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"Yes," I said, and they all seemed surprisedespecially Tolliver "Because when I was sitting there in the car, I was thinking about the hole under the barn, and I was thinking how strange it was that Barney Si about it when I was visiting Manfred here at the hospital I ht about it, but when Doak Garland asked me a question about it, it was clear that Doak had no idea there was a pit under the stall So it was not coe Yet Barney had known about it And then I thought about the way so many of the boys had had a trip to the hospital That would have been a good place for Barney to spot the to me about that"

That hat they were anxious to hear, so I tried to remember the way Barney had talked about their methods, and explain about the pit and why it had been built, when the old house out of toas really more isolated

"They would take turns," Stuart said "Because it was hard to park two cars behind the old house But soether Like double dating"

I felt sick, and put the coffee down on the rolling table Tolliver patted me

"Soave theh," Tolliver said, and it was clear he was angry "We know ashim with attempted homicide on you and Ted Hamilton," Klavin said, when he’d absorbed the rebuke "But with the h to put hies if there’s any way at all he ive him life so many times"

"Some of the forensic evidence will tie both of them in, I hope So it’s not just their confessions"

"There was so h For one thing, there are hair et soh these men would eat, breathe, and sleep the case until it ca, by the way?" the sheriff asked She just wanted to point out that Klavin and Stuart hadn’t inquired They both looked only a tad sheepish

Tolliver said, "Her arh Her scalp stitches had to be redone and there are more of them now The scalp wound is infected She has multiple severe bruises and two loose teeth You can see the black eye And now she’s got an upper respiratory infection, too"

Also, a torn fingernail, but he left that out

Tolliver was glaring at thenantly that I expected they would break down and weep, but they just shuffled around uncoood reason to leave It didn’t sound as though I’d have to come back to Doraville, maybe At least, not anytime soon That suited me just fine

Manfred called, but I didn’t talk to him Tolliver did I was too tired - too euest I was glad to see yla Cotton She ca even more heavily, it seemed to me Her face was so serious that it didn’t seeain

"Well," she said She was standing right by ht, and ht thing bringing you here, and I’, even if it was too late for Jeff"

It had been too late for Jeff by months

"They’ll rot in hell," Twyla said with absolute conviction "And I know Jeff is in heaven But it’s hard for us left here"

"Yes," I said, because that was so I knew about "It’s hard for those left behind"

"You’re thinking of your sister who’s ?"

"Yes, Cameron"

"Kind of ironic, huh?"

"That I can find everyone else but her? Yes, you could put it that way"

"Then that’s what I’ll pray about for you That you find your sister"

Looking at Twyla’s stricken face, for the first time I wondered if I really wanted to find Caaze over to Tolliver He was looking at Tith an unpleasant face He thought she wasme unhappy, and he didn’t think I needed any more unhappiness

"Thank you, Twyla," I said "I hopeI hope your res you joy"

She al can replace Jeff, but Carson is a good steady boy"

She left soon after, because we didn’t have anything left to say

Tolliver said, "To this place"

"Absolutely," I said "Maybe by the tih that I won’t scare the clients"

"We can cancel and go to our apartment and just relax for a couple of weeks"

"No," I said "Back in the saddle again" And then I made an effort to smile "And when I’etting back in the saddle" I tried to leer, but the result was so ludicrous that Tolliver had to choke back a laugh

But I poked hiain

[The End]