Page 71 (1/2)

Her gaze fell on Little Pete, sitting quietly, playing his dead game

"And that ain’t all of it," Howard said "You have soet you some," a voice said Albert had entered the roolass for Howard, who drained it in one long s

"Thanks Thirsty work," Howard said

Albert took the seat Astrid had vacated "What’s the rest of it?"

Howard sighed "All night kids were coht? Crazy stories Man, I don’t knohat’s true and what’s not"

"Tell us soed quietly

Edilio snored softly So about the sound ot kids saying they saw Satan Seriously, devil horns and all And others kept it a little "

"Caine?" Astrid’s eyes narrowed "Caine? Here? In Perdido Beach? That’s crazy"

Albert cleared his throat and shifted in his seat "No It’s not crazy Quinn saw hiency boats late last night or early thison how you see it"

"What?" The shrill exclamation made Edilio stir

"Yeah No question it was Caine," Albert said in a forced calh while the fire was at its worst and everything was confused Quinn and his people were just co to help, and there was Caine and maybe a dozen kids with hirew cold inside Not a coincidence It couldn’t be a coincidence It was planned So it, acting out, ot out of hand But that wasn’t it Not if Caine was involved Caine didn’t lose it Caine planned

"Zil and Caine?" Astrid said, feeling stupid even thinking it

"Zil’s whole thing is hating freaks," Howard said "And Caine? Let’s face it: he’s kind of the Prince of Wales of freaks"

Albert cocked an eyebrow

"You know, Saood if I have to explain it"

"Caine and Zil," Astrid said It felt better so An evil, twisted little creep who exploited the differences between freaks and nor But not smart

No Caine was smart And in Astrid’s mind it was impossible that the stupider of the tould be in control No, it had to be Caine behind all this