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"I told you to keep down The Hash us," I told hi my purse strap from my person I didn&039;t have much in it but my travel wallet andto stop our abduction Spending time trapped in a psycho&039;s lair while he did who-knehat to us was not on my vacation to-do list "Stop the daal!" Sarah added, scooting over ever further as I hefted her laws than yours," hethe car around a corner Ahead of us, the town of Newton Poppleford hove into view

"It&039;s now or never," I whispered to Sarah "We have to get out before he goes through the town I&039; while you open the door and throw yourself out I&039;ll jump out my side at the same time"

Sarah bit her lip as she watched the water rush past while we drove over the hu out of alike possible death or dismemberment stop her She nodded that she understood

"On three," I told her, taking a deep breath and a fir my arm back, prepared to wallop the kidnapper on the head as he slowed down toit forward, his head whipped around, his black eyes flashing a warning For a e fission of war to save you, you foolish woman!"

"Save us from what?" I asked

"Death," he snapped

"Three!" I yelled, and brought my purse down as hard as I could on his face The car jerked to the left, brakes squealing as he tried to stop

Sarah jerked open the car door and threw herself out of the vehicle without waiting to see if I was following Thefor a second at the sickening sight of the pave so quickly outside the door I didn&039;t wait around to see what he had to say, however I flungboth arround withat the sa fro the road, finally co to an abrupt stop courtesy of a parked car

I lay dazed for a few minutes, too stunned by the fall to rallyto me I are that the exposed skin of my ars felt as if someone had beaten me with a baseball bat, but I was veryout questions and exclamations indicated the townsfolk had seen our unorthodox arrival I got toas round Several pairs of hands reached out to help me to my feet while voices asked question after question

"I&039; dizzily for a moment when I made it to my feet "Thank you for your help, but I&039; more Has anyone seen o that way?" Sarah asked, standing on the verge of a grassy square She brushed a few last strands of grass fro on soft lawn Oh! Someone stop that man!"

The benevolent bystanders turned as one to watch our abductor&039;s car drive off down the street with a squeal of tires I e, or at least justice for the assault and kidnapping

I had expected that, as foreign visitors to the country, ould be caught up in endless red tape in both gettingthe abduction, but toescape we tottered up the stairs of the Tattered Stoat to our respective rooms, bruised, battered, exhausted, and in my case, utterly confused

The hospital had done three blood tests (two at my insistence since I was positive the prior results were incorrect), all of which showed I had not ingested any for to be OK with the s¨¦ance we are supposed to go to tonight?" Sarah asked wearily as we slowly made our way up the dark back stairs to the upper floor The pub was a popular one with the younger crowd, as evidenced by the large flat-screen TV blaring , however, was thankfully thick-walled, so the noise was muted on the second floor

"You heard the doctor - I&039; a couple of aspirin can&039;t fix"

She paused at her door and gave me a concerned once-over "I know, but I still feel like you should be in bed, not attending s¨¦ances with me"

"Don&039;t worry about it," I said with a careless wave that I felt far fro some hokey o into this with an open "

"There&039;s that little matter of the cloud that followed you that you have yet to explain," she said with obnoxious cheerfulness

"I explained it perfectly well It was either the result of hallucination by a yet-as-undetermined source, hypnosis, or visual trickery"

"Sness ill beco my room key from my pocket "I will offer scientific proof as to the non-existence of the cloud just as soon as I have soil fro analyzed It could well be that there are elei"

"Uh-huh I&039;et aith this one because I&039;ve never heard of a cloud associated with a faery ring, but I&039;o so easy on you next ti her key out of her ca I rolled my eyes "Dibs the bathtub first"

"You&039;reet your oet"

"I anity, despite the various bandages swathing my arms, hands, and one eyebrow "He is six and an extremely precocious child whom you spoil shamelessly I auise of concern" I opened the door on the last of ht, and stared with stunned disbelief at my roo back at me

"The kidnapper is here"

She stared at me for a moment, then hurried after et the police - "

I snatched up the nearest item at hand to use as a weapon - which turned out to be a paperback Agatha Christie novel - and threwto protect ed kidnapper ht, however He see next to the chair on the opposite side of the room, the next in front of Sarah, his hand on the door to keep it fro any further, his head tipped down so he could look her in the eyes

"There is no need for you to call the authorities," he said in his deep, slightly Irish voice that contrasted so oddly with his dark skin and exotic eyes

"There most certainly is!" Sarah protested

I addedforithrounds for arrest The police were very interested in having a ith you I&039;hted to discuss the issue"

Sarah, to my surprise, did not knee the attacker, or even screahtly opened, an odd look of absorption on her face

"Sarah," I said loudly, waving avefirst at him, then her Their eyes were locked, their posture that of two lovers about to kiss

It bothered awk at an (admittedly handso to fear froently, and to my complete aod, you&039;re so Sarah Her eyes had a slightly dazed look to the sounds She was blushing, as well, her cheeks pink with soht noill not have you victias she sent hirabbed her shoulders and forcibly turned her toward aze at theat ht We don&039;t have anything to fear frohtly dilated, but other than her strangely flustered state, she seeht

Her words, however, oing to take you back to the hospital," I said slowly, so she would understand I looked over her shoulder to where the man stood "And if you try to stopup everyone in the pub"

"I have saved your life," the ether in a frown

Sarah smiled at him and nodded, a devoted look on her face "He did He saved us"

"There was nothing threatening us except you," I said fir to steer Sarah toward the door "I will call the police froain - "

"Blast it, woman, I am not a kidnapper!" he exploded

I took a few precautionary steps backward, glared at Sarah&039;s head for aher back to stand withour lives all you want, but I knohat I know"

"You know nothing," he said, scorn dripping from his voice He stalked towardsparks I looked around quickly for a sturdier weapon than a book, but other than the bedside lamp, my room was horribly weapon-free "I did save your life, and by the laws governing the Court of Divine Blood, I demand recompense in the form of exculpation"