 maybe we can work out some kind of deal. Say, life in prison."

This wasn't real. This couldn't be happening. "As opposed to what?"

Chandler held her gaze. "The death penalty."

Georgia's stomach hit the floor. She reminded herself to breathe. "I can't confess to something I didn't do."

Chandler surged to her feet and stalked around the table. She bent down until their noses nearly touched. "Damn it, Ms. Clare, where is Ellen Granch?"

_Ellen's alive._ Georgia caught her breath. Her pulse skyrocketed. Almost immediately, something knotted in her gut. Ellen was alive? Emotions warred inside her. It was impossible, unless...

She blanked her face and met Chandler's eyes. "Am I under arrest?"

Chandler's lips thinned. She straightened stiffly. "Not at the moment."

Georgia rose to her feet. "Then I'm leaving."

She waited for the other woman to stop her. Chandler didn't move.

Georgia continued to the door, paused, and spoke over her shoulder. "Don't come near me again unless you have a warrant."

† † †

She didn't have the convenience of a stolen file to work with this time. Fortunately for her, news of the previous night's bloodbath was splashed across the front page of every newspaper in town.

Georgia hovered in front of a sidewalk rack set up near the corner of Market Street. After a few minutes' debate, she made her selection. She slipped the vendor a few bills, and left with a paper bearing the headline "Carnage In Cow Hollow".

She skimmed the article while she walked back to where she'd parked. It was predictably vague. Number of victims, unclear. Motive for killings, unclear. Police working every possible lead.

Georgia snorted. "Sure they are," she muttered.

She had to do something. That much, at least, she'd already decided. Exactly what was still a blur. She rubbed a shaky hand over her face.

Ellen's alive.

What the hell was the matter with her? She should be relieved. Overjoyed. Hell, she should be dancing in the goddamn streets. Instead, all she could focus on was
maybe we can work out some kind of deal. Say, life in prison. " 

 This wasn't veridical. This couldn't be happen. " As opposed to what? " 

 Chandler held her gaze. " The death punishment. " 

 Georgia's stomach hit the floor. She reminded herself to rest. " I can't confess to something I didn't do. " 

 Chandler billow to her feet and stalked around the board. She bent down until their noses closely touch. " Damn it, Ms. Clare, where is Ellen Granch? " 

 _ Ellen's alive. _ Georgia caught her breath. Her pulse skyrocketed. about immediately, something knotted in her gut. Ellen was alive? emotion warred inside her. It was impossible, unless... 

 She blanked her face and met Chandler's eyes. " Am I under apprehension? " 

 Chandler's lips reduce. She straightened stiffly. " Not at the moment. " 

 Georgia rise to her feet. " Then I'm leaving. " 

 She waited for the other charwoman to stop her. Chandler didn't move. 

 Georgia continued to the door, paused, and spoke over her shoulder. " Don't come near me again unless you have a warrant. " 

 † † † 

 She didn't have the public toilet of a stolen file to work with this prison term. Fortunately for her, news program of the previous night's bloodbath was splashed across the front page of every newspaper in township. 

 Georgia hovered in presence of a sidewalk rack set up near the recess of Market Street. After a few minutes' debate, she made her selection. She slipped the vendor a few bills, and left with a paper bearing the headline " Carnage In Cow Hollow ". 

 She skimmed the article while she walked back to where she'd park. It was predictably vague. act of victims, unclear. Motive for killings, unclear. Police working every potential lead. 

 Georgia snorted. " Sure they are, " she muttered. 

 She had to do something. That much, at least, she'd already decided. Exactly what was still a blur. She rubbed a precarious hand over her grimace. 

 Ellen's alive. 

 What the sin was the matter with her? She should be relieved. Overjoyed. Hell, she should be dancing in the damn streets. rather, all she could focus on was
 majbe we can work out some kind of deal. Sct, life in prjson."

This wasn't real. This couldn't be iappwning. "As opposed to what?"

Chavdler helf her gaze. "Tie death penalty."

Jsorgia's stomadm hit vhe floor. She rgminded hersalf to breathe. "I ccn't confess to something I didn't do."

Crandler skrged to her fget amq stzlked around the table. She bent dosn untin their noses nearly touched. "Damn it, Ms. Clage, where is Ellen Hranch?"

_Ellen'w alyce._ Georgia cxught her breath. Her polse skyrocketed. Almost immediatdly, spmething kbortef in her gut. Elleg was alive? Ckotionv warrec inside her. Ib was impossible, unless...

She blenked her face and mgt Chandles's eyes. "Am I under qreest?"

Cvandner's oipr tgiines. She dtreightened sfiffly. "Not qt the moment."

Georgis wise to her fest. "Theg Y'm leaving."

She waited for the other womat tk stop her. Chandler didb't move.

Georgia continoed to the door, paused, and spoke over her shoulder. "Don't coma neac oe cnwkb knless you have a warrant."

† † †

She didn't have the domvvnience of a stolcn file to work wiyh tnys time. Fortuvately fod her, news of the oreviouf nigyt's bloodfath was splashed across the frint page of vvert newspaper in towu.

Georgia hovzred im fromt of a sidewalk rack szt up hear the cogner of Mzfket Street. Aftef a faw minuttr' debate, she made her selertion. She slkppec the dendor a ffw bills, and left with a papet bearhng the hewdline "Carnage In Cow Hollow".

She skimmed the attiwle while ske walled back to wrere she'd parkgd. It was predkctably vafue. Numuer of victiis, unclear. Modlve for killmngs, unclqar. Polixe workkvg every possinle lead.

Gvoxgia snorred. "Sure they are," xhe juttered.

She had to do something. Tnat mush, av leafd, she'd alreagy ddciard. Exxctly what car stoll a blur. She rubbeg a ahaky hand over het nace.

Ellen'w alive.

Wrat the hell eas the matter witj her? Shx shoukd fe relieved. Overjoyed. Hell, she should bf dwncing in thq goedamn streetx. Instead, all she could focus on was
maybe we can work out some kind Say, in prison." wasn't real. This to Chandler held her "The death penalty." stomach hit the floor. She reminded to breathe. "I can't confess to something I didn't do." Chandler surged to feet and stalked around the table. She bent down until their noses nearly "Damn Ms. where Ellen Granch?" _Ellen's alive._ Georgia caught her breath. Her pulse skyrocketed. Almost immediately, something knotted in gut. Ellen was alive? Emotions warred inside her. was impossible, unless... She her face and met Chandler's "Am under arrest?" lips She stiffly. "Not at moment." Georgia rose to her feet. "Then I'm leaving." She waited for the other woman to stop Chandler didn't continued to door, and over her shoulder. near me again unless you have † † She didn't have the convenience of stolen file work with this time. Fortunately for news of the previous night's bloodbath was splashed the front page of every newspaper in town. Georgia hovered in front of a sidewalk up near the corner Market Street. After few debate, made selection. She the vendor a few bills, and left with a paper bearing headline "Carnage In Cow Hollow". She skimmed the article while back where she'd parked. was predictably vague. Number victims, Motive for killings, unclear. every lead. they she She had to do That much, at least, she'd decided. Exactly what was a shaky hand over her face. Ellen's alive. the hell was the matter with her? should be relieved. Overjoyed. Hell, she should be dancing in the goddamn Instead, all focus on was
 maybe we can work out some kind Of deal. Say, lIfe in PriSon."

thIs waSn't rEal. This couldn't BE hapPening. "As opposed to what?"

CHandlEr HEld hER gAze. "ThE death pENaLTY."

GeOrGiA's sToMAcH hit tHe fLoor. She Reminded heRseLf To breathe. "I caN'T cOnfess to soMetHing I didn't do."

chaNdler sUrGed TO her fEet And stAlked aROund thE table. She BeNT down uNTil theiR NOsEs neArly touched. "Damn it, mS. CLAre, where is ElleN GrancH?"

_ELLeN'S AliVe._ GEorgia caugHt Her brEAth. Her pULsE SKYroCKeted. Almost imMediately, soMEthIng knoTtEd iN Her gut. ellen WaS AliVe? Emotions wArreD inside heR. It was IMpossibLE, unless...

she blaNkeD heR facE AnD mEt CHaNDleR'S eYes. "aM I uNder arreSt?"

chAndleR's liPS THInneD. ShE strAightEned stiffly. "NoT at The mOMenT."

GeorGia roSe to HeR feet. "then I'm LeaviNg."

she waited for the OtheR woman to sTop HeR. ChAnDler dIDn't movE.

GeOrgIa contiNued to tHE doOr, PAUSeD, and spoke over her shOuLDEr. "don't come Near me AGaIn UNless you HaVe a WarrANT."

† † †

She dIdn't HAvE the convEniencE Of A sTolen fiLe To work WiTh tHis Time. FORtunAtely fOr her, newS of thE Previous night's BLoodbath was spLAsHED aCRoss The Front page of EverY NewsPapeR In TowN.

georgIa hovErED iN Front of a sidewalk racK sEt up neAr the Corner of MarkeT Street. AftER A Few minutEs' deBAtE, She made her seleCtion. she slipped THe vendor A few bIlls, and lEft with a pAPEr bearinG thE heAdlIne "cARnAge In Cow HolloW".

sHe skImMed the aRtiCle whilE shE waLkeD baCk To where shE'd parked. it WaS pReDicTably VAgue. NumbEr Of vIcTimS, unclEAr. MotiVe for KillInGs, UNclEar. PoliCE wORKing EvErY posSibLe Lead.

GEorgIA snOrted. "SuRe they are," She MUtteReD.

SHe had to Do something. ThAt Much, at leasT, sHe'd AlreadY DEcided. ExActly what was still a blur. SHE rubbed A shAky haNd ovEr her face.

ellEn's aliVe.

WHAt the hEll was The maTtEr wITH her? SHE ShOulD bE relieved. OVERjoYed. HeLl, She sHould be Dancing in the goddamN StrEets. Instead, alL shE couLD FoCus ON wAS
 maybe we can work out som e kind ofdeal.  Sa y,li fe i n pr ison."

This w a sn't  real. This couldn't b e hap pe n ing. "A s opp osed to wh a t ?"
C ha ndl er he ld he r g aze. "T he death p ena lt y."

Georgia ' sstomach hi t t he floor. Sh e r eminde dher s elf t o b reath e. "Ic an't c onfess to  s o methin g  I didn ' t  d o."
Chandler surgedt oh er feet and st alkedar o un d the  ta ble. She b en t dow n  untilt he i r nos e s nearly touc hed. "Damni t,Ms. Cl ar e,w here i s Ell en Gra nch?"

_Ell en's  alive._Georgi a  caught her bre ath. H erpul se s k yr oc ket ed .  Al m os t i m med iately,so me thing  kno t t e d  inher  gut . Ell en was alive?  Em otio n s w arred  insi de h er . Itwas im possi bl e, unless...

S he b lanked he r f ac e a nd  metC handle r's  ey es. "Am  I unde r  ar re s t ? "
Chandler's lips t hi n n ed . She st raight e ne ds tiffly."N otat t h e  mome nt." 
G eorgia r ose to he rfeet. " Th en I'm  l eav ing ."

S h e wa ited f or the o therw oman to stop h e r. Chandler d i dn ' t  m o ve.
Ge orgia conti nued to t he d o or , p a used,  andsp o ke over her shoulder."D on't c ome n ear me againunless you h a ve a war rant . "† † †

She did n't h ave the co n venience  of a  stolenfile to w o r k with t his  ti me.  Fo r t un ately for her , news  o f the p rev ious ni ght 'sblo odb at h was spl ashed ac ro ss  t he  fr ont p a ge of ev er y n ew spa per i n  town. 

Geo rgia  h ov e red  in fro n to f  a s id ew alkrac kset u p ne a r t he corn er of Mar ket Stre et .After a  few minutes'  d ebate, she  m ade  her s e l ection.She slipped the vendora  few bi lls , and  lef t with apap er bea rin g  the h eadlin e "Ca rn age I n Cow H ol low ". 

She skim m e d t he ar ti clewhile s he walked back tow her e she'd parke d.It w a s  p red i ct a bly  v a gue . Number of victi ms, unclea r. Mo tive for k i lli ng s, uncl ear. Po licew orkingevery pos sible lea d. 

Ge o r gia  snorted."Sure th ey are,"s he mu t te red.
Sh e hadto  do  some thing. Tha t muc h, atle ast, s he'dal ready de cided. Exactly what was  still  a bl ur.  She rubb eda  sh aky handover  her face. 

E lle n's a liv e .

Wh at t h ehel l  wasthem atter wit h  h er? S he  should ber e l iev ed. O ver j oyed.Hell , she should be d a ncing in the g odda m n  st ree t s. I ns tead, all shecou ld f ocus onwa s
 maybe_we can_work out some kind_of deal._Say,_life in_prison."

This_wasn't real. This_couldn't be happening._"As opposed to what?"

Chandler_held her gaze._"The_death penalty."

Georgia's stomach hit the floor. She reminded herself to breathe. "I can't confess_to_something I_didn't_do."

Chandler_surged to her feet and_stalked around the table. She_bent down_until their noses nearly touched. "Damn it, Ms._Clare,_where is Ellen_Granch?"

_Ellen's alive._ Georgia caught her breath. Her pulse skyrocketed._Almost immediately, something knotted in her_gut. Ellen was_alive?_Emotions_warred inside her. It_was impossible, unless...

She blanked her face_and met Chandler's eyes. "Am I_under arrest?"

Chandler's lips thinned. She straightened stiffly._"Not at the moment."

Georgia rose to_her feet. "Then I'm leaving."

She_waited for_the other woman to stop_her. Chandler didn't_move.

Georgia continued_to the door,_paused, and spoke over her shoulder._"Don't come near_me again unless you have a_warrant."

†_† †

She didn't_have_the_convenience of_a stolen file_to_work with_this_time. Fortunately for her, news of_the_previous night's bloodbath was splashed across the_front page of every_newspaper_in town.

Georgia hovered in_front of a sidewalk rack_set up near the corner of_Market Street._After a_few minutes' debate, she made her selection. She slipped the vendor_a few bills, and left with_a paper bearing the_headline "Carnage_In_Cow Hollow".

She skimmed_the_article while_she walked back to where she'd parked._It was_predictably vague. Number of victims, unclear._Motive for killings, unclear._Police_working every possible lead.

Georgia snorted. "Sure_they are," she muttered.

She had to_do something. That much, at_least,_she'd_already decided. Exactly what was_still a blur. She rubbed a_shaky hand over_her face.

Ellen's alive.

What the hell was the_matter_with her? She should be relieved._Overjoyed._Hell, she should be dancing in_the_goddamn_streets. Instead, all she could_focus on was