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figuring she must've left it in the interrogation room. |
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While she went to get it, Trev stepped to the other side of the counter. He picked up Patterson's revolver, carried it into the public restroom at the far end of the reception area, and held it under the faucet. The hot water spilled over it, showing a shadow of gray as it ran into the sink. Then the water was clear against the white enamel. |
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Trev turned off the faucet, shook excess water from the gun, and dried it with paper towels. |
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Back in the main room, Francine and Lisa watched as he crouched over Lucy's body. He used her skirt to make sure that no trace of water remained on the weapon. Then he broke it open and cleared the shell casings from the cylinder. He wiped the cylinder. |
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'Do you know how to use a handgun?' he asked Francine. |
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She nodded. 'I used to go with a deputy.' |
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He stepped up to her and offered Patterson's .38. |
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She stared at it. 'I don't think . . .' |
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Lisa snatched it from Trev's hand. |
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'It's all right. See?' She switched the gun to her left hand, and held her right hand open in front of her mother's eyes. 'See? Clean.' |
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'OK, give it to me.' Francine took the weapon. |
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'Go on and load it,' Trev told her, nodding toward the open box of cartridges on his desk. 'Then put the box in your purse. You'll have to do the reloading for both of us if things get bad.' |
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She started sliding rounds into the cylinder. |
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