My pursuer stayed with me, neither closing in nor faling back. Was he working a home court advantage? Was he the cat, I his mouse? Was he biding his time, confident the prey would be his?

My lungs burned, unable to take in enough air. A stabbing pain ripped my left side. Stil, the blind urge to run.

One minute. Three. An eternity.

Then the muscles of my right thigh cramped. I slowed to a limping lope.

The cat slowed, too.

I tried to push on. It was no good. My legs and arms were going dead.

My pace dropped to a trot. Sweat trickled from my forehead and burned my eyes.

I saw the outline of a dark shape in front of my face. My outstretched hand slammed something solid. My elbow folded, and my cheek hit hard. Pain shot through my wrist.

Blood moistened my palm and cheek.

With my good hand, I reached out and explored. Solid rock.

I probed farther.

More rock.

My heart shriveled.

I'd run up against a cliff wal. Water to my left. Dense trees to my right.

The cat knew. I had nowhere to go.

Don't panic!

I puled out the scalpel and held it behind me. Then I turned, back to the wal, and faced my attacker.

He spoke before I saw him.

'Bad routing.'

He was breathing hard, and I could smel the rancid odor of sweat and rage.

'Stay away from me!' I yeled with more bravado than I felt.

'Why should I do that?' Taunting.

I knew that voice. The caler at the morgue. But I'd also heard it in person. Where?

Crunching, then a black cutout appeared in the darkness.

'Don't take one step closer,' I hissed.

'You're in an odd position to give orders.'

'Come near me and I'l kil you.' I grasped the scalpel like a lifeline.

'The proverbial rock and hard place, I'd cal it.'

More crunching. The cutout resolved itself into a man, arm extended in my direction. Broad shoulders, thick arms.

It was not Simon Midkiff.

'Who are you?'

'Surely you know that by now.'

I heard the click of a safety uncatching.

'You kiled Primrose Hobbs. Why?'

'Because I could.'

'And you plan to kil me.'

'With the greatest of pleasure.'

'Why?'

'Your meddling destroyed a holy thing.'

'Who are you?'

'Kulkulcan.'

Kulkulcan. It was one I knew.

'The Mayan deity.'

'Why settle for a pharaoh or some faggot Greek?'

'Where is the rest of your society of sickos?'

'If it wasn't for that miserable crash you'd never have stumbled onto us. Your busybody intrusiveness uncovered things you had no right to know. It has falen to Kulkulcan to exact vengeance.'

The melodious voice was now tinged with fury.

'It's over for your Hel Fire Club.'