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Eric and Tina had steered the Europeans into another parlor; I&039;d grabbed Sophie and hustled her upstairs Jessica had followed us Our last view of Alonzo was an indifferent cock of an eyebrow as he watched her hiss at him on her way out of the room

"Okay," I said when I finally had her settled in a spare bedroom, and then I realized I had no idea what else to say "Okay, uh Sophie Okay You okay?"

Sophie dropped to her knees, as startling a thing as had happened in the last twenty minutes, and it was already one for the diary "Majesty," she said, her fingers digging into hyou to kill hirabbed her wrists and tried to pull her to her feet Her wavy dark hair had co down her back like a black river Her eyes stared wildly past et up Listen, I can&039;t just-you know He&039;s-part of a delegation"

I couldn&039;t believe it: I had turned into a politician

"Oh yes, I see," she said bitterly, staring at the floor "Diploet to the bottoet to the bottom of" She climbed slowly to her feet "He murdered me and you will either punish him or you won&039;t"

"It&039;s just that he&039;s-they&039;re-important I can&039;t just march down there and, you know, punch him in the brain Sophie?"

Too late; I was talking to her back Jessica gave me a wide-eyed look and followed

We found the correct parlor in short order Just about everyone was seated co in a corner and looking at Alonzo with a look that bordered on predatory

"We are going now," Sophie was saying If Liaht murderous

"Adios," Alonzo said amiably If he had had a drink in his hand, I am sure he would have raised it

"Alonzo," Sinclair said, with a small note of repriain"

They left I glared at Alonzo, who shrugged and suests so to drink," I practically snapped Tina stared at me for a short moment, but then quickly nodded and left the room Good-she understood I needed to assert authority here Jessica reue, but that didn&039;t botheraround a "sheep"

I turned to Alonzo "This is quite a spot you&039;ve put ht Did you do it?"

Alonzo shrugged again His scalp had grown back Pretty quick, for a va, ht," he said "I don&039;t remember everyone I&039;ve-"

"Murdered?"

"-bitten, any more than a man of romance can remember all the women he has slept with But I do not dispute her account"

"Then we have a serious proble this trip"