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Back Point Last Seen
Chapters (86)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Booklist
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

“Male in his midtwenties. Found naked and in a shallow pit. Battering to the face and body. Throat slashed.” Deputy Dave read from his phone. “According to the reporting officer, killer was determined and efficient.”

“That doesn’t seem as if it would have anything to do with me,” Elle said.

Adam wanted to tell her not to look troubled, that Deputy Dave would draw conclusions. “Who is he? Have they taken fingerprints?”

“Yes, but no identification as yet. White, blond hair, six foot plus and fit. Very fit, according to the officer, emphasis on very. Whoever killed him is a master at attack and weapons. The victim has lost everything—clothes, money, credit cards, ID—so it’s probably a robbery.” Deputy Dave turned to Adam. “Time of death is within the last twenty-four hours. Can you account for your activities during those hours—”

Adam kept his expression neutral. “Why would you suspect me?”

“Because there aren’t many people in this area who could kill a tall, fit man in such a manner. According to the media, you can.” Deputy Dave had read the stories.

Not surprising, but Adam once again knew distaste of being the center of a cruel scandal.

“I can vouch for Adam.” Elle spoke up without hesitation. “He’s been with me every minute. Or rather, I’ve been with him. The only way to keep the nightmares under control is to be with Adam.”

The deputy frowned. “Where was he last night when you were asleep?”

“He was sleeping with me.”

“You’re sleeping together?” Deputy Dave looked between them as if he hadn’t expected that reply.

Elle threw open the door to the bedroom. “You decide.”

The bed had two pillows with indents, two full-length marks in the mattress, and a tousle of sheets and blankets. Deputy Dave looked in and repeated, “You are sleeping together?”

“Yes.” Elle was definite.

“Yes, but we’re not having sex.” Adam was just as definite.

Deputy Dave examined them suspiciously.

Elle had her chin stuck out.

Adam crossed his arms over his chest and appeared as if he could barely refrain from rolling his eyes. “I picked her up off the beach. I’m not going to make her pay for my lifesaving services by taking advantage of her.”

Elle turned on him like a fury. “I wouldn’t let you take advantage of me. If and when we have sex, my friend, it will be something we both consent to. In the meantime—thank you for helping me sleep.”

Deputy Dave said, “I guess she told you.”

Adam nodded sagely. “She does that very well.”

27

AFTER PROMISING TO BE around if Elle needed him, and assuring Adam the sheriff’s department planned a law-enforcement presence at all times during the Gothic Spring Psychic Festival, Deputy Dave headed back over the Nacimiento-Fergusson highway.