“They’re tighter, sit lower on your hips. With a figure like yours, I don’t see why you’d want to wear any others. And sue me, but I’m also sort of intrigued by that little hole in the thigh.”

The light hit his face again. It was a few seconds before she allowed herself to smile. “We better keep moving.”

Cole extended a hand. “After you.”

They went a few more paces before Savannah stopped and pointed the flashlight into the trees. “Please tell me that’s not what I think it is.”

Cole’s eyes followed the beam as it broke out of the woods and fell onto the water. He chuckled. “Now there’s something you don’t see every day.”

“That’s why we came? To see Black Mona standing in the river? Naked?!”

“See why I was reluctant to explain anything to you beforehand?”

He moved past her, offered his hand, and helped her down onto the bank. Less than thirty hours had passed since he had been there, but things had been so confusing then that very little of the surroundings looked familiar.

They stood at the river’s edge and watched in silence. Mona
was waist deep in the water, about a third of the way across. Her long gray hair hung loosely over her bare chest, covering her breasts. The rest of her pale torso glowed white in the flashlight beam. She moved her arms in small circles, her hands gently skimming the surface of the water. Her eyes were closed and she appeared
completely at peace, totally unaffected by the bitter temperature. The water level had receded some and the river had calmed considerably since the night before, but the current still moved swiftly.

Savannah took Cole’s hand, more out of fear than affection, he suspected. “What the hell have you gotten me into?”

He squeezed her hand but didn’t answer.

Mona opened one eye. “You brought your friend.”

“Yeah. I hope that’s all right.”

“Fine. The more the merrier.”

“You mind telling us—”

“Shh! Just a minute,” Mona said. “I’m getting a vibe.”

“A vibe?” Savannah whispered.

Mona fell back into her trance for another minute before nodding with satisfaction and heading for shore. Her skin was sagged and pruned and looked almost translucent in the light. She stepped onto the sand and Cole saw that she was completely naked. He scanned the area and saw no clothing, or even a dry towel.

“Mona, how did you know where to come?” he asked. “I mean, you weren’t even here last night, and yet this is the exact spot—”

“Felt it. I put in upstream, just below the bridge. Just drifted till I felt the vibe. Forty-odd dead boys put out a pretty strong signal, you know?”

“Can I offer you my jacket?” he asked. “Please?”

“Why?”

“Aren’t you cold?”