Part 5 (2/2)

Eleazar stopped, looking sharply toward the door at the back of the room.

”Sir?” Doc Adams said.

”I thought I heard something. Is anyone back there?”

Browning shook his head. ”My wife left that way before we began.The room was empty.”

”So there is a door?” Eleazar rose and walked to it, swinging it open fast and peering in as the others scrambled to their feet.

As Eleazar strode through, Browning hurried after him. He found the man in the back room, looking about. Browning could see into the kitchen, where the rear door was closing.

Someone had been there. Eleazar hadn't noticed it, though, and Browning didn't point it out. Browning was not about to do anything to upset him. Not after what he'd just said about . . .

Charlie.

Browning's gaze swung to the coffin, the largest in the room, two chairs placed in front of it, where he and his wife had spent the night.

His wife. Dorothy. What would she say? Her heart might break with joy.

Eleazar strode over, scattering Browning's thoughts.

”There's no sign anyone was here,” Browning said. ”Perhaps mice? Or c.o.o.ns in the eaves.”

”I'm sure it was nothing,” Eleazar said. ”I'm a touch anxious about what I have to say next. My fears likely got the best of me.”

”What you have to say?” Browning paused. ”Yes, you were saying there was something else.” His heart thudded anew. No, please, nothing else. Nothing that would stop this man from bringing Charlie back.

Eleazar was walking again, moving to Charlie's coffin.

”Is this him, then?” he asked. ”Your boy?”

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