"Severing a dead child's head is taking superst.i.tion to extremes, don't you think?" Stephanie said.

Arturo shrugged. "Yes. It's also an insane act of someone in terrible pain. So... the priest said that no one must be made to suffer more for what happened, so... Maria will be buried, and life will go on." He rose. "Excuse me. There is still a lot to be done today."

Just as Arturo left the table, Clay Barton arrived with Liz, and the two took chairs at their customary table.

"Good morning," Liz said. She looked at Stephanie. "Are you all right?"

"Of course," Stephanie said, frowning.

"We heard you'd been at the funeral parlor last night," Clay said.

At Stephanie's side, Grant had already stiffened. He did so the minute Clay Barton came near him, she knew. She didn't understand it. Clay was responsible, good at his work, and always polite. She couldn't believe that Grant was suddenly suffering a bout of low self-esteem, so she didn't think that he would dislike the man simply because he was so good-looking and macho- esque.

"We were there. It was sad. And it's over," Grant said.

"Yes, the girl will be buried on Monday," Clay said. "And whatever pain her mother might have been feeling, in her own mind, at least, her daughter will be at peace."

Grant stared at him.

"We were there, too, last night. Before you, I imagine. We had actually intended to go back just to ask if there was anything we could do," Liz said. "But then... we heard about what happened." "I ran into one of the cops on the beach this morning," Clay explained.

"Yes, and of course, you speak Italian, so you probably understood much more than we possibly could," Stephanie said.

Grant looked at her sharply.

"What happened when you ran into the cop this morning?" Grant asked Clay. His voice had an edge.

"Nothing. He told me that everything was fine now, and calm. Apparently, the townspeople are going to get together and buy an airline ticket for Lucretia-and send her to America to be with her sons," Clay said.

"That's a wonderful idea," Stephanie said. "Here... she would be forced to remember her daughter every single day."

"Well," Liz said, "we've decided that we'd take the day and go out and see the dig."

"Really? Aren't you two exhausted? We heard that the partying went on very late here," Grant said. "And Clay-you were out there the other day."

"I came out-but that was when you found Maria. It wasn't a good time at all to see what has been uncovered," Clay reminded him.

"That's right. You were there," Grant said.

He wasn't quite rude, but close.

"Well, I'm anxious to get out there," Liz said, trying to put a light note into the conversation.

"You're not exhausted? You didn't have a late night?" Grant was more courteous when he spoke to Liz. He might dislike Clay, but there was no reason at all not to like Liz.

"There was some partying, yes. We weren't part of it. And Grant, everyone walked someone to their cottage, just as they were supposed to do!" Liz said. "So, what are you two up to?"

"We're going to the dig, too," Stephanie said.

"We can go together," Liz said, as if pleasantly surprised that they'd planned the same day.

"Great," Stephanie said.

"Well, we were going to head out right after brunch," Grant said. He didn't want to be accompanied by the pair, Stephanie realized.

Too bad. She was pleased to have the company.

"That will work fine for us," Clay a.s.sured her.

"Great. I'm going to get more eggs first," Stephanie said. "Grant, if the waiter comes by, could you ask for more coffee, please."

It was while she was standing at the omelette station that she saw Clay at the next table, helping himself to bacon. She frowned, thinking there was something wrong, but not sure what it was.

Then she knew.

He was in a sleeveless shirt. She saw his arms. Both arms. Neither showed the least bit of irritation. They just looked tanned, sleek, and well-muscled.

That was amazing. Just the other day, when they'd dragged the boy from the surf, he had looked as if he'd suffered third-degree burns!

And now...

There was nothing. Nothing at all. It appeared as if he had never suffered the least injury to his flesh.

Chapter 11.

Clay Barton turned, aware she was staring at him.

She flushed. "Sorry. I can't believe the way your arm healed!" she told him.

"Oh, that!" he said. "I told you-it was just an irritation. Rises, and goes back down. That's all."

"That's all! Medical science would surely pay you a bundle. I've never seen anyone heal like that."

"That's because what you saw looked a whole lot worse than it was," he a.s.sured her. He pointed behind the table where the chef was working.

"What I saw was bad! And actually, I was not a particularly good director, come to think of it. I should have asked how you were doing, but I honestly forgot. You've been wearing longsleeved shirts."

"Stephanie, I told you that I'd be fine. I am. Hey, your omelette is ready."

"Oh! Thanks!" She turned back, and thanked the man who had cooked her omelette. But even as she accepted it, she marveled that it seemed impossible that he could have healed so completely in such a short period of time.

As they walked back to the table, she saw that Grant was watching her with dark, pensive eyes. He had been watching the conversation. She had no intention of telling him what it had been about. It would only add to his hostility against Clay.

As they sat, Liz smiled at Stephanie. "I was just telling Grant how anxious I've been to get out to the dig. And I haven't had a chance to go. Now, it will really be a lot nicer-Grant will be almost like having an expert guide."

"I'm not an expert at all," Grant protested.

"He has a keen interest in archeology and ancient cultures," Stephanie said. She shrugged. "Carlo said you were quite an a.s.set,"

she reminded.

"Anyone who sat there for hours dusting bones with a paint brush would be considered an a.s.set," Grant said. "But Carlo will be there," he told Liz, "and he is an expert."

Suzette came in then, sitting down with just a cup of coffee. She looked exhausted.

"Hey," she said.

"Good morning," Stephanie said.

Previous Top NextSuzette groaned and leaned her head on the table. "No, it's not a good morning," she a.s.sured them.

"Too much partying, hum?" Liz said sympathetically.

Suzette shrugged. "I didn't realize it, but I guess so. Thank G.o.d that it's a day off!"

"We're going out to the dig," Stephanie told her. "Do you want to come?"

Suzette grimaced ruefully. "I want to drown in this coffee right now. I'm going to try food, and see if that improves anything.

Then I'm going to spend the day on the beach. I'll get Lena back out with me, hopefully. I tried knocking on both Doug's door and Drew's. Neither one of them stumbled down to answer. And they're not in here, so... besides, I've been to the dig. The only thing I saw there of real interest was Grant, and turns out the two of you are... old friends. C'est la vie! Anyway, I'm too dragged out this morning to get in a car and drive anywhere." She shook her head and her eyes widened. "I wouldn't even want to go shopping today!"

Clay touched her forehead, causing Suzette to turn and gaze at him strangely. "You don't think you've caught a bit of Lena's flu, do you?"

"I've no idea. But I think a day of doing nothing but lying in the sun is going to help. Have a good time, though."

"We were just going to leave," Stephanie said. "Want us to wait until you've had breakfast?"

"No, no, I'm fine here. Besides, the boys will appear eventually. Go, have a great day. d.a.m.n, I really didn't know I drank so much!"

"Dreams keeping you awake?" Clay asked.

It was such a casual question. But so right on the mark, Stephanie saw, as Suzette lowered her head and flushed.

"Too much of a good thing. Sorry, Steph, but boy, you have a cast full of kids! We were like a college group last night, celebrating graduation or something. Please, all of you, get going. My coffee cup and I are going to bond."

"Want some toast or something?" Grant asked her.

"You know, that would be great," Suzette said.

He left the table and brought her back a plate of toast. She smiled her thanks, then said, "Go, please! You're making me feel guilty."

"We'll be back by dark," Clay said.

Stephanie wasn't sure why, but his words sounded ominous. She rose along with the others and they exited by the front.

"Shall I drive?" Clay suggested.

"We'll take mine," Grant said.

Yep, he even feels he has to drive! Stephanie thought.

But he continued with, "I've driven out there almost every day. I can probably get us out there the fastest."

That made sense. She still had the feeling that Grant wasn't about to let Clay have control in any way."Great," Clay said.

Grant had rented a Jeep. They piled into it, and started out of town.

Suzette had been on the beach for nearly an hour by the time Drew showed up.

She knew that someone was standing over her, because she was suddenly shaded from the sun. Opening her eyes and moving her sungla.s.ses down her nose, she saw Drew.

"So, look what the cat dragged in-or out, as the case may be," she said.

He grunted, threw down a towel, and took a seat next to her. "d.a.m.n, I feel like h.e.l.l-mouth like a trash can," he said.

"It was too much, huh?" Suzette said.

"Well, it was worth it, though, huh? What a night. I felt on top of the world."

"So did I. I think I pa.s.sed out, though. The minute I walked in the cottage."

"Yeah... I woke up on the floor," Drew admitted. He was quiet a few minutes. "Had a crazy dream, though."

"Oh?" Suzette said, her interest seriously piqued.

"Yeah..."

"Oh, come on, Drew! Tell me about it."

"Well, I think it was a dream. Or a fantasy brought on by an alcoholic stupor."

"Drew, really, you can tell me," Suzette said. "Oh, come on, please. If you can't tell me... we've gotten to be good friends, haven't we?"

He shrugged. "All right. I dreamed that Gema was here, that she came to my door, and wanted to have hot, wild s.e.x with me."

"With you!" Suzette exclaimed.

"Hey," he said, hurt. "I thought we agreed the other day that I was cute. Adorable."