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people die to buy their worldly possessions for your shop.”
    Declan winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive. I actually pay good money for good items. There are vultures around here who do try to steal what they can, but I always try to be fair. That’s why they call me Fair Declan!”
    “They do?”
    “No. But they could .”
    “But they wouldn’t because it isn’t very catchy.”
    “No, not really.”
    He stared at her again. His head tilted to the right.
    “Wait. How did you get in here? Are you visiting your grandparents? Oh no…is this their house?”
    Charlotte shook her head.
    “Whew,” he said, putting his hand on his chest. “Thought I might have put my foot in my mouth there for a second.”
    She said nothing as he awaited his answer.
    “So… What are you doing here?” he asked.
    “I live here.”
    “In the area?”
    “ In the house ,” she said sweeping her arm towards the living room. “Home, sweet dorm room.”
    Declan screwed his eyes shut as if in pain.
    “You live here? You can’t possibly be over fifty-five.”
    “No, I grew up here. I’ve been grandfathered in, so to speak.”
    “Are you a professor?”
    “No. I just like to read.”
    “Are you off your meds?”
    Charlotte glowered at him.
    “Sorry. Kidding . Jeeze. I really am sorry. I didn’t—I mean, it’s a nice house. Uncluttered. Furniture is over-rated.”
    “Uh huh.”
    “I apologize for any and all misunderstandings,” he said, clapping his hands together. “I feel as though I’ve overstayed my welcome and I’ll be on my way.”
    He thrust out his hand to shake again. “Nice to meet you.”
    Charlotte was trying to decide whether to shake his hand or flip him off when one of the officers from the backyard dig entered and allowed her to keep her lady-like air.
    “Hey Declan, you’re still here,” said the deputy, smiling and wiping his sweaty brown on his sleeve. He gave his belt a hard yank to pull it over his belly.
    “Yeah, Daniel, I was just heading out.”
    Charlotte looked at the deputy and then back at Declan, her hand now enveloped in his. Everyone seemed to know the handsome pawnbroker. Maybe Deputy Daniel tipped him about deaths in the neighborhood. Declan probably had dinner with the ambulance drivers every Thursday. He was a ghoul . He made his living from the death of her friends.
    “We were just saying we had something for you,” said the deputy, holding aloft a plastic evidence bag.
    “Oh yeah?”
    He gave Charlotte’s hand one last short shake before releasing.
    “I mean, if it wasn’t evidence,” said Daniel. “We pulled a necklace from the bone pile.”
    The officer held up the bag for Declan to see. Inside, Charlotte saw a sunflower, attached to a gold chain. Even with dirt caked to the delicate petals, the bright yellow and orange enamel glowed in the sun streaming through her front window.
    “Think it’s worth anything?” asked Daniel.
    Charlotte’s lip curled.
    “Daniel, really ,” she said, but the deputy didn’t acknowledge her statement. He didn’t shift his stare from Declan.
    “What is it?” he asked. “Declan? Are you okay?”
    Charlotte followed his gaze and saw the blood had drained from the pawnbroker’s face. Declan swallowed and took a step forward, his arm lifting to touch the bottom of the evidence bag. Daniel released the sealed bag into his open palm. Declan stood, staring at the necklace, his thumb moving the bag against the flower to remove more dirt from the petals inside.
    Pale, he looked at the deputy.
    “I know who she is,” he said.
    “You recognize the necklace?” Charlotte asked.
    Declan nodded, his eyes never leaving the bag.
    “I gave it to her.”
     

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
    “You look like you’re going to fall over,” said Charlotte.
    “I have to see,” Declan said, pushing past the deputy and walking towards the back of the house. She followed, with Daniel close behind.
    Declan open the backdoor and the