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But she noticed ent on around her She had known longer thanin ways that could not logically be possible She had known that Caine had gained soerously sick creature he was And Diana, of course, beautiful, seductive, knowing Diana

Dekka had felt the attraction of the girl Diana had played her, teased her,time But Diana had told no one Dekka’s secret In the environment of Coates, that fact would have come back to Dekka very quickly

Diana kne to keep secrets For her own purposes

In those early days at Coates, Dekka had barely noticed Brianna That attraction had come later, after Caine and Drake hadfreaks at Coates

Dekka had been stuck beside Brianna, the two of the their hands Side by side they’d eaten froh Like animals That’s when Dekka had started to admire Brianna’s unbroken spirit

You could knock Brianna down But she didn’t stay down Dekka loved that

Of course, nothing would ever coht And with lousy taste in guys, in Dekka’s opinion

“Not far,” Edilio said “The ghost town’s just ahead Be ready”

“Ready for what?” Dekka grumbled “No one’s explained any of this to me All Sam said is, I’m supposed to crush some cave”

Edilio had his un on his lap He clicked the safety to the off position He had a pistol wedged under his leg He pulled this out, clicked the safety to off, and handed it to Dekka

“You’re starting to worry me just a little bit, Edilio”

“Coyotes,” Edilio said “And worse, maybe”

“What’s the ‘worse’?”

They slowed as they drove down the main street of what Dekka realized must have once been a town All fallen do Sticks and dust and faded smears of cracked, ancient paint

“Don’t you feel it?” Edilio asked