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"Cassandra, this is ridiculous"

"Try the powder; then tell me it doesn’t work"

"Fine" I stuffed the bag into another pocket "Thanks"

"That’s what I’ at the Ruelle place from now on"

She lifted her brows "How did you ed "You knohere I can get sos I didn’t have - like one anywhere this tropical

Cassandra gave me an address I wrote out my cell phone nuh what she’d need iven her a gift beyond rubies and walkedto be there alone?" she asked

"Probably not," I muttered, and headed for the hotel

I checked out, got directions to the address Cassandra had given ed what I needed, and drove to theequipotten the stuff here that fast, and I didn’t care He was the greatest

As soon as I’d unloaded, a sudden co proactiveto take a look around, I wanted to do it in the daytiht’s "incident" without too much trouble Yellow crirass and cypress trees I resisted the urge to tear it down Behavior like that could earnin the swamp The place was both wild and tranquil, steamy with heat, yet filled with cool water I saw birds I’d never seen before, plants, trees, flowers, fish I was captivated, entranced, mesmerized, which was the only reason I didn’t notice the sun falling down

I discovered a field of fire irises and used the pocketknife I’d just purchased to saw through a few stalks As

I gathered the I’d see the tip of a tail once again disappearing into the swaaped at the shape of a man in the shad-ows of a cypress tree

I knew that silhouette - the broad shoulders, the slim waist, the tousled hair

"Adaone

Which was ihtened ers on the knife, then hurried to the tree and walked around the huge trunk There was nothing, no one, yet still I felt so, and it wasn’t friendly

I stared upward, cringing at the idea of aon me Ail I saas branches and moss; nevertheless, I cursed Dusk hovered on the horizon

With one last wary glance at the swamp, I folded the knife and put it in my pocket, then clasped the irises close towith the thunder of my own frantic feet - now encased in unfashionable but practical hiking boots - I could have sworn I heard footsteps behind me

I was officially paranoid

As I burst out of the foliage and into the yard, the house seemed to stare back at me with a smirk Not only was I paranoid but a little crazy also

I ran inside and sla it behind ood would a locked door do me when all the ere broken? Why on earth was I out here without a gun?

Froathered on the Internet, it wasn’t hard to buy one No waiting period, no registration, no background check God, I loved the South First chance I had, ; I was using some of Frank’s money on a pistol

A thud fro as fast as my feet had I should have stayed in the city, but then I’d never find out anything With a sense of deja vu, I turned toward the steps

Adaht, wearing the usual frayed khakis This time a white tank top covered his chest, the lack of sleeves only e the ropy lanced out the ard the swamp, where I could have sworn I’d seen hi here?"

"I could ask you de sa bag, and portable stove "This isthe place"

He frowned "You rented it?"

"My employer did I need to be close to the area where the - "I broke off

He didn’t see at the flowers I clutched to ht those"

I lowered my arms, stared at the crushed blooms "Why?"

"They attract - " He yanked them out of , do anything, he opened the front door, walked to the dock, and tossed the fire irises as far away as he could before striding back inside

"You’re kidding," I murmured

"I don’t kid"

I wasn’t surprised The man hadn’t cracked a smile since I’d met him

"Someone left one on my bed at the hotel"

Had that someone been him? If so, why leave the flower then and take them away from me noas so confused

Adaht, more worried about the fire iris on ood

"I was told those floere bad luck," I said "I figured someone didn’t much care for ht blue a beacon in the hazy light from the lantern "Who you think it was?"

"No idea I’d just gotten into town at the time How could I have pissed off anyone that fast?"

"It’s a gift," he muttered

"Thanks"

I plucked a stray red petal off er A spicy aroma arose, like cinnaht be attracted to them I was

"At least I’m not nuts," I aze "I could have sworn so"

He scowled "What did you see?"

"Well, I thought I saw you, but that ht?"

"Right," he agreed, though he didn’t sound convinced Which was as bizarre ashim in the first place Didn’t he knohere he’d been?

"The police think you’re dead"

"They aren’t the only ones"

"You like being a ghost?"

A long moment passed, the silence broken only by a faint splash from the swamp He went to theand ’ his whisper came out of the darkness "I don’t mind"

He seemed so sad, so alone I’d been there, hell, I still was, and while sometimes I liked it, more and more lately I didn’t

I couldn’t help myself I inched in close and touched his arh to me"

He stiffened and I yanked ht it in a swift, catlike movement as he turned I didn’t have time to think, let alone escape, even if I’d wanted to He wrapped his long, strong arm around my back and kissed me

I was so shocked, I let him Or maybe I let him because the ue, lips, teeth, he devoured Nothing gentle in this kiss, all wet heat and lust He twined his fingers inmine into his shoulders and held on

He tasted of ue along the straight, white expanse and he h h as his hands, and I relished it I didn’t knohy Si