page64 (1/2)

"You're right, and she would have to do that," Finn said "But this is where the fountains coiants steal froot her dead husband to co quite a bit of work out at the old Dubois estate, sprucing it up, updating,"

"So what?" Eva asked again

"Well, it just so happens that one of the new features she's had installed is a series of fountains" He pulled a map of the Dubois estate out of his folder and spread it out on the table so Eva and I could get a better look at it "Right here, on the north lawn "

"So?" Eva asked for the third time "What's so unusual about that?"

"For starters," Finn said, "there's already a series of fountains on the north lawn It's costing Salina a set even more installed just where she wants them And she specified that the job had to be done by yesterday But ? The north lawn happens to be the very place where dear old dad was o - and where she's set up the dinner for tonight "

I thought about all the things Salina had said to me over the past few days All the sly hints she'd dropped that she was in Ashland to pay back her old friends and anyone else who'd ever supposedly wronged her All the co her father's place in the underworld Even the ht that Salina had just been talking out of her ass with her delusions of grandeur, but I was beginning to get an idea of what the water elemental had in mind - and of just how devious she really was

"She's going to kill them all," I said

Finn gave rim look "That's what I think too "

"What do youto kill theic, but there's no way she can take on every single person on this list Not if they're all bringing their bodyguards with theiants or dwarves "

"She's going to use the fountains to suppleic," I said "She'll use the water in the to take her revenge on all the folks who stood by and watched Mab o That's why she really invited thee "

That also explained why she'd invited Kincaid and evenwith everyone else

"And while she's at it, she'll take out everybody who's anybody in the underworld," Finn added, "clearing the way for her to take control of all the criotta admit that it's brilliant, in a completely sociopathic sort of way "

Brilliant? No, it was ingenious Whatever else she was, Salina was exceptionally clever She was going to lure all the crime bosses onto her turf, ply them with food and booze, then turn on the orks when they were too drunk and full to defend themselves The folks at the party wouldn't even knohat hit them With all those fountains, Salina could saturate the whole area ater Then it would just be a ic to either suck the moisture out of people or drown them with all the water that would be available

And Oas on his way to her estate right now

I had no doubt my lover would try to stop Salina, once he realized what she was doing But by then, it would be too late for everyone - including Owen He ht not think Salina would turn on hiot in her way