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Clara moaned softly. I reached down and checked her pulse, which was remarkably
strong considering the circumstances.
“And I'd like to be the first to congratulate you,” Jane went on. “She's had it coming
for years.”
A smile stole across Armando's features.
“Thanks.”
“Now we've got to get her out of here fast.”
Good old practical Jane.
Clara was small but she was out cold and therefore something of a dead weight.
Between the three of us we got her into her old battered Volvo, which was parked almost
halfway down the hill, and loaded her into the backseat.
“Find her keys,” Jane barked.
Armando rifled through her bag wildly.
“They're not here.”
“They're in the ignition,” I said. It was my first useful contribution to the whole epis-
ode.
“Drive her into town, park the car, and put the keys back in her purse. Patrick will fol-
low you down and bring you back.”
“What's she going to think when she comes to?”
“Hmm,” Jane said, clearly enjoying the thought. “She might remember the fight, but
unfortunately there weren't any witnesses…”
She glanced at me.
“Right?”
“Absolutely not,” I concurred.
“So when she starts squawking about being assaulted, it'll be her word against yours.
And since everyone on the island heartily dislikes her, I doubt anyone will be inclined to
believe her little tale. And if they do, who knows, it might just get you a few new listings.”
☼ ☼ ☼
By the time we got back to the party it was going gangbusters. Marcus was shaking up
cocktails like nobody's business and a dozen or so people were dancing in the great room.
Our neighbor, Feliz, was standing on the balcony doing his rooster-crowing imitation over
and over in approximate rhythm to the music.
The minute I walked in, Daniel rushed up to me with an exceedingly mournful expres-
sion plastered across his disheveled face. His glasses were askew, his hair standing on end.
In fact, he looked as if he'd been through a couple of fights himself.
“I did it deliberately,” he slobbered. “I'm so sorry.” He appeared to be on the brink of a
crying jag.
“Did what?”
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