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"Go," he said, shoving her "And don’t forget I’ve got your little friend here"

Cyn started walking, slowly at first She heard a ripping noise behind her, and turned to see the PI binding Liz’s ankles again Her ainst hope there would be so inside she could use as a weapon

The entrance was a dark, doorless hole, lit only by a single yellow bulb behind a cracked plastic cover She tripped on the uneven ay and stu into the entrance’s block wall She leaned there athe ti as she could get aith, she straightened and went inside

It was dark enough in the restrooht under normal conditions Fortunately, she actually didn’t need to use the facilities Regardless of what any asshole PI thought, in her experience, women could hold it a lot better thanlines

She used her ti into the dark, trying to find soe That’s all she needed So to cut the tape Windle had stripped off her shoulder rig, but she kept plenty of weapons in the truck, and she was assu Mr Super PI either hadn’t had the tiht to check for them, since the side coht, it was an oversight she intended to use against hiht

Big words, Cyn How you gonna do that? Think, think, think She sank to the dank floor, herfroo, bitch!" her abductor yelled fro if anyone overheard

Cyn rubbed her eyes wearily and twisted her feet beneath her to get up Her boot heel caught on the he when the edge of the decorativeat her favorite boots, at their elaborate metal embellishments on heel and toe One of which, she saas loose enough to have ripped out a fair width of hem It could work, but she’d need a lot of timeand her hands would have to remain taped in front of her

Cyn shuffled back outside, doing her best to appear exhausted and beaten She let herself fall twice on the way back to the Land Rover, lying on the ground the second tied her to her feet Even then, she let herself hang loose in his hands, h, after all, are you, bitch?" he gloated When they reached the truck, he lifted her roughly and threw her into the back She whi her shoulders shake visibly with sobs of despair as he bound her feet once again

"Useless," the PI ust He slammed the hatch closed and was soon back in the driver’s seat, accelerating out of the parking lot, tires spinning on the grio compartment, Cyn’s sobs quieted and she smiled "Got you, you bastard," she whispered fiercely

Chapter Fifty-one

Raphael stared out the jet’sas the sleek Gulfstrea inside, wanting nothing more than an eneht about Jabril Karim, about how carefully the Southern va theood citizen to the world And all the while his private domain was like a scene out of some archaic play

Jabril could easily have ht to steal from Mirabelle and her sister His family ell connected in his home country even noith contacts and opportunities for investh to make him a wealthywhat he wanted, letting his minions pay the price for his excesses

Duncan’s voice murmured behind him His lieutenant had been on the phone al in touch with their security people back in Malibu They were still tracking Cyn’s SUV, watching as it drove steadily toward Jabril’s territory Jabril had probably thought hiht It gave the abductor several hours lead while the vampires slept, and Jabril no doubt assu their whereabouts, in any case

Ironically, had the other vaht have worked Raphael would have had no way to follow Jabril’s huent and even less motivation to atteed to Raphael It was going to be the purest pleasure to educate Jabril in the wonders of y

Duncan leaned forward "They continue on Interstate 10, my lord, but our people tell me the vehicle will enter a zone of questionable reception before too long"

"What does that ram relies on the wireless network for communication, like a cell phone The satellite will continue to trace the vehicle, but it will have no way to update our systeains wireless coverage It should be only a short time, and in any event, I believe the destination is clear He is following a direct line into New Mexico, ai for Jabril’s territory"