lhamilton.thekillingdance-µÚ34²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¨Yeah£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡I¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡more£»¡¡there¡¡wasn't¡¡any¡¡more¡£¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡thanks¡¡for¡¡enlightening¡¡me£»¡¡Dolph¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡me£»¡¡then¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¨We'll¡¡be¡¡there¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes£»¡¡Anita¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Patience¡¡has¡¡never¡¡been¡¡my¡¡strong¡¡suit£»¡¡Dolph¡£¡¨
¡¡His¡¡lips¡¡twitched£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡smiled¡£¡¡Finally£»¡¡he¡¡laughed£»¡¡a¡¡short£»¡¡abrupt¡¡sound¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡guess¡¡not¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Glad¡¡I¡¡could¡¡lighten¡¡the¡¡mood£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨You're¡¡always¡¡good¡¡for¡¡a¡¡laugh¡¡when¡¡you're¡¡not¡¡killing¡¡people£»¡¡Anita¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡that¡£¡¡Too¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡maybe¡£¡¡Silence¡¡settled¡¡over¡¡the¡¡car£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡left¡¡it¡¡alone¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡easy£»¡¡friendly¡¡quiet¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡tinged¡¡with¡¡laughter¡£¡¡Dolph¡¡wasn't¡¡mad¡¡at¡¡me¡¡anymore¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡stand¡¡a¡¡little¡¡silence¡£
¡¡Creve¡¡Coeur¡¡was¡¡an¡¡older¡¡neighborhood¡¡£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡didn't¡¡look¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡age¡¡showed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡large¡¡houses¡¡set¡¡in¡¡long£»¡¡sloping¡¡yards¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡had¡¡circular¡¡drives¡¡and¡¡servants'¡¡quarters¡£¡¡The¡¡few¡¡housing¡¡developments¡¡that¡¡had¡¡crept¡¡in¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡didn't¡¡always¡¡have¡¡big¡¡yards£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡had¡¡variety£»¡¡pools£»¡¡rock¡¡gardens¡£¡¡No¡¡cookie¡¡cutter¡¡houses£»¡¡nothing¡¡d¨¦class¨¦¡£
¡¡Olive¡¡is¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡favorite¡¡streets¡£¡¡I¡¡like¡¡the¡¡mix¡¡of¡¡gas¡¡stations£»¡¡Dunkin'¡¡Donuts£»¡¡custom¡¡order¡¡jewelry¡¡stores£»¡¡Mercedes¡Benz¡¡dealerships£»¡¡and¡¡Blockbuster¡¡Music¡¡and¡¡Video¡£¡¡Creve¡¡Coeur¡¡isn't¡¡like¡¡most¡¡ritzy¡¡areas£»¡¡at¡¡war¡¡with¡¡the¡¡peons¡£¡¡This¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡has¡¡embraced¡¡both¡¡its¡¡money¡¡and¡¡its¡¡merce£»¡¡as¡¡fortable¡¡buying¡¡fine¡¡antiques¡¡as¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡kiddies¡¡through¡¡the¡¡drive¡up¡¡line¡¡at¡¡Mickey¡D's¡£
¡¡Dolph¡¡turned¡¡on¡¡a¡¡road¡¡sandwiched¡¡between¡¡two¡¡gas¡¡stations¡£¡¡It¡¡sloped¡¡sharply£»¡¡making¡¡me¡¡want¡¡to¡¡use¡¡the¡¡brake¡£¡¡Dolph¡¡didn't¡¡share¡¡this¡¡desire£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡car¡¡coasted¡¡down¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡at¡¡a¡¡nice¡¡clip¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡police¡£¡¡No¡¡speeding¡¡ticket£»¡¡I¡¡guess¡£¡¡We¡¡sped¡¡past¡¡housing¡¡developments¡¡that¡¡branched¡¡off¡¡the¡¡road¡¡like¡¡true¡¡suburbia¡£¡¡The¡¡houses¡¡were¡¡still¡¡more¡¡distinct£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡yards¡¡had¡¡shrunk£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡most¡¡of¡¡what¡¡you¡¡were¡¡driving¡¡past¡¡had¡¡never¡¡had¡¡servants'¡¡quarters¡£¡¡The¡¡road¡¡climbed¡¡just¡¡a¡¡touch£»¡¡then¡¡evened¡¡out¡£¡¡Dolph¡¡hit¡¡his¡¡turn¡¡signal¡¡while¡¡we¡¡were¡¡still¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shallow¡¡valley¡£¡¡A¡¡tasteful¡¡sign¡¡said¡¡Countryside¡¡Hills¡£
¡¡Police¡¡cars¡¡clogged¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡streets¡¡of¡¡the¡¡subdivision£»¡¡lights¡¡strobing¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡huddle¡¡of¡¡people¡¡being¡¡held¡¡back¡¡by¡¡uniformed¡¡police£»¡¡people¡¡clutching¡¡light¡¡coats¡¡over¡¡their¡¡jammies¡¡or¡¡standing¡¡with¡¡robes¡¡tied¡¡tight¡£¡¡The¡¡crowd¡¡was¡¡small¡£¡¡As¡¡we¡¡got¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡car£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡drape¡¡twitch¡¡in¡¡a¡¡house¡¡across¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡Why¡¡e¡¡outside¡¡when¡¡you¡¡can¡¡peek¡¡from¡¡the¡¡fort¡¡of¡¡your¡¡own¡¡home£¿
¡¡Dolph¡¡led¡¡me¡¡through¡¡the¡¡uniforms¡¡and¡¡the¡¡twist¡¡of¡¡yellow¡¡Do¡Not¡Cross¡¡tape¡£¡¡The¡¡house¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡attention¡¡was¡¡one¡¡story¡¡with¡¡a¡¡brick¡¡wall¡¡as¡¡tall¡¡as¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡forming¡¡an¡¡enclosed¡¡courtyard¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡even¡¡a¡¡wrought¡¡iron¡¡gate¡¡to¡¡the¡¡curved¡¡entrance£»¡¡very¡¡Mediterranean¡£¡¡Except¡¡for¡¡the¡¡courtyard£»¡¡the¡¡house¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡a¡¡typical¡¡suburban¡¡ranch¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡stone¡¡path¡¡and¡¡square£»¡¡rock¡edged¡¡beds¡¡full¡¡of¡¡rosebushes¡£¡¡Floodlights¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡walled¡¡garden£»¡¡lending¡¡every¡¡petal¡¡and¡¡leaf¡¡its¡¡own¡¡shadow¡£¡¡Someone¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡way¡¡overboard¡¡on¡¡the¡¡inground¡¡lighting¡£
¡¡¡¨You¡¡don't¡¡even¡¡need¡¡a¡¡flashlight¡¡in¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡Dolph¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¨You've¡¡never¡¡been¡¡here¡¡then£¿¡¨
¡¡I¡¡met¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡couldn't¡¡read¡¡them¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡giving¡¡me¡¡cop¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡I've¡¡never¡¡been¡¡here¡£¡¡Should¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been£¿¡¨
¡¡Dolph¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡screened¡¡door¡¡without¡¡answering¡£¡¡He¡¡led¡¡the¡¡way¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡followed¡£¡¡Dolph¡¡prides¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡not¡¡influencing¡¡his¡¡people£»¡¡letting¡¡them¡¡e¡¡in¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡make¡¡their¡¡own¡¡conclusions¡£¡¡But¡¡even¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡being¡¡mysterious¡£¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡like¡¡it¡£
¡¡The¡¡living¡¡room¡¡was¡¡narrow¡¡but¡¡long¡¡with¡¡a¡¡TV¡¡and¡¡video¡¡center¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡room¡¡was¡¡so¡¡thick¡¡with¡¡cops¡¡there¡¡was¡¡barely¡¡room¡¡to¡¡stand¡£¡¡Every¡¡murder¡¡scene¡¡gets¡¡more¡¡attention¡¡than¡¡it¡¡needs¡£¡¡Frankly£»¡¡I¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡more¡¡evidence¡¡is¡¡lost¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡traffic¡¡than¡¡is¡¡found¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡busy¡¡hands¡£¡¡A¡¡murder¡¡can¡¡make¡¡a¡¡cop's¡¡career£»¡¡especially¡¡that¡¡jump¡¡from¡¡uniform¡¡to¡¡plainclothes¡£¡¡Find¡¡the¡¡clue¡¡or¡¡the¡¡evidence£»¡¡shine¡¡at¡¡the¡¡critical¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡people¡¡notice¡£¡¡But¡¡it's¡¡more¡¡than¡¡that¡£¡¡Murder¡¡is¡¡the¡¡ultimate¡¡insult£»¡¡the¡¡last¡¡worst¡¡thing¡¡you¡¡can¡¡do¡¡to¡¡another¡¡human¡¡being¡£¡¡Cops¡¡feel¡¡that£»¡¡maybe¡¡more¡¡than¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡us¡£
¡¡The¡¡cops¡¡parted¡¡before¡¡Dolph£»¡¡eyes¡¡shifting¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡male£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡the¡¡first¡¡glance£»¡¡almost¡¡all¡¡of¡¡them¡¡did¡¡the¡¡full¡¡body¡¡look¡£¡¡You¡¡know¡¡the¡¡look¡£¡¡The¡¡one¡¡that¡¡if¡¡the¡¡face¡¡and¡¡top¡¡match£»¡¡they¡¡just¡¡have¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡the¡¡legs¡¡are¡¡as¡¡good¡¡as¡¡the¡¡rest¡£¡¡It¡¡works¡¡in¡¡reverse£»¡¡too¡£¡¡But¡¡any¡¡man¡¡that¡¡starts¡¡at¡¡my¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡ends¡¡with¡¡my¡¡face¡¡has¡¡lost¡¡every¡¡brownie¡¡point¡¡he¡¡ever¡¡had¡£
¡¡Two¡¡short¡¡hallways¡¡led¡¡straight¡¡off¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room¡¡at¡¡right¡¡angles£»¡¡a¡¡dining¡¡room¡¡directly¡¡off¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡room¡£¡¡An¡¡open¡¡door¡¡revealed¡¡carpeted¡¡stairs¡¡leading¡¡to¡¡a¡¡finished¡¡basement¡£¡¡Cops¡¡were¡¡traveling¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stairs¡¡like¡¡ants¡¡with¡¡bits¡¡of¡¡evidence¡¡in¡¡plastic¡¡baggies¡£
¡¡Dolph¡¡led¡¡me¡¡down¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hallways£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡second¡¡living¡¡room¡¡with¡¡a¡¡fireplace¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡smaller¡¡and¡¡more¡¡boxlike£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡far¡¡wall¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡brick£»¡¡which¡¡made¡¡it¡¡seem¡¡warmer£»¡¡cozier¡£¡¡The¡¡kitchen¡¡showed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡through¡¡an¡¡open¡¡doorway¡£¡¡The¡¡top¡¡half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pass¡through£»¡¡open¡¡like¡¡a¡¡window¡¡so¡¡you¡¡could¡¡work¡¡in¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡and¡¡still¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡people¡¡in¡¡the¡¡living¡¡room¡£¡¡My¡¡father's¡¡house¡¡had¡¡a¡¡pass¡through¡£
¡¡The¡¡next¡¡room¡¡was¡¡obviously¡¡new¡£¡¡The¡¡walls¡¡still¡¡had¡¡that¡¡raw¡¡paint¡¡look¡¡of¡¡fresh¡¡construction¡£¡¡Sliding¡¡glass¡¡doors¡¡made¡¡up¡¡the¡¡left¡hand¡¡wall¡£¡¡A¡¡hot¡¡tub¡¡took¡¡up¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡space¡£¡¡Water¡¡still¡¡clung¡¡in¡¡beads¡¡to¡¡its¡¡slick¡¡surface¡£¡¡They'd¡¡finished¡¡the¡¡hot¡¡tub¡¡before¡¡they'd¡¡painted¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡Priorities¡£
¡¡A¡¡hallway¡¡so¡¡roughed¡¡out¡¡it¡¡still¡¡had¡¡that¡¡heavy¡¡plastic¡¡they¡¡put¡¡down¡¡for¡¡workers¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡on¡¡led¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡tub¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡another¡¡larger¡¡bathroom£»¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡finished£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡closed¡¡door¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hall¡£¡¡The¡¡door¡¡was¡¡carved£»¡¡new¡¡wood£»¡¡light¡colored¡¡oak¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡closed¡¡door¡¡I'd¡¡seen¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡ominous¡£
¡¡Except¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cops£»¡¡I¡¡hadn't¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡damn¡¡thing¡¡out¡¡of¡¡place¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡a¡¡nice¡¡upper¡middle¡class¡¡house¡£¡¡A¡¡family¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡house¡£¡¡If¡¡I'd¡¡walked¡¡straight¡¡into¡¡carnage£»¡¡I'd¡¡have¡¡been¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡long¡¡buildup¡¡had¡¡tightened¡¡my¡¡stomach£»¡¡filled¡¡me¡¡with¡¡dread¡£¡¡What¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡in¡¡this¡¡nice¡¡house¡¡with¡¡its¡¡new¡¡hot¡¡tub¡¡and¡¡brick¡¡fireplace£¿¡¡What¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡that¡¡needed¡¡my¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡expertise£¿¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡before¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡some¡¡new¡¡horror¡£¡¡I'd¡¡seen¡¡enough¡¡bodies¡¡already¡¡this¡¡year¡¡to¡¡last¡¡a¡¡lifetime¡£
¡¡Dolph¡¡put¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡the¡¡doorknob¡£¡¡I¡¡touched¡¡his¡¡arm¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡not¡¡kids£»¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡£
¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡over¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡Normally£»¡¡he¡¡wouldn't¡¡have¡¡answered¡£¡¡He'd¡¡have¡¡said¡¡something¡¡cryptic¡¡like£»¡¡¡¨You'll¡¡see¡¡in¡¡a¡¡minute¡£¡¨¡¡Tonight£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡it's¡¡not¡¡kids¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡took¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath¡¡through¡¡my¡¡nose¡¡and¡¡let¡¡it¡¡out¡¡slowly¡¡through¡¡my¡¡lips¡£¡¡¡¨Good¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡smelled¡¡damp¡¡plaster£»¡¡fresh¡¡cement£»¡¡and¡¡underneath¡¡that£»¡¡blood¡£¡¡The¡¡scent¡¡of¡¡freshly¡¡spilled¡¡blood£»¡¡faint£»¡¡just¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡What¡¡does¡¡blood¡¡smell¡¡like£¿¡¡Metallic£»¡¡almost¡¡artificial¡£¡¡It¡¡isn't¡¡really¡¡much¡¡of¡¡a¡¡smell¡¡all¡¡by¡¡itself¡£¡¡The¡¡smell¡¡won't¡¡make¡¡you¡¡sick£»¡¡it's¡¡what¡¡goes¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡We¡¡all¡¡know¡¡in¡¡some¡¡ancient¡¡part¡¡of¡¡ourselves¡¡that¡¡blood¡¡is¡¡the¡¡thing¡£¡¡Without¡¡it£»¡¡we¡¡die¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡can¡¡steal¡¡enough¡¡of¡¡it¡¡from¡¡our¡¡enemies£»¡¡we¡¡steal¡¡their¡¡lives¡£¡¡There's¡¡a¡¡reason¡¡that¡¡blood¡¡has¡¡been¡¡associated¡¡with¡¡almost¡¡every¡¡religion¡¡on¡¡the¡¡planet¡£¡¡It's¡¡primal¡¡stuff£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡how¡¡sanitized¡¡we¡¡make¡¡our¡¡world£»¡¡part¡¡of¡¡us¡¡still¡¡recognizes¡¡that¡£
¡¡Dolph¡¡hesitated£»¡¡hand¡¡still¡¡on¡¡the¡¡doorknob¡£¡¡He¡¡didn't¡¡look¡¡at¡¡me¡¡while¡¡he¡¡spoke¡£¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡you¡¡think¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scene£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡take¡¡you¡¡back¡¡for¡¡a¡¡statement¡£¡¡You¡¡understand¡¡that¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡understand£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨If¡¡you're¡¡lying¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡Anita£»¡¡about¡¡any¡¡of¡¡this£»¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡tonight¡£¡¡Two¡¡bodies¡¡in¡¡two¡¡days¡¡takes¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡explaining¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡haven't¡¡lied¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡Dolph¡£¡¨¡¡At¡¡least¡¡not¡¡much£»¡¡I¡¡added¡¡in¡¡my¡¡head¡£
¡¡He¡¡nodded¡¡without¡¡turning¡¡around¡¡and¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡He¡¡went¡¡in¡¡first¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡so¡¡he¡¡could¡¡watch¡¡my¡¡face¡¡as¡¡I¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡room¡£
¡¡¡¨What's¡¡wrong£»¡¡Dolph£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¨See¡¡for¡¡yourself£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡All¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡at¡¡first¡¡was¡¡pale¡¡grey¡¡carpet¡¡and¡¡a¡¡bureau¡¡with¡¡a¡¡large¡¡mirror¡¡against¡¡the¡¡right¡hand¡¡wall¡£¡¡A¡¡cluster¡¡of¡¡cops¡¡blocked¡¡my¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡The¡¡cops¡¡stepped¡¡aside¡¡at¡¡a¡¡nod¡¡from¡¡Dolph¡£¡¡Dolph¡¡never¡¡took¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡from¡¡me£»¡¡my¡¡face¡£¡¡I'd¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡so¡¡intent¡¡on¡¡my¡¡reaction¡¡before¡£¡¡It¡¡made¡¡me¡¡nervous¡£
¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡body¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡A¡¡man£»¡¡spread¡eagled£»¡¡pinned¡¡at¡¡wrists¡¡and¡¡ankles¡¡with¡¡knives¡£¡¡The¡¡knives¡¡had¡¡black¡¡hilts¡£¡¡He¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡a¡¡large¡¡red¡¡circle¡£¡¡The¡¡circle¡¡had¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡large¡¡so¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡didn't¡¡leak¡¡out¡¡and¡¡spoil¡¡it¡£¡¡Blood¡¡had¡¡soaked¡¡into¡¡the¡¡pale¡¡carpet£»¡¡spread¡¡across¡¡it¡¡like¡¡a¡¡red¡¡ruin¡£¡¡The¡¡man's¡¡face¡¡was¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¡All¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡was¡¡short¡¡blond¡¡hair¡£¡¡His¡¡chest¡¡was¡¡bare£»¡¡so¡¡slick¡¡with¡¡blood¡¡it¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡a¡¡red¡¡shirt¡£¡¡The¡¡knives¡¡held¡¡him¡¡in¡¡place¡£¡¡They¡¡hadn't¡¡been¡¡what¡¡killed¡¡him¡£¡¡No£»¡¡what¡¡had¡¡killed¡¡him¡¡was¡¡a¡¡gaping¡¡hole¡¡in¡¡his¡¡lower¡¡chest¡¡just¡¡below¡¡the¡¡ribs¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡like¡¡a¡¡red¡lined¡¡cave¡¡big¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡plunge¡¡both¡¡hands¡¡into¡£
¡¡¡¨They¡¡took¡¡his¡¡heart£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡Dolph¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡know¡¡that¡¡from¡¡the¡¡doorway£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡right£»¡¡aren't¡¡I£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡were¡¡going¡¡to¡¡take¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡out£»¡¡why¡¡not¡¡go¡¡straight¡¡down£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡wanted¡¡him¡¡to¡¡survive£»¡¡like¡¡heart¡¡surgery£»¡¡you'd¡¡have¡¡to¡¡break¡¡the¡¡ribs¡¡and¡¡go¡¡down¡¡the¡¡hard¡¡way¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡wanted¡¡him¡¡dead¡£¡¡If¡¡all¡¡you¡¡want¡¡is¡¡the¡¡heart£»¡¡going¡¡under¡¡the¡¡ribs¡¡is¡¡easier¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡body¡£
¡¡Dolph¡¡moved¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡watching¡¡my¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¨What£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡He¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¨Just¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡about¡¡the¡¡body£»¡¡Anita¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡your¡¡problem¡¡tonight£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨No¡¡problem¡£¡¨
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡lie¡£¡¡Something¡¡was¡¡up£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡press¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡wouldn't¡¡have¡¡done¡¡me¡¡any¡¡good¡£¡¡When¡¡Dolph¡¡decides¡¡not¡¡to¡¡share¡¡information£»¡¡he¡¡doesn't¡¡share£»¡¡period¡£
¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡king¡size¡¡bed¡¡with¡¡purple¡¡satin¡¡sheets¡¡and¡¡more¡¡pillows¡¡than¡¡you¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡£¡¡The¡¡bed¡¡was¡¡rumpled¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡used¡¡for¡¡something¡¡other¡¡than¡¡sleeping¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡dark¡¡stains¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sheets£»¡¡nearly¡¡black¡£
¡¡¡¨Is¡¡that¡¡blood£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨We¡¡think¡¡so£»¡¨¡¡Dolph¡¡said¡£
¡¡I¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡the¡¡body¡£¡¡¡¨From¡¡the¡¡murder£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨When¡¡you're¡¡finished¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡body£»¡¡we'll¡¡bag¡¡the¡¡sheets¡¡and¡¡get¡¡them¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the