, and Stephanie was pleased with herself when she was able to tell them all casually that Grant had said that he’d ith them every afternoon

"What about for the actual shows?" Suzette asked

"Sure I can stagein the dark," Grant said

Stephanie dug in her bag and found her notes and schedules "To around the costumes that were ordered Lena, thank God we have you, because h if ere to encounter any probleht costuinal roles Next week, she’ll come back and we’ll be physically fitted for the other characters so that once we’re under e can switch characters around so it will be fresh, and keep ourselves stretching"

"That’s good--have our tailoring done when Grant isn’t here, and hen he is," Lena approved

Stephanie thought that she sounded a little distracted She had been looking across the rooht Lena’s attention, Stephanie saw that the back door to the restaurant inging closed

She shrugged "Everything all right?" she asked Lena

"Of course!"

The pasta bowl had been going around the table She turned to pass it on to Clay Barton, at her left

But Clay atching Lena, and he seemed tense His eyes, too, strayed to the rear door

"Clay? Pasta?"

"Sure Thanks," he said, recovering quickly

And yet…

Strange Very strange

After a few ive me That was so rude It wasn’t the coo dessert and coffee Will you all excusefor bed"

"Are you really that tired?" Clay asked her