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Chapters (86)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Booklist
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
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  10. 6
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  14. 10
  15. 11
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  41. 37
  42. 38
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  44. 40
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  48. 44
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  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Tamalyn switched her attention among her audience.

Adam folded his arms and stared without speaking.

Bursting into tears, Tamalyn ran for her bike.

They listened as she rode away, sobbing wildly.

Rune sighed and placed her plate on the table at her elbow. “I guess I’d better head after that child and make sure she doesn’t do herself an injury.”

“Tell her we won’t tell anybody,” Elle said.

“As long as no one else trips,” Adam added.

“I’ll do a good lot of counseling while I’m at it. Thank God I’m feeling better today. This is going to take a while.” Rune gathered her shawl and handbag.

“By the way, why did you come down today?” Elle asked.

“I wanted to discuss what happened yesterday, share more thoughts about who shot at us and why, and talk about how to protect ourselves.” Rune flung her shawl around her shoulders. “That’ll have to wait. What’s on the agenda for you two?”

“We’re staying here, lying low, recovering from the trauma of the last four days.” Now that the incident with Tamalyn was over, Elle could nibble on a celery stick. “I’ll journal and practice self-defense. Adam will no doubt test the limits of his strength to get in shape for the Gothic Spring Psychic Festival.”

“We’re going to concentrate on not dying.” Adam surveyed the horizon.

Rune headed for her ATV. “Stay away from windows. I intend to.”

“Let us know what happens with the girl,” Adam said.

Rune lifted a hand in a wave of acknowledgment.

Two hours later, Adam handed Elle his flip phone. “It’s Tamalyn. She wants to talk to you.”

44

ELLE BRACED HERSELF, took the phone and in her most soothing tone said, “Hello.”

“Hi, Miss... Hi, Elle. This is Tamalyn.” The girl’s tone was low, as if she wanted no one to overhear. “I wanted to say... I really do want to say this. No one’s making me. In fact, no one knows I’m calling. Except Adam, and he won’t tell. Will he?”

“He isn’t a tattletale, Tamalyn.”

“I know. Listen. I never, ever thought of killing you, I swear! I did want to hurt you for moving in with Adam and the way he looked at you...like you were...special and nobody ever...” A long, wet sniffle followed.

“It’s okay.” Elle had never felt so inadequate. Even without her memory, she knew that.

“Forgive me. I will never do anything like that again to you. Or anybody. My mom’s coming to check on me. Bye.” Tamalyn hung up before that last word was finished.

Elle flipped the phone closed. She cleared her throat. “She apologized.”

The phone rang again. Adam grimaced, took it and answered. He listened for a moment, then placed it on the table and put it on speaker.