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Back Vortex Save as PDF
Chapters (61)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. Epilogue
  57. Epilogue
  58. Acknowledgments
  59. About the Author
  60. Also by Catherine Coulter
  61. About the Publisher

“I don’t know, Kent, but maybe that’s why I’m here. I know you didn’t kill me, Alex did.”

“You saw Alex put a roofie in your drink and he was really mad so he hit you, hit you with his fist against your head, too hard, and you were just—dead.” He jerked at the memory. Mia kept stroking his fingers, prayed for all she was worth.

“I know you didn’t want me to die. Please, Kent, tell me where I’m buried. I can’t bear this not-knowing. I’ll be trapped in this void until I know.”

Tears slipped out of his eyes, trailed over his cheeks.

Mia wiped his tears away with her fingertip. “It’s all right, Kent. I forgive you. It was Alex, not you. Why did Alex start the fire?”

“So we could get you out. Aolith, I hated that you died, I hated burying you, leaving you alone. I never forgot you.”

“I know you didn’t. You’re not like Alex. He forgot me, as if I’d never existed, as if he’d never killed me. But Kent, I know you’re different. Please help me.”

He blinked, his eyes still sheened with tears. She wiped away another tear before it slipped under the oxygen mask. She said in a soft voice, “Remember that night at the rave, how we were laughing? I enjoyed that so much, I thought we were so much alike, but then I saw what Alex did, and then I was afraid, and felt this great pain, then nothing at all. Kent, please tell me where I am. No one knows what happened to me, where I’m buried. My parents grieve for me. Please tell me, Kent, tell me where I am.”

“You’re in a beautiful place, Aolith, in Valley Forge National Park. Near Pauley’s Farm.”

He was fading again, his eyelashes fluttering, his breathing slowing.

“Where near Pauley’s Farm?”

His voice was dreamy, as if he was seeing the place again. “Not far off the dirt road, by that huge old oak tree that stands alone. In the summer I knew its leaves would cover your grave, shade it. It would be nice.”

“Where, Kent?”

She was losing him. She leaned close, her warm breath on his cheek, willing him to speak, and he whispered, his voice insubstantial, “A rough path off a narrow road that leads to the Schuylkill River Trail and that old oak tree. I’m sorry, Aolith, I’m sorry.”

She leaned down, kissed him on the cheek, whispered, “Thank you, Kent. I hope you won’t die.”

One of his monitors began to beep. The curtain flew back and a nurse stepped in. “Who are you? Why are you here?”

Mia jumped out of her way. “I’m his sister. He was awake and we were talking. Please, help him.”

49

Whistler

Wild Oaks Motel

Fort Lee, New Jersey

Friday