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Back Falling Save as PDF
Chapters (29)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Epigraph
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. ALSO BY CHRISTOPHER PIKE
  29. Copyright Page

“It will be tiny. You’re paralyzed and ill. I don’t think a coroner will take the time to notice. There’s no reason to suspect foul play. I’ll wipe away any blood.”

“I’m disappointed. I assumed you would come up with something more exotic.”

“What do you care? You’ll be dead.”

“True.”

She pulled out her roll of duct tape. “I think we should get started.”

He stared. “All right. I see you’re in a hurry. Why the tape?”

She stood and holstered her gun. “You might convulse when I inject the solution. I don’t want you to bruise yourself. It’s better if I tie your arms down. You don’t mind, do you?”

“No. But it’s unnecessary. The musculature in my arms is ruined. They couldn’t shake even in the middle of a spasm. It’s physically impossible.”

She set down the needle on a nearby coffee table and tore out a piece of duct tape, using her teeth in place of scissors. Taking a step closer, she stood and looked down at him. “Nevertheless, I would prefer to bind them to the arms of your chair. If that’s all right with you?”

He nodded. “That would be fine. I’m just grateful you have come. All this has been a nightmare for me. I’m glad it will soon be over.”

She knelt by his side. “It has been a nightmare for me as well.” He had slight use of his right hand. Best to deal with that first. Stretching the tape through the arm of his chair, she leaned close and began to wind it around his wrist. Her Glock bumped against her ribs. She looked over at him and nodded. It would be over soon.

But then he reached out with his left hand and snatched the gun from her holster. Cocking the hammer, he put the barrel to the side of her head. The steel against her skin was as cold as his eyes. Like him, she was a student of mythology. They both understood that the dragon was immortal as well as a liar. They were in the same position they had been months ago.

“Tell me more about your visit with Julie and Michael,” he said.

TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-THREE

It had been his idea, Matt reminded himself as he stood on the narrow ledge and watched as night stole over the arid landscape. She loved him, she would not try to kill him. But try she had, only a few minutes ago. At least he finally knew where he stood with her. Never mind that it had taken him three years to wake up and smell the coffee.