“Oh, Regan!” Kit echoed.

Regan shrugged. “I’m just so grateful she didn’t drop that brand on Chip or throw it at his face when I grabbed her. Can you imagine if…”

Melanie came running toward them. She had gotten cold water and an icepack from the ambulance. “Here, Regan, this is for your arm. The paramedics couldn’t believe you didn’t tell them you were burned.”

“I didn’t want them to waste time on me. Honestly, it’s just now that I’m starting to feel it. It doesn’t hurt much,” Regan insisted, as Jack took the water and poured it over her arm. “That does feel good, though. I’ve gotten burns much worse than this when I’ve tried to cook dinner,” she joked. “Remember, Kit?”

Kit smiled. “Yes, I do.”

“Now, if she had branded me with I AM A SNAKE, then I’d be upset.”

Jack shook his head as he tenderly held the icepack against her arm.

Regan smiled. “Listen, everybody. I’m really okay. We’ve got to get to the hospital. Let’s go.” She reached into her pocket for her cell phone as they started to move. “And before another minute passes, I’ve got to make some very important phone calls.”

Georgina was ahead of them, being led out of the park in handcuffs. A small group was gathered on the sidewalk, watching the events unfold. Georgina barely glanced at them, but her brain registered a flicker of familiarity, and she looked again. The color drained from her face. It was as if she’d seen a ghost.

In a way, she had.

Huck Darling was standing just a few feet away.

“I’m sorry, Georgina,” he said as he approached her. “I didn’t mean to hurt you…

Georgina glared at him, and with a perfect aim, spit in his face. As the onlookers gasped, she got in the back of the patrol car.

52

“W ell, we’re almost there, finally!” Clay said testily. “Did you have to spend so much time talking to that woman about your fan club?”

“If she wants to start one, I couldn’t be rude.”

“I hate to tell you, but if you don’t get those letters back, there won’t be a need for a fan club.”

“Call the Reillys again and make sure they aren’t home.”

Clay did as he was told. “No answer. Maybe they’re out of town. That would be a treat.”

As they approached Tribeca, the streetlights flickered on. “Oh, no!” Lorraine cried. “It would have been better for us if the power were still off and the Reillys’ building was dark!”

Clay shook his head. “I told you not to waste time. It’s just a couple more blocks. Let’s hope the key still works. If it does, we’ll get in and out and be on our way. Do you think you can jog?”

“Of course I can,” she insisted, even though the sides of the borrowed shoes were chafing her skin. Mind over matter, she thought as they ran down the narrow street. We’re almost there.