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Upon my lap, Shannie stared at our nemesis; like a safety blanket, she draped an ar as I had Shannie, nothing bad would ever happen toface of death Ms Dead Aht

"You know," Shannie said later "He didn'tyou, why didn't you say soe hied "He prettyand Shannie's scowl an's accusation "Why don't we check out the box?" the cop sneered The four of us tumbled out of the small cab; Count, Steve Lucas, and I stood on Ce officer, Shannie stood on the curb, ar across the narrow bed of the truck

"Open it up," Bradigan said

"Whatever," Count sighed and opened the casket's lid I looked to Count, who looked to the funeral directors son, who looked doard and didn't fart "I think I was shitted out," he later bean jeered as he looked into the empty coffin

I followed Steve Lucas's lead and studied the asphalt street Steve Lucas broke the uneasy silence: "It was that Cunt Janice, she stole the stiff…"

"We don't need to use that language!" Bradigan barked

"You don't know an slammed the coffin lid down and wasto talk with Mr Lucas I'll follow you"

"No body, no crime," Shannie said in the truck

The elder Lucas stood outside the rear double doors of the funeral parlor, his waxen see in the rearviewlot For good an parked his cruiser across the curb cut Count parked next to the hearse

As the three of us approached the funeral director, he stared past us, as if ere invisible His gaze appeared captured by the street light above the police cruiser Forne Shannie spoke first "I apologize; this was my idea and I accept responsibility" He appeared not to hear Shannie -or chose to ignore her Instead, he lowered his gaze, locking onto the approaching ian