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“Yes.”

“What happened when you reached the gazebo?”

Unexpectedly, the memory shook Archie. It took him a second to be able to say calmly, “I called his name and thought I heard—I heard something. I wasn’t sure what. When I reached the gazebo, I could see his legs. I went up the steps, went inside, knelt beside him.”

“Was the victim already deceased?”

Victim. Deceased. It was all unreal.

“No.”

“No?”

“He was dying. He grabbed my hand.” Archie did not look at his hand. He had washed the blood away in the cold mossy fountain near the house. “He was trying to speak.”

“What did he say?”

“You didn’t think you should go for help?” Swenson broke in.

Archie answered Swenson. “I saw that he…he had maybe seconds. I stayed with him because that’s what I’d want.” He shut his eyes, blinked hard, opened them.

There was a silence for a heartbeat or two and then Beau repeated, “What did he say?”

“He said, ‘some…’ but he couldn’t finish it. He tried a couple of times.”

“Did you ask him who attacked him?”

Archie said huskily, “Yes. He repeated ‘some’.”

“Someone? Something?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did he say anything else, give any indication he knew who attacked him?”

“No.”

“You said he seemed stressed earlier. Did he mention he was having trouble with someone? Financial worries? Health concerns?”

“No.”

“Did he mention any recent run-ins, arguments, problems—”

“No.” Archie said wearily, “I know how it works. I’ve been running over every conversation we had. I didn’t pick up any indication there might be a problem until this evening. Even then, it wasn’t anything he said. He just seemed…bothered by something. Not obviously so. Not fearful. He was preoccupied earlier, but he’d been away for a few days. I figured there were things he needed to catch up on.”

“Can you think back to anyone who might have held a grudge?”

“Seven years later?” Archie said. “I don’t remember anything like that. He mentioned that Desi and Judith were disappointed he wouldn’t let Desi formally announce her engagement tonight, but I doubt they’d have been upset enough to kill him. Leo, Priscilla, Mila, they’re your best bet for information. If John was worried about something, he’d most likely confide in one of them.”

Beau nodded. He was watching Archie closely. There was something odd in his expression.

Archie said suddenly, “Actually, there is something. I think there was a falling out with Professor Azizi. Priscilla mentioned it in passing.”

“What was that over?”

“I didn’t get a chance to hear the details.”

Swenson was scribbling away at his notes.