“Actually, I just figured that out. Just now.” He nodded toward his shadow. It had seemed so obvious when he saw it moving across the sand. “Like right now. Thirty seconds ago.” When she seemed at least partially convinced, he added, “Why didn’t you?”

“Why didn’t I leave? I don’t know.”

“For the same reason you hung around the gate, knowing he’d find you eventually. Because you’re basically a decent person and the guilt’s been eating at you for seven years.”

“Shut up.”

The fabric covering her shoulder felt damp under his hand and he wondered how long she’d been sitting there. “You’ve got a second chance, the chance you’ve been waiting for. Hoping for. We can take him.”

“We?”

“You and me and CB. And Henry.” He nodded toward the west where the sun was still a good distance above the horizon. “Sunset’s not until 8:00, but that’ll give us time to prepare.”

“And the Shadowlord will wait patiently while we marshal our forces against him?”

If the level of sarcasm was any indication, she was starting to perk up.

“He might think you have a chance, but he believes he can win.” Tony flicked up a finger. “He thinks you believe the same thing and that’s what gave him the TKO in round one.” A second finger joined the first. “He’s already told me I’m no threat to him.” Finger three. “And besides, CB waved some shiny stuff in front of Mason that’ll keep him on the soundstage until late. He needs Mason to get on Live at Five.” He folded the fingers into a fist and shook it out as Arra snorted derisively.

“He doesn’t need Mason if he has CB.”

“Would you try taking over CB if there was another option?”

“Valid point.” She sighed and stared out over the water. “I love it here. It reminds me of home. The sky, the water, the smells, the sounds . . . I just look straight ahead and pretend that if I turn around I’ll see the city walls and not half a dozen broiled bimbos courting melanoma. How did you find me?”

He told her about the picture on the computer.

“Very clever, but not what I meant. When you were sitting back there, behind me, how did you know I was here?” One palm patted the sand. “Right here.”

“I don’t know.” Although he’d definitely known she was there when he threw the stone. “I just did.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Honestly. I have no idea.” He made a mental note to get freaked about that later.

The same juvenile gull wandered past again, gave them a dirty look, and took to the air.

Arra watched him fly, her eyes squinted nearly shut.

“You should have sunglasses on.”