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"So in my office, "and Detective Sherbet thinks you can help me"

"I pay Detective Sherbet to say that In donuts, of course But not the pink ones

He has soirl, as rinned and al a donut when I ood rin "I got that i he could do for randfather’s death was ruled an accident"

"Nothing he could do," I said, "except recommend me"

"Yes He said I could trust you and that you would probably help, depending on your caseload"

I looked down at my desktop calendar

There was an appointment in three days to meet with Tammy’s teacherand that was it The 15th was circled, which indicated that I was due a child support pay my breath - and if I had, well, I could hold it for a very long tiiven me precisely one payment, and that was because I had physically hauled his ass to the bank

"I think I can fit you in," I said "Tell randfather?"

"Well, I don’t know"

"But you think his death is suspicious"

"Well, yes"

"When did he die?"

"A year ago"

"His death was ruled an accident?" I asked,notes on a notepad in front of randfather pass away, if I may ask?"

"He was found dead in his pool"

"I’ lady nodded She reminded me of myself Short, petite, curvy, dark hair And unless she drank blood and hung out with other creatures of the night, that’s where the resemblance ended Her name was Tara Thurh I couldn’t place it now

"Where did your grandfather live?" I asked

"On an island"

"An island?"

"Yes"

"Catalina?" I asked, which was really the only habitable island off the coast of southern California

"No It’s in Washington State"

"I didn’t know there were islands in Washington"

"There are dozens of them"

I nodded, and wondered if I had ever actually looked at a raphy was never uys, now, that was a different story entirely

"Lots of people live on the islands,"

she went on "Except for randfather’s island"

"What do you mean?"

"It’s a private island His is the only house, along with a few guest bungalows"

I thought it was time for that le Earth where he lived

She did, leaning in next to nize She had me scroll above Seattle and - son of a bitch - there were various chains of islands scattered up there No doubt the last Ice Age had had soes as I did about ton State

Next, she took over control of the mouse and positioned it over a speck of land above an island called Whidbey, and near another island called Lopez Island

"I don’t see it," I said

"Hang on" She e and soon, the very ser than a speck As it took shape, the name of the island appeared on the screen