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My lover sighed "I just want to know the truth, Phillip I' "

"I always did the right thing," Kincaid snarled back "You were the one as too blind to see - "

"Forget that night," I cut in "What I really want to know is how you ed to run Salina out of town after the fact "

Kincaid blinked in surprise before he could stop hi about? Salina left Ashland all on her own I had nothing to do with that "

I shook ot Owen to believe you tried to rape her and als went exactly the way she wanted theo But two days later, she just up and vanishes, and no one hears a peep fro, that leaves you - and whoever helped you "

Owen frowned "Phillip? Is this true?"

Kincaid didn't say anything, so I decided to encourage hi the knife a little deeper into his throat He clenched his jaw, but he still didn't talk

"I'et the truth for Owen one way or another," I said in a deceptively light voice "You can be helpful, or you can be dead Doesn't much matter to me "

He glared at er "What makes you think I had help?" Kincaid finally said

"Because Salina has water ic, and you don't You were just a kid back then, one who'd just been beaten to within an inch of his life She wouldn't disappear just because you threatened her No, Salina wouldn't leave town unless soht could really back up a threat "

Kincaid didn't say anything, but I could see the agreement in his eyes

"Phillip?" Owen asked again

After a few hed "It was Cooper, okay?'

Cooper Stills - Owen's dwarven mentor, the blacksmith he'd worked for, the one who had taken in Kincaid too It made sense, and I should have realized it before now Of course Kincaid would have turned to Cooper to help get rid of Salina The dwarf had probably been the only person Kincaid had left after Owen had thrown him out

I pulled ot to my feet, and held out my hand Kincaid hesitated, then took it, and I pulled hiuard started to come over to him, but the casino boss waved hihten his suit jacket and tie before he looked at me once more