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Dekka dozing Looked like she was drooling

A short burst That’s what he would do Squeeze off a short burst and watch as the little red flowers blossomed all over Dekka’s—

“Ahhh!” Howard yelled

Drake jerked back So did Howard

Hoas right in front of hi in like some kind of tourist

Their eyes met

Drake yanked the gun to the left and fired The gun bucked in his hands But Howard had flattened hiainst the wall

Dekka jerked awake

Drake cursed and aiun at her

He squeezed the trigger But Dekka was ten feet in the air and rising swiftly The lawn chair twirled upith her

Drake aiet just a little and—

Belatedly Dekka stretched her hands out toward Drake A suddenly weightless gun barrel rose too much The burst tore the air over Dekka’s head and she fell as her own personal gravity returned

She slammed into the concrete The chair landed on her She didn’t move

Then slowly, slowly, she raised her head

Drake took his ti at hination in her dark eyes