July 28, Sunday

"THE STONE looks new," I said, marveling over the difference in the small headstone of the Civil War soldier, Cyrus Watt.

"It just needed to be cleaned," Sawyer said, wiping a cloth over the surface. "Years of acid rain and other chemicals in the air and in the ground, plus fungi and algae, it all takes a toll."

"It's nice, what you do," I offered.

He inclined his head. "Thanks, but I really do it for myself more than anyone else. I hope after I'm gone someone will do the same for me."

I didn't like to think about death, especially my own. Although I'm sure a therapist would have a field day with that one.

"Hey," he said casually, "I was wondering if you'd like to come by my studio sometime."

I straightened. "Your art studio?"

"It's more like a workshop."

I hesitated. A fling was one thing, but getting to know each other, spending time in each other's living spaces…

"Never mind," he said.

"No," I blurted. "I'd… like that."

He smiled. "Okay. We'll make that happen sometime."

"Sawyer… how well did you know Rose Whisper?"

His demeanor changed. "We were friends before she left to live with relatives after her parents died."

"But not when she came back?"

"Not really," he said. "Rose was different when she came back to Irving. She had emotional issues, which was understandable, but she used recreational drugs to cope, and that's not my thing."

"There was a tour guide here a few days ago. She said this graveyard is a famous burial ground for witches."

His face went stony. "I've heard that nonsense, too."

"She said Rose's parents were witches and she had some kind of great power."

He scoffed. "Don't tell me you believe that crap."

I raised my hands. "No. But did Rose believe it?"

He sighed. "Yeah, she did. And I think it killed her."

I inhaled sharply. "What do you mean?"

"The trauma around losing her parents, the rumors and the whispers—it was just too much for her." He pulled his hand over his mouth. "Can we change the subject?"

"Sure," I said, feeling contrite. "Tell me more about your studio."