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"Yes, but you know, I assu him in the cases of the farhbor, Earnest Covington, as just killed last week"

"Well, Peter had been a substitute at his school, and, as far as I know, he ell enough liked Maybe Malachi, in that crazy ht that Peter was responsible for his hbor?"

"Maybe he saw Malachi doing weird things, who the hell knows? Look at me--I’m no cop!" Yates chuckled "But, look, I believe in justice, and I don’t loathe you for defending hi you’ll work on an insanity plea, and I’m sure you’ll do well Trust me, I’d hate to see him thrown into a hardened prison population, but when it co up the boy, I’m all for it I feel sorry for him, but I don’t want him loose"

Sam decided not to tell Andy Yates that Malachi Smith claimed to be innocent

"Would you hed softly "I wouldn’t mind--but you’ll have to talk to my wife Our two kids are her life--she’s a veritable barracuda when it co out a number on a piece of paper "You call her--I have to live with her!"

Sam smiled and accepted the piece of paper He was definitely interested inthe boy who had beaten hied a pleasant set of goodbyes with the councilht after he left the office Mrs Yates hung up the ain This time, she had a feords for hio near my son--you’re sli killers off? Well, you stay the hell away from my son I’ll have you arrested if I hear that you’re within a hundred yards of hi to defend the devil, and you’re a de bastard, and you will stay the hell away froain, the phone went dead

Sam wasn’t sure if he was amused or disle Surely, there was someone out there asn’t entirely biased

He hesitated, and then put in a call to Jenna Duffy

"What are you doing?" he asked her

He thought that she hesitated a minute "I came out to see the Andres home in Andover," she said

He frowned "Alone?" He didn’t knohy that worried hi to everyone, Peter Andres’s murderer was in custody

Did he believe that himself now? He just didn’t know

"I called the Realtor," Jenna said "She’s nice I ad into the case--on my uncle’s behalf She was okay with it after I explained I’ to sell the house anyway, unless she finds so helpful? What did you see?"

"I’ve seen the house and the barn where he was killed It’s wiped clean," she added "And you?"

"I was thinking of shopping and sightseeing Actually, there’s one old friend I want to stop in on--at a witchcraft shop on Essex Street Want to co," she said drily "Sure"

"I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes I’ll text you the address"

"Sam! Sam Hall! I’d heard you were here!"

The words were spoken by a dark-haired young woic Her pretty features were lit up, and she ca around the sales station and threw her ar She pulled away quickly and gave Jenna an apologetic look "I’ time! Not since the funeral"

"I haven’t been back since the funeral, Cecilia," Sam said "Do you remember Jenna Duffy? She’s Jaether years ago"

"Oh! Oh, of course! Jenna--I didn’t recognize you at first How could I have missed that red hair? I didn’t mean that rudely--it’s beautiful hair Jenna, how are you?" Cecilia asked, overly eood, thank you, and honestly, Cecilia, I didn’t recognize you at first, either," Jenna told her Sa to stop in on an old friend She hadn’t realized that it was a mutual acquaintance Cecilia Sanderson She was a year or two older than Jenna, but Sale, she’d lived close to Jairls had been thrown together on those occasions when Jenna visited

Cecilia grinned "Well, I have changed a great deal My real hair color is mousy-brown--for so with very dark hair And black clothing, of course"

"Cecilia is a Wiccan now," Sam explained

Cecilia elbowed hiion"