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Uh& no. I I didn t really& She turned, as if to go back in and ask.
No, don t, I said. They probably won t give you a decent update anyway. Nick?
He shifted in the bed. If anything changed, they d let me know, Elena.
Please? I looked up at him. Just check. Jaime s right here. She can watch me for ten seconds while
you check.
He shook his head, but climbed out of bed and headed for the adjoining door. When he went through,
he left it ajar behind him. I motioned Jaime over. She hesitated. I gestured urgently, my other hand
pointing at the open door. She crossed to the side of the bed.
Meet me outside, I said. Under the terrace. Ten minutes.
She frowned and opened her mouth, but Nick s return cut her short.
So you re coming back to Stonehaven with us? I said to her.
She paused, then nodded.
Good.
I She looked over at Nick. I guess I ll go pack then.
I nodded and waited for her to leave, then let Nick give me the non-update.
There were two ways to get past Nick. Prey on his trusting nature and trick him, or clock him over the
head and run. I picked option two. Less cruel. I ve tricked Nick before. More than once. Given the
choice between betrayal and a potential concussion, he d pick the latter.
So, when he wasn t looking, I grabbed my hairbrush. As he turned, I hit him. He hesitated, and for one
terrible moment I thought it hadn t worked. Then he slumped to the bed.
I checked his breathing and his pupils, making sure the blow hadn t beentoo hard. Then I lifted him into
the bed and stuffed the pillows under the covers beside him, making a human-sized figure. It wouldn t
trick Antonio when he came to collect us, but it would probably pass muster if he just glanced in the door
to check.
Next: shoes and cell phone. Then I was out the door.
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Summoned
I WALKED OUT INTO THE NIGHT.JAIME WAS WAITING UNDER the hotel terrace, tucked
between two half-dead spruce trees. When I approached, she didn t move, as if wondering whether she
was well enough concealed just to stay there and avoid me.
I need you to help me find Hull, I said.
She nodded, no surprise in her eyes.
You said you can call a zombie if you have something of hers. Would a finger work?
She only stood there, worrying her rings, trying to avoid my eyes.
We can t do this, Elena, she said finally. I can t. I know you want to, but you re not thinking clearly
and
Not thinking clearly?
I strode up in front of her. Jaime stepped back, eyes widening in alarm. The second I saw that look, I
stopped and stared at her. In her eyes I saw more than alarm. I saw fear.
You re worried about what Jeremy will say, I said.
She shook her head. No. Well, yes. But that s not my main concern. Not really a concern at all. It s
pointless anyway.
She looked so sad then, so deflated, that a twinge of conscience pierced my determination. I shouldn t
drag her into this. But I couldn t find Hull on my own. Or could I?
Stay here. I started to walk away, hesitated, then said, No, come with me. It s safer.
When she hesitated, I strode off. No time to cajole her. After a moment, I heard her footsteps jog up
behind me.
What are you doing? she whispered.
Scouting the perimeter.
For Hull?
More likely a zombie.
I paused at the corner and knelt by a scent trail. Hull s, but an old one. I pushed up and kept moving.
What ll you do if you find one?
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I ll grab it. Make it lead me back to Hull.
But you can t fight Hull, Elena. Not by yourself. Not in your
Condition? Trust me, right now, my condition is what s going to make me damned sure I can kill him.
He won t even have time to try negotiating.
Her hand clamped down on my arm. As I wheeled, I swallowed a snarl, but she must have seen it. Fear
darted behind her eyes, but she didn t let go of my arm.
What about time to cast a spell, Elena?
He won t kill me like that, I said. He said he doesn t care if the babies are dead or alive, but he s
lying. That s why he was so eager to make a deal instead of just killing me. It makes a difference. Dead,
he d have to sell them fast, before they My throat seized up, images flipping past, images I really
didn t want to see, didn t want to consider. Better if they re alive. Then he has time to find a good
buyer. I m not saying he won t kill me if it comes to that but he won t bequick to kill me.
I circled the building twice, and found only old trails from Hull, including one that intersected with the
scent of the bowler-hatted man, who d must have stopped by earlier to get his orders. How stupid had
we been? Searching for the zombie controller when we had taken him into our protection.
He had to be out here, somewhere, watching for our next move. But out here was a downtown block.
He could be hiding in any of the darkened offices overlooking the hotel or on top of those buildings or in
the parking garages anyplace where he could see us if we tried to make a run for it.
If I had to, I might be able to find Hull, but my best bet was still the woman jogging behind me, her
sandals catching in the roots and holes of the hotel gardens.
The abandoned building where we found the fingers is about three kilo two miles over, I said. We ll
slip down the block behind the hotel and get a taxi.
Elena. I&
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