page14 (1/2)

Then I pal figure

Rounding the corner, I sprinted onto the back ay It was darker on this side of the boat, with only the lobes wrapped around the brass rails to light the way, but a woman pounded down the narrow strip about a hundred feet ahead of me Just like Kincaid had said She opened a door that led into a glassed-in sitting area, ran through that, and then shoved through the door on the other side

I chased after her I didn't bother shouting at her to stop Waste of breath, and we both knew it

But she was fast She sprinted down the ay like she knew her life depended on it, which it did

She reached the far end of the ay and rounded the corner, stepping out onto the back deck and disappearing froht I put on another burst of speed and ran after her There was nowhere for her to go, unless she decided to take a header into the Aneirin River And even if she did that, I could always ju some answers about Eva, Kincaid, and why he'd really askedto bet the elemental knew a lot more about all that than I did

I drew in a breath, left the ay behind, and rushed onto the back deck, my knives up and ready to injure, at the very least, or kill, if absolutely necessary

r /> But she was gone

My eyes cut left and right as I scanned every shadow, peered into every dark nook and cranny, but the deck was deserted I craned my neck up and looked at the three levels aboveup the side of the boat I even darted over to the paddle wheel and peered at the wide slats, thinking that she ht have somehoered herself down

But she wasn't there - she wasn't anywhere on board

Whoever the mystery woone? I hadn't heard a splash that would indicate she'd leaped into the water -

Water Of course

Out of the corner ofthat the elemental had done a very quiet swan dive after all and was noi across the dark river

I was right, and I rong

She'd gone over the side, but she wasn't swi on top of it

Chapter 8