“You reckon he was already dead?”

I hadn’t considered that. “Yes,” I said slowly. “Yes, I think he was. Because he was…” I had to take a deep breath. “He was all floppy.”

Martin moved behind me and put his hands on my shoulders.

Padgett Lanier shook his glass a little to hear the ice cubes tinkle against the sides. “I wonder, when we turn the deceased over, if you all would mind taking a look at him.” He held up a placatory hand before we could respond. “I know, I know, it’s an awful thing to ask anyone, especially these ladies, but we do need to know if you have seen this man anytime or anywhere, before today.”

I had never wanted to do anything less. My husband’s hands gripped my shoulders bracingly.

“Sheriff! We’re ready when you are!” called the taller of the deputies, as he pulled on an extra pair of plastic gloves. Lanier heaved himself out of his chair and strode over to the body.

This was a process I did not want to watch, and I covered my face with my hands. I heard some sounds I definitely didn’t want to match to an image.

“You needn’t bother, ladies,” called Lanier. His voice was very unsteady. I wondered if I ought to tell him where the bathroom was. “You needn’t bother,” he said again, in a lower voice. But the people in our yard were so quiet, it was easy to hear. “I recognize him myself… I think.”

I dropped my hands in amazement, caught a glimpse of what was being lifted from the lawn, and put them back up hurriedly.

“Who is it?” Martin called, close to my ear.

“Detective Sergeant Jack Burns, City of Lawrence-ton Police Department.”

Padgett Lanier, no doubt about it, had a certain sense of ceremony.

After some dreadful minutes, the envelope of broken bones and jellied organs that was Jack Burns’s body was maneuvered into a bag and then into the ambulance. Lanier, obviously shaken but still maintaining his official face, ambled over to the patio. I was feeling very shaky, and Angel was an interesting shade of green. I thought she might be sick again. Martin and Shelby looked even grimmer than they had before.