Page 73 (1/2)

Nora s wax fall

Søren doused Nora’s oil lamp and shut the door behind them Zach followed Nora’s priest down another set of stairs and hallways He stopped in front of one of the doors but did not move to open it They faced each other across an invisible threshold

"Why did you bring ht you needed to see what Eleanor is You thought you knew her until tonight"

"I do know her"

"No, you merely think you know her It’s one of her best tricks She flirts, she teases, she confesses everything but reveals nothing It’s the oldest ician’s trick--smoke and mirrors, misdirection You are absolutely certain she’s here--" Søren snapped his fingers at Zach’s right ear "--when all the while she’s right over here"

Zach looked at Søren’s right hand and saw the priest holding up his wallet

"Nice trick" Zach snatched his wallet and shoved it back into his pocket "But I think I know Nora better than that"

"Do you really? Tell me, what do you think her darkest secret is?"

"You," Zach answered "She was once lovers with a Catholic priest I know that now and I couldn’t care less"

"Me? Her darkest secret? Hardly She keeps s we’re ashamed of Everyone has a past"

"Eleanor has a past, yes But she has a present, too"

Zach took a step forward and with e than he knew he had within him stared Nora’s priest down

"You’re jealous," Zach said

"Am I?" The idea seemed to amuse him