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Chapter 32

Dude,

The shit officially hit the fan later that night I was on-line, chatting with an old boyfriend froed off and went to see what the problem was

The problem was Laura, surrounded by people so completely deferential to her that I knew at once we had more devil worshippers on our hands

"You did it?" Laura asked "You actually did it?"

"It was easy, dread mistress! Two of us acted as bait, and ere able to surround it and kill it with no trouble at all"

"Kill what?" I asked, halfway down the stairs

Laura looked up at , Marc We&039;re sorry to disturb you"

"What&039;s going on?"

"The Beloved of Sa Noith you, or you&039;ll find out exactly e killed," one of the half dozen around her snapped

Laura rested her hand on his shoulder "Don&039;t speak to him like that," she said quietly "He&039;s my sister&039;s friend"

Andyours, honey

The man, taller than Laura by almost a foot, and at least thirty pounds heavier, instantly acquiesced, and even bowed his head in co, oof

"Laura, what the hell is going on?"

"Come into the kitchen and I&039;ll explain" She turned to the group "You all knohat to do Come find me tomorrow and let me knoent"

There was a chorus of "Yes, dread alloped toward the foyer leading to the front door

I followed Laura to the kitchen, where she turned and gaveBetsy," she confided

"Uh-huh Helping her how?"

"Well" Laura helped herself to a glass of uzzled half of it, then continued "You know I&039;ve been worried about her ever since that awful, awful thing with Antonia"

"Yeah," I said, stillto keep her fro in my power Because she&039;sa sinner None of us can!"

Oh, cripes, I hated when she went on these pseudo-religious original sin rants But I kept a pleasantly neutral expression on ure out just what I can do And her and Sinclair going to the Cape is the perfect tiht?"

"Why?"

"Because she listens to him too much," she said impatiently "I warned her not to one, I only had Tina to worry about"

The hairs on the back ofto stand up Fortunately, thanks to years of practice as an MD, I was able to keep my expression neutral "Where is Tina, Laura?"

She waved that away "Never , is that the sinners who keep findinght of it if it hadn&039;t been for you, Marc"

Oh, shit "Maybe you&039;d better not give me the credit until you tell ade have been up to"

"Killing vahtly, oblivious of herva here to pay tribute, and we&039;ve ht to ht to hell," she added, unable to keep the dark satisfaction out of her voice