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The first thing I noticed was my car, exactly where I’d left it yesterday when I’d cliotten shot At least someone had shut the driver’s door My blood was still on the ground beside it I tried not to look Jason came around to open the truck door, and I slid out carefully I could walk on my own, but I wasn’t super-steady, and I appreciated the fact that he was there

He walkedot off the bed and shuffled into ed shoulder, which had to be kept dry In the end, I was a bit cleaner than I had been, though I couldn’t wash own At that point, Michele caet back on the bed We co rooht lass of tea, and made me a sandwich for a belated lunch I ate about half of it I wasn’t that hungry, though it had been a while since I had eaten a realmy appetite, maybe I was depressed that there was so much death around matic note

An and Michele finished about an hour after Jason left, and I insisted on getting up to admire the job they’d done My kitchen shone like a showroom kitchen and s improvement, An infor smells up a place more than blood," she said

"Thank you, An," I said "And thanks, al this for me"

"No probleain This is the one and only ti blood out of your kitchen," Michele said She was s But she meant it

"Oh, I can promise it will be," I said "I’ll call sohed, and I s supplies in a big red bucket

"I’ll give you some Pine-Sol for your birthday, An," I said

"You betcha There’s nothing like it" She looked around at the sparkling surfaces with some satisfaction "My daddy the preacher always said, ’By your works shall they know thee’ "

"Then you’re an industrious and generous woed them both in a lopsided way Before they left, Michele asked me if I wanted her to put the casserole in the ht be too much for you to handle," she said She was determined to feed me

"I’m sure I can do it later," I said, and she had to be content with that The house felt pleasantly peaceful after they’d left, until I drifted out froh to wonder where Mr C and Diantha were I hoped they were okay And since it seeh the wards, I got out un would have been more effective, but I simply couldn’t handle it in my weakened state If Copley Carmichael came around to finish what his minion had started, I had to be arht, closed the curtains in the living room so he couldn’t tell where I was, and tried to read Finally, I gave it up I watched so totally brainless on TV Sadly, that wasn’t hard to find

I kept ot a call from Kennedy Keyes She was as happy as I’d ever heard her "Me and Danny are going to rent one of Sam’s little houses," she said "Across from the duplexes He said you’d knohere"

"Sure," I said "When are you hed "Danny and one of his buddies froht at this moment!"

"Kennedy, that’s wonderful I hope you’ll be real happy"

She talked for a while, giddy with her new situation I had no idea if their love for each other would last, but I was glad they were giving it a chance, despite the very obvious differences in their upbringings Kennedy’s family, as she’d described the where their next step upould take them Danny’s family had worried more about their next et you a housewaran to wind down

About an hour later, I heard a car park in the gravel area by the front door After the engine cut off, footsteps and a gentle knock told h with the visit, though I was detecting a lot of hesitation

I picked up the rifle It was going to be hell to get a good shot withto be painful "Who is it?" I called

"Halleigh"

"You alone?" I knew she was, but with undetectable people around, I had to check Her thoughts would tellher to knock on the door

"I am I don’t blame you if you don’t want to open up," she said

I opened the door Halleigh Bellefleur was younger thanbrown-haired schoolteacher as really, really pregnant Tara had not fared as hen she was expecting the twins; Halleigh was truly bloo

"Come in," I said "Does Andy know you’re here?"

"I don’t keep secrets froed ht now, but that’s too bad I don’t believe you killed that woman And I’m really sorry that man went crazy and shot you I know your friend uy worked for her dad?"

So we sat for a o I understood that she’d visited to make her point, both with Andy and with me She stood by who she liked, no rand even myself, "but you’re so h looked startled and then pleased "You know, I’ll take that as a compliment," she said

We parted better friends than we’d ever been

It ilight when she left, and I began to think of eating supper I heated part of Michele’s enchilada casserole in a bowl and duood, and I ate the bowlful

The minute it was full dark, Bill was at h I hadn’t done a da the rifle withof the hole a vampire’s head left in my other sense - that this "hole" represented Bill

"It’s Bill," he called, to confir the locks with one hand, and stood aside to let hi to need a schedule to keep up with all ave ," he said "Good"

I offered hi ht now Can I get you so lass of tea, I’d sure appreciate it" The pitcher was pretty heavy to deal with one-handed Gripping anything with my left hand made the shoulder hurt in aroom, me curled up on the couch, Bill in the armchair opposite He smiled at me

"You’re cheerful," I observed

"I’ives me intense pleasure," he said

Huh "Okay, have at it," I said