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Chapter 15
Before she could dial, the door crashed open Jessie and I pointed our weapons toward the sound
Will stopped dead "I have to go"
Jessie waved her 44 toward the sign that read: rest-room "Go"
He shook his head His earring waggled, catching the light and throwing speckles of gold across his jaw
"I found so"
In the act of putting away our guns, Jessie and I tensed
"What?" she asked
"I'm not sure"
"There's a lot of that going around," I muttered
"Huh?" Cadotte's eyes were unfocused behind his glasses He stared atdawned "Oh, hi, Leigh What are you doing here?"
"Never mind her, Slick What did you find?"
"I did an Internet search on Weendigo, and I caend of the Power Eater"
Jessie and I exchanged glances "What's that?" she asked
"I've never heard of it But there's a book - "
Jessie groaned "Not another book Haven't we been through this?"
Confused, I looked back and forth between theod Sadly, a page was e"
"I ordered another one," he said
"Which the olves conveniently intercepted"
"That's why this ti to the book"
"Pardon me?"
"There's a copy in Madison I' now"
"Now?" Jessie sounded forlorn I stifled a smirk
"I should be able to see it first thing in thethe book back or aze softened "I'll be home by tomorrow afternoon, Jess"
"Fine Whatever I've got plenty to do here"
"Uh-huh"
Cadotte wasn't buying it He crossed the rooirl, but he was an even bigger man He held her as if she were a child Her usually stern face went all dopey with love I turned away But I could still hear every word
"I'll be back before you even miss me"
"Too late"
Smoochy sounds followed I tappedthe room
"Take this"
I spun around Jessie was holding out her service revolver Will stared at it with obvious distaste "I don't like guns"
"I don't like dead boyfriends I'm silly that way"
"I don't want a gun"
"Last time, Will, they needed you for the ceremony"
"You, too"
"But I can take care of myself"
"And I can't?"
She sighed "For me? Please?"
He took the gun, holding it between two fingers, as if the thing ether we rolled our eyes
"He's going to shoot off his toe," I commented
"Oh well, he's got nineI'll need later Especially soot only one of"
I blushed I , bad olf hunter, but bawdy sexual innuendos flustered me
"I think I embarrassed the duchess"
"Leave her be, Jess"
They were both staring at aze was contemplative She saw more than I wanted her to
Will's was sympathetic I didn't like his any better
"I'll leave you two alone to say good-bye" I practically ran outside
The half-moon slid toward the horizon Soon the sun would co like a va anymore
I took ain Topeka for htly stars could shine away frohts
A flash at the corner of aze, and I watched a star flare, then drop City dwellers rarely caught a gli star Every time I saw one, I was amazed and humbled There was so much out there we didn't understand
"I wish I" My words trailed off into the chill of the autuht What did I wish?
That I could catch the Weendigo - kill a killer at any cost?
Or that I could have back the life I'd lost?
Did I want death or to start anew?
I had no idea anymore, and that scared me Until I'd co if I died, too
But suddenly there were people I liked all around ers, either
There was sexual attraction, so I hadn't experienced in years Lust had ain
That wasn't good
The not caring had made me damn near invincible I took chances no one else dared to The ave e
Suddenly the edge was lost What if in theDa for it, for him? I'd sneered at Jessie because of her attachment to Will Was I any better?
I couldn't afford to be distracted So as I going to do about it?
I had a pretty good idea
The door opened and Jessie, then Will, stepped out Her unifor His pants were unzipped; his glasses had fingerprints all over them Talk about a quickie
I wanted one
"Take care of her, OK?" Will asked
Jessie snorted "Right"
Will ignored her, focusing instead on me "Please?"
"Of course"
Then he was gone
Jessie ht, Duchess I can take care of myself I don't need you or anyone else to help me"
"Me, either But we can humor Edward And the boyfriend"