Part 54 (1/2)

”What?”

”Move back.” Gently Johnno eased him to his feet. ”They need to have a

look at her.”

Dazed, Brian watched the ambulance attendants move in and

crouch over his daughter. ”She must have fallen all the way down the

stairs.”

”She'll be all right.” Johnno sent a helpless look toward P.M. as they

flanked Brian. ”Little girls are tougher than they look.”

”That's right.” A bit unsteady on his feet, Stevie stood behind Brian

with both hands on his shoulders. ”Our Emma won't let a tumble down the

stairs hold her up for long.”

”We'll go to the hospital with you.” Pete moved over to join them.

Together they watched as Emma was carefully lifted onto a stretcher.

Upstairs, Bev screamed ... and screamed and screamed, until the

sound filled every corner of the house.

LOU KESSELRING SNORED like a wounded elephant. If he indulged in a beer

before bed, he snored like two wounded elephants. His wife of seventeen

years coped with the nightly event by wearing earplugs. Lou knew Marge

loved him in her own steady, no-nonsense way, and he considered himself

fortunate and smart for not sleeping with her before marriage. He was

honest, but had kept this one little secret. By the time she'd

discovered it, he'd had his ring on her finger.

He was really rattling the s.h.i.+ngles tonight. It had been nearly

thirty-six hours since he'd slept in his own bed. Now that the Calarmi

case was closed, he was going to enjoy not only a good night's sleep but

a whole weekend of sloth.