KIARA AGAIN DROPPED WILLIAM off at Mrs. Hultz’s place. The story this time was that she was just starting at a night job and she needed someone to watch William for a couple of shifts until a sitter from an agency was due to start. After she left her son, she went next door to Owen’s. She didn’t knock but just pushed open the door and walked in. He was in the kitchen, waiting. On the table in front of him were the pistol and a cup of coffee. He got up and poured her a cup. “You want anything in it?” he asked. She shook her head and sat down across from him.

“I’ve got news,” said Owen. “He’s coming for us in the night world tonight. He was at the library today to stoke my fears.”

She smiled. “Which means he’s going to be sleeping somewhere. I’ve got the flamethrower in my car. I’ve also got a new pistol, fully loaded with phosphorous rounds from a member of the solar cross. He drove down from New York last night.”

“So, we’ll try to keep the painter busy in the night world while you find and fry him.”

She nodded. “You two don’t have much protection against him.”

“I don’t know. Melody has hinted at a way of gaining physical advantage for a few moments. Not sure what she meant, but she’s a real adept. She comes to the night world with an entire philosophy and code of ethics passed down from earlier generations. She’s something special.”

“Well, I hope she’s good at running, too,” said Kiara.

“By now, we’re both good at that.”

She told him how she and William had been on the run for the last couple of days, unable to go back to their apartment. Before leaving, at the door, she said, “I’ll try to get him fast.”

“It would be greatly appreciated.”