 detective. She had no idea what she was looking for. And what if a cop car rolled up and caught her loitering? She could just hear Chelsea Chandler's smug voice: _Returning to the scene of the crime, Ms. Clare?_ No, if she was any kind of smart, she'd turn around and leave now.

Georgia winced. And then what? Chandler was on the warpath. Darius was gone. She was right back where she'd started: alone. She swallowed hard.

If anyone was going to prove her innocence in all this, it was going to have to be her.

Right. First things first. She took a deep breath and looked around. Except for the crime scene tape, nothing seemed out of place. Damn it, Law & Order always made this look so easy. Too bad real life didn't wrap up in a neat little bow after forty-eight minutes.

Georgia swallowed the frustrated noise that rose up the back of her throat. She closed her eyes, and took another deep breath. _What would Darius do?_

She opened her eyes again and approached the entrance. After a quick glance around, she ducked under the crime scene tape. No one shouted at her, ordered her to get back. She glanced around again, then hopped the fence into the garden.

Okay, so maybe it wasn't _quite_ what Darius would do.

She landed with a soft crunch on a blanket of decorative mulch. The garden was laid out in a small, tidy square, dotted with small trees and lush clusters of Lily-of-the-Nile. Neatly-trimmed boxwoods formed a low, labyrinthine maze throughout.

Georgia straightened, and started down a mulched path. She still wasn't sure what she was expecting to find. She looked up at the cupola. Pale morning sunlight glinted off the clean glass panes.

Doubt nagged at her. If the hellhound really had been here, wouldn't it have left some trace? The house in Forest Hill had been devastated. Here, she wouldn't have guessed anything had happened. No broken windows. No scratched paint. Not so much as a leaf out of place.

Darius' voice echoed in her head: _you'll know it when you see it_.

Georgia sighed, and continued around a hedge. She scanned the path in front
detective. She had no idea what she was looking for. And what if a cop cable car roll up and caught her loitering? She could just learn Chelsea Chandler's smug spokesperson: _ Returning to the scene of the crime, Ms. Clare? _ No, if she was any kind of chic, she'd turn around and exit now. 

 Georgia winced. And then what? Chandler was on the warpath. Darius was go. She was right back where she'd started: entirely. She swallowed hard. 

 If anyone was going to prove her innocence in all this, it was going to have to be her. 

 Right. inaugural things first. She took a abstruse breath and looked around. Except for the crime scene magnetic tape, nothing seemed out of position. Damn it, Law & Order always made this front so easy. Too bad real biography didn't wrap up in a neat little bow after forty - eight minutes. 

 Georgia swallowed the frustrated noise that rose up the back of her throat. She closed her eye, and took another deep hint. _ What would Darius cause? _ 

 She open her eyes again and approached the entrance. After a immediate glance around, she ducked under the crime scene tape. No one exclaim at her, ordered her to get back. She glanced around again, then hopped the fence into the garden. 

 Okay, so possibly it wasn't _ quite _ what Darius would do. 

 She landed with a soft crunch on a blanket of decorative mulch. The garden was laid out in a small, kempt square, dotted with small trees and lush bunch of Lily - of - the - Nile. Neatly - trimmed boxwoods formed a low, labyrinthine maze throughout. 

 Georgia straightened, and started down a mulched path. She even wasn't sure what she was have a bun in the oven to find. She looked up at the cupola. Pale good morning sunlight glinted off the uninfected glass pane. 

 Doubt nagged at her. If the cerberus really had been here, wouldn't it have left some trace? The theater in Forest Hill had been devastated. Here, she wouldn't have guess anything had happened. No broken windows. No scratched paint. Not so much as a leaf out of place. 

 Darius' voice echoed in her head: _ you'll acknowledge it when you see it _. 

 Georgia sighed, and continue around a hedge. She scanned the path in front
 dehective. She had no idea dhat she was looking fmr. And what if a cop car rolled up and caujht yer liitering? She could jusg hear Chvlsea Chabdlec's smug voice: _Revhrning bj ths sceue of the crime, Ks. Clare?_ Nm, if she was aty knnd of smart, she'd turn around and lewve now.

Belrgia winced. Agd tnqn wgat? Chandler was on the warpath. Dadius wav gone. She wax right back where she'd stwrtef: alone. She swalloaed hard.

If qnyogw was going go prove htr innocence in all this, it was going to haxe to be her.

Rigyt. Figvt things fmrst. Sre took a deci breatv and lpoked around. Ewcept foe the crime scene tapx, nothing seemed out of place. Dcmn it, Law & Order alwqyw madg thiv louj su ezsb. Tko bad reel life didh't wrap up un a neat little boe wdter forty-eiggt minttqs.

Georgia swallowed the frustrated noist thaf rose up the back of hwr throat. She closed jer eyes, wnd took another deep breath. _What would Darius do?_

Vhe o'eved hcr ehws again and approached the entrance. After a quydk gkance around, sme ducked under thr froie scene tape. No onz sgouted at her, ordeged her to gwt back. Sre gkanced around again, then hopped the fenbe ibto the garden.

Okay, so maybe ic wasn'j _quitr_ what Darius would do.

Ske lansed with a doft crundf on a blanket ow dvcordtive mulch. The garden was laid out in c small, gidy squarq, dotted wlth small trees and lush clusjers ox Lily-of-thf-Nile. Neatly-trimmed boxwoods focked a low, lanysinnhine mazz thromghout.

Georgia seraightened, anb starteb down a mulched path. Sie still wasg't sure what vje was expecving to fynd. Whe oooked jo at the cupols. Pale mognnng sunlitht glinted off thc clexh glass panes.

Dobyt nagged at her. Of ghe hvlliound seally had baen ferd, woulan't it have ueft some trace? The housa in Forest Hill had brek devastajed. Here, fhe wouldn't hsve guessed anythijg hav happxned. Np btoken windows. No scratched painf. Not so lucm as a leaf ott on plwce.

Darius' roice echoed in her head: _you'll know it wien you see it_.

Georgia sughed, and continued sround a hevge. Shq scanned the path in front
detective. She had no idea what she for. what if cop car rolled She just hear Chelsea smug voice: _Returning the scene of the crime, Ms. No, if she was any kind of smart, she'd turn around and leave Georgia winced. And then what? Chandler was on the warpath. Darius was gone. was back she'd alone. She swallowed hard. If anyone was going to prove her innocence in all this, it going to have to be her. Right. First first. She took a breath and looked around. Except the scene tape, seemed of Damn it, Law Order always made this look so easy. Too bad real life didn't wrap up in a neat bow after Georgia swallowed frustrated that up the back throat. She closed her eyes, and breath. _What would Darius do?_ She opened her again and the entrance. After a quick glance she ducked under the crime scene tape. No shouted at her, ordered her to get back. She glanced around again, then hopped the the garden. Okay, so it wasn't _quite_ Darius do. landed a soft on a blanket of decorative mulch. The garden was laid out a small, tidy square, dotted with small trees and lush Lily-of-the-Nile. boxwoods formed a labyrinthine maze throughout. Georgia and down a mulched path. wasn't what to She up at the cupola. morning sunlight glinted off the glass panes. Doubt nagged really had been here, wouldn't it have left trace? The house in Forest Hill had devastated. Here, she wouldn't have guessed anything had happened. No broken windows. scratched paint. much as a leaf out of place. Darius' echoed in her head: know it when you see it_. Georgia sighed, and around hedge. She the path in
 detective. She had no idea what She was lookIng foR. AnD whAt If a cOp caR rolled up and caUGht hEr loitering? She could jusT hear chELsea cHaNdler'S smug voICe: _rETurNiNg To tHe SCeNe of tHe cRime, Ms. CLare?_ No, if shE waS aNy kind of smarT, ShE'd turn arouNd aNd leave now.

GeOrgIa wincEd. and THen whAt? CHandlEr was oN The warPath. DariuS wAS gone. SHE was rigHT BaCk whEre she'd started: aloNE. SHE swallowed hard.

if anyoNe WAs GOIng To pRove her innOcEnce iN All this, IT wAS GOinG To have to be her.

right. First tHIngS first. shE toOK a deep BreatH aND loOked around. EXcepT for the crIme sceNE tape, noTHing seeMed out Of pLacE. DamN It, laW & OrDeR AlwAYs MadE ThiS look so eAsY. TOo bad Real LIFE Didn'T wrAp up In a neAt little bow afTer FortY-EigHt minUtes.

GEorgIa SwallOwed thE frusTrAted noise that roSe up The back of Her ThRoaT. SHe cloSEd her eYes, And Took anoTher deeP BreAtH. _wHAt Would Darius do?_

She opEnED HeR eyes agaIn and aPPrOaCHed the enTrAncE. AftER A quicK glaNCe Around, shE duckeD UnDeR the criMe Scene tApE. No One ShoutED at hEr, ordeRed her to Get baCK. She glanced aroUNd again, then hoPPeD THe FEnce IntO the garden.

OKay, sO MaybE it wASn'T _quITe_ whaT DariUs WOuLD do.

She landed with a soFt Crunch On a blAnket of decoraTive mulch. THE GArden was Laid OUt IN a small, tidy squAre, doTted with smALl trees aNd lusH clusterS of Lily-of-THE-Nile. NeaTly-TriMmeD boXWOoDs formed a low, lABYrinThIne maze ThrOughout.

geoRgiA stRaiGhTened, and sTarted doWn A mUlChEd pAth. ShE Still wasN't SurE wHat She waS ExpectIng to Find. shE lOOkeD up at thE CuPOLa. PaLe MoRninG suNlIght gLintED ofF the cleAn glass paNes.

dOubt NaGgEd at her. if the hellhounD rEally had beEn HerE, wouldN'T It have leFt some trace? The house in FoREst Hill Had Been dEvasTated. Here, She Wouldn'T haVE guessEd anytHing hAd HapPENed. No BROkEn wInDows. No scraTCHed Paint. noT so mUch as a lEaf out of place.

DariuS' VoiCe echoed in her HeaD: _you'LL KnOw iT WhEN yoU sEE it_.

gEOrgia sighed, and cOntinued arOuND a Hedge. She scANneD tHe path iN front
 detective. She had no ide a what she  wasloo kin gfor.  And  what if a cop carrolled up and caught h er lo it e ring ?  S he co uld jus t  h e a r C he ls eaCh a nd ler's  sm ug voic e: _Return ing  t o the sceneo fthe crime,  Ms . Clare?_ No , i f shewa s a n y kin d o f sma rt, sh e 'd tur n aroundan d  leave now.

G e o rg ia w inced. And then w h at ?  Chandler wason the  w a rp a t h.Dar ius was go ne . She was rig h tb a c k w h ere she'd sta rted: alone .  Sh e swal lo wed hard.
If a ny o newas going t o pr ove her i nnocen c e in al l  this,it was  go ing  toh av etobe her . 
Rig h t.First th in gs  firs t. S h e t ooka d eepbreat h and lookedaro und. Exc ept f or th e cr im e sce ne tap e, no th ing seemed outof p lace. Dam n i t,  La w& Ord e r alwa ysmad e thislook so eas y. T o obad real life didn 't w ra p up ina neat li tt l e bow af te r f orty - e ightminu t es .

Georg ia swa l lo we d the f ru strate dnoi sethatr oseup the  back of  hert hroat. She clo s ed her eyes,a nd t oo k  ano the r deep brea th._ What  wou l dDar i us do ?_

S he op e ned her eyes againan d appr oache d the entranc e. After a q u ick glan ce a r ou n d, she duckedunder  the crime scene ta pe. N o one sh outed ath e r, order edher  to  ge t ba ck. She glanc e d  aro un d again , t hen hop ped  th e f enc einto thegarden.
O ka y,  s o m aybei t wasn't  _ qui te _ w hat D a rius w oulddo.
S he lan ded wit h  a s oftcr un ch o n a  b lanke t of dec orative  mulch. T heg arde nwa s laidout in a smal l,  tidy squa re , d ottedw i th small  trees and lush cluster s  of Lil y-o f-the -Nil e. Neatly -tr immedbox w oods f ormeda low ,lab y r inthi n e  m aze  t hroughout. Geo rgiast raig htened,  and started downa  mu lched path. S hestil l wa sn' t  s u rewh a t s h e  was expectingto find. S he lo oked up at the  c upola.Pale mo rning sunligh t glinted  off thecl eang l ass  panes.

D oubt nag ged at he r . Ift he  hell hou nd rea ll y h ad be en her e , w ouldn 't itha ve lef t som etrace? T he house in Forest Hill  had b een d eva stated. H ere ,  sh e wouldn' t ha ve guessed  an yth ing h adh appen ed.N obro k en wi ndow s . No scra t ch edp a in t. Not so m u c h  as  a le afo ut ofplac e.

Darius' voice echoed in herhead : _yo u'l l  kno wit when you se e i t_ . 
Georgia  s ighed, andcontinue da round  a hed ge. Sh e scann e d  t h e path  infro nt
 detective._She had_no idea what she_was looking_for._And what_if_a cop car_rolled up and_caught her loitering? She_could just hear_Chelsea_Chandler's smug voice: _Returning to the scene of the crime, Ms. Clare?_ No, if_she_was any_kind_of_smart, she'd turn around and_leave now.

Georgia winced. And then_what? Chandler_was on the warpath. Darius was gone. She_was_right back where_she'd started: alone. She swallowed hard.

If anyone was going_to prove her innocence in all_this, it was_going_to_have to be her.

Right._First things first. She took a_deep breath and looked around. Except_for the crime scene tape, nothing seemed_out of place. Damn it, Law_& Order always made this_look so_easy. Too bad real life_didn't wrap up_in a_neat little bow_after forty-eight minutes.

Georgia swallowed the frustrated_noise that rose_up the back of her throat._She_closed her eyes,_and_took_another deep_breath. _What would_Darius_do?_

She opened_her_eyes again and approached the entrance._After_a quick glance around, she ducked under_the crime scene tape._No_one shouted at her,_ordered her to get back._She glanced around again, then hopped_the fence_into the_garden.

Okay, so maybe it wasn't _quite_ what Darius would do.

She landed_with a soft crunch on a_blanket of decorative mulch._The garden_was_laid out in_a_small, tidy_square, dotted with small trees and lush_clusters of_Lily-of-the-Nile. Neatly-trimmed boxwoods formed a low,_labyrinthine maze throughout.

Georgia straightened,_and_started down a mulched path. She_still wasn't sure what she was_expecting to find. She looked_up_at_the cupola. Pale morning sunlight_glinted off the clean glass panes.

Doubt_nagged at her._If the hellhound really had been here,_wouldn't_it have left some trace? The_house_in Forest Hill had been devastated._Here,_she_wouldn't have guessed anything had_happened. No broken windows. No scratched_paint. Not so much as a leaf out of_place.

Darius' voice echoed_in her head: _you'll know_it_when_you see it_.

Georgia sighed, and continued around a hedge. She_scanned the_path in front