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usually shared the goodies, and that was endearing.
    â€œSergeant Coulter,” the coroner said, giving Dirk a cursory nod.
    Dirk was as much of a nuisance at the morgue as Savannah, even worse. And he never brought chocolate, so he was low on Dr. Liu’s list of favorite people.
    They never brought out the best in each other.
    â€œThe DB’s down there,” Dirk told her, pointing down the stairs and to the right. “You need me to go with you and help you find it?”
    She gave him a withering look. “I can find one stray blond hair on a brunette victim or a single carpet fiber and match it to a killer’s car trunk. I think I can find a dead woman on a beach.”
    â€œThen she’s all yours,” Dirk said, brushing by her and continuing on up the stairs.
    He passed a couple of young men, also wearing white lab coats with the coroner’s seal printed on the pockets, who were on their way down. He grunted a half greeting to them as he hurried by. They nearly fell off the steps trying to get out of his way.
    â€œMr. Sunshine and Light,” Dr. Liu grumbled as she watched him go. “I don’t know how you stand him.”
    â€œAh, Dirk’s all right,” Savannah said, thinking that, sometimes, it felt like she spent her life trying to convince people that Dirk really was a good person. After all, any guy who liked dogs, cats, and Elvis couldn’t be all bad. “You just have to get to know him,” she added for good measure.
    â€œNo, thanks.” Dr. Liu gave Savannah a smile. “Putting up with him, that’s your job. And mine is waiting on the beach, so…I’ll see you later.”
    â€œHow long you figure it’ll take you to process her?” Savannah asked as Dr. Liu continued down the stairs.
    â€œWe’re a little backed up. I should be done with the autopsy by tomorrow around lunch time.” When she reached the bottom step, she leaned over and took her high heels off.
    Too bad Dirk had missed it, Savannah thought. He was a major hiney man.
    â€œSo, if you’ll be done by noon,” Savannah said, “I’ll show up at ten…and bring chocolates?”
    â€œExactly.” Dr. Liu stuffed the stilettos into her bag and stepped onto the sand with bare feet, her toenails painted bright red. “And this time, don’t eat any of the raspberry creams. Those are my favorites.”
    Â 
    When Savannah reached the top of the stairs, she looked around for Dirk. He was standing at the edge of the yard, where the lawn ended abruptly, giving way to the sharp cliff.
    He was staring down at a flower bed that was overflowing with yellow marigolds and orange nasturtiums.
    â€œSee something?” she asked as she walked up to stand beside him.
    So lost in thought was he that he jumped a little when he noticed her. “What?”
    â€œYou’re looking at something. What is it?”
    â€œWhy doesn’t she like me?” he asked, looking a little hurt.
    â€œWhy doesn’t who…what?”
    â€œWhy doesn’t Dr. Liu like me? I’ve always been nice to her.”
    â€œYou’ve never been nice to her. Not once.”
    â€œNever? Ever?” He looked completely flummoxed. “Really?”
    â€œReally. You snap at her. You’re surly with her. You demand that she come up with results in the blink of an eye and solve your cases for you. You—”
    â€œSo do you.”
    â€œYeah, but I genuinely like her.”
    â€œSo do I.”
    â€œYou like her legs.”
    â€œI never noticed her legs.” He grinned broadly. “I’m always too busy looking at her rear.”
    Savannah sighed and pointed to the flower bed. “What’s here? What were you looking at?”
    But before he could even answer, she saw it…the area where the marigolds and nasturtiums were crushed, the soil trampled with numerous footprints.
    She stepped closer and squatted, studying