Page 56 (1/2)

"So…" Sheat her with such sensual interest--and a with a mouse He could end it with her whenever he chose

Yet, if he’d wanted to kill her right away, he’d have done so already

There was probably so much that he could do to her before she died!

"So, Grant is a reincarnation of Conan de Burgh You are François de Venue Reggie is Valeria…

where do I fit in?"

"You still don’t know?"

"Forgiveso slow," she hter," he said

"A daughter?"

"And her daughter had a daughter, and her daughter had a daughter, and… well, you surely understand my direction"

"I’m… Valeria’s descendent?" she asked

"There--you are speeding up You see, when I first came upon Valeria, she knew she must obey me, or else… despite the life she has led, she did not want to be cursed as a vahter So, you see, she did as I commanded Because I swore that the child would not be touched I am a powerful creature, you know Even without her atme now? You still have Valeria She tricked me, and I came here Why? Did you think Grant would follow me? That’s a real irony--he came here on his own"

"Yes, I know We could say that you’re insurance But then, that wouldn’t be true"

"Why aain"

"And that will be?"

"His life for yours"

Grant had just grabbed Reggie by the arh the front door

"This is Reggie," Grant said raggedly "I have to find out what she knows--and get to the site Jade has said that she’s Valeria Is that true?"

"So, Valeria, you are here," Lucien said softly "We do need to talk, don’t we?"

"We can’t talk long," Grant said "I have to go now I have to get to Stephanie"

"You have to wait," Lucien said fir," Grant said, then fell silent, staring in amazement In Lucien’s wake, Drew, soaked to the bone, walked in And behind him, Suzette and Lena They were both naked, and their eyes were like saucers They seemed to be entirely unaware of their state of undress, or anything else, for thatat Lucien

"They’re tainted, under the power of François," he said

Sout "Then… do we… cut their heads off?" He didn’t knoas really going on here, as in the mind, as real The concept of murder, however, was a terrible one to hi to end with hi execution under Italian law

Not even that mattered now Stephanie mattered now

"They don’t need to die--I don’t think," Lucien said He glanced past Grant to his wife "Jade?"

"I’ up the stairs

Grant turned back to Reggie Lucien and Dreere staring at her as well "So, you’re--Reggie?" Drew said

"Yes, how do you do"

"Great Thanks for the job here I think," Drew said aardly He seeht hiirls, naked and dazed as zoie wasn’t noticing the the moment in stride

"You lured Stephanie here On purpose," Grant accused her

"That’s a lie!" Reggie protested "I wanted to open the theater here It all ca that set François free Don’t be idiots, either of you I caet Stephanie to come to me I--I even used François If I could have spoken to her and to hiotten her out of here!"

"François is…" Drew asked

"Giovanni," Reggie said absently

"The baggage boy!" Drew said, astounded