"Sonny Barger is in retirement, probably writing his autobiography. Mil ions wil buy the book, and Hol ywood wil make a film. The Wild Ones wil be romanticized anew, and the myth wil deceive another generation."

Claudel rubbed his face in his hands.

"And the flow of drugs wil continue to our school yards, and to the ghettos of the hopeless."

He shot his sleeves, straightened each gold cuff link, and stood. When he spoke again, his voice was hard as tempered steel.

"It is ironic. As the Angels carried out their slaughter at the cemetery their opponents were sending forth assassins of their own. I do not know which of these subhumans kil ed George Dorsey, and I do not have the evidence to prove that Lecomte shot Jocelyn Dion, Spider Marcotte, and Emily Anne Toussaint, but I wil . One day I wil ."

He looked me dead in the eyes.

"And I wil not rest until this evil is driven from my city."

"Do you believe that can be done?"

He nodded, hesitated, then, "We wil be a team?" Without hesitation, I nodded back.

"Oui."

Chapter 40

The next morning I slept late, went to the gym, then brought coffee and doughnuts home and shared them with my sister When Harry left for the hospital, I phoned the lab. There were no anthropology cases, so I was free to reactivate the plan interrupted by Claudel's visit.

I soaked the sweaters, then launched myself ful speed at the refrigerator. Items older than one month, I threw away. Ditto for anything that could not be identified.

My mood was better than it had been in weeks. Claudel had come around once again to admitting my value as a col eague. I was confident that he, Charbonneau, and Quickwater would pursue the investigation until the Dorsey and Dion kil ers were behind bars.

I had apologized to Martin Quickwater, and the man seemed to hold no grudge. He'd even smiled in my direction.

LaManche was recovering.

Savannah Osprey's murder had been resolved, and her bones were heading to her family.

Katy would be home in two weeks. My nephew was going to be fine, in every sense of the word.

And my hair was showing signs of growth.

The only shadow in my life was cast by worry over Ryan's safety. He had broken cover to save my life, and I prayed that action would not cost him his. I hoped fervently it had not been another deadly decision.

Right perfection wrongly disgraced.

The line stil brought tears to my eyes.

I knew Ryan couldn't contact me, and had no idea when I would see him again.

It didn't matter. I could wait.

I tossed a lump of old Cheddar into the garbage bag.

But it might take time.

Two jars of congealed jel y. Out.

I would definitely need that theme song.

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day ...

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