tailieunhanh - Touching the Dead-Three Short Storiesby J. Kathleen Cheney Copyright 2011 J. Kathleen Cheney

by J. Kathleen Cheney Copyright 2011 J. Kathleen Cheney Smashwords Edition License Notes: Thank you for downloading this e-book. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed these stories, please return to to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support. | Touching the Dead Three Short Stories by J. Kathleen Cheney Copyright 2011 J. Kathleen Cheney Smashwords Edition License Notes Thank you for downloading this e-book. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed these stories please return to to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support. Table of Contents Touching the Dead The Bear Girl The Stains of the Past About the Author TOUCHING THE DEAD The colonel Shironne decided must be one of those clever people the kind who liked to fix things. She could sense him waiting for them there in his office his curiosity held at bay but only just. Her mother took her hand and laid it on the tall back of a chair. Shironne ran her gloved fingers along the wood straightened her skirts and sat down. She pulled her braid over her shoulder well aware that she presented a ragged picture--the blind girl in a child s dress. More than two years old now it was too short in the skirt and sleeve. Even so she d grown accustomed to the feel of it against her over-sensitive skin and that made the old blue woolen tolerable. Madam Anjir Miss Anjir the colonel said in a deep sincere voice. I m honored to have you here. Shironne smiled in response returning his goodwill without thinking. He stood and approached them his boots crossing a hard floor only a few steps. She guessed he must be quite tall. I m sorry to trouble you Colonel. her mother began sounding official as a politician s wife should. Cerradine he supplied. .Colonel Cerradine. This is the Investigations Office isn t it We ve come to inquire about the death of an army gentleman a Sergeant Merha. The hospital sent us here to talk to you. And why would you be making inquiries into this man s death Madam He didn t walk away but Shironne thought she heard the movement of his clothes as if he d sat down