Page 7 (1/2)

A widening crack of gray slashed through the darkness It was Kaitlyn, slipping out the door, the bag in hand “Travis!” she called out “I’ve got the stuff!”

There was another shot A lowheavy hit the floor And other shot I scuttled toward Kaitlyn

“Travis!” she yelled again

“Just go!” I said The gun went off again, blowing off a piece of the door Kaitlyn fled down the steps, with me behind her She ran toward the sandy road, while I waited at the bottom of the stairs, hidden in the shadows beneath the house The door opened and Eddie stepped out As he took aim at Kaitlyn, I whirled around to the foot of the stairs and fired twice Eddie curled like a leaf and tumbled over the side I ran over to him He was dead

I took his gun and dashed to ht, then up the steps, two at a tiht him, crumpled in a corner, half his brains on the wall An entry wound, like a third eye, was on his forehead, and the expression on his ghostly face was one of mild surprise

I went back down, calling Kaitlyn’s naed up the road a short ways, but saw no one and heard nothing except the sound of waves pounding the shore

As I walked back to the car, keys in hand, I heard a noise behind me, then felt a solid blow to the back ofturned to grainy brohite spots, like an old led to stay conscious The world spun, and I was onat the sky Thespectator to my predicament I could hear the car start Darkness blotted out the moon’s stare

When I woke up, it was still dark The car was gone I was lying next to a large piece of driftwood Kaitlyn had left me I checked my fanny pack and my wallet was still there, uess it was the least she could do, after I’d saved her life Twice

I walked partway back to Ocean City, hitched the rest I went to the beach and watched dawn break over the ocean, the sky turning to mother-of-pearl streaked with salmon, where the sun poked up over aqua-blue waters Finally, I made my way back to the Bayside Villas, Unit 8 Mendez answered ht Her mouth dropped open, but I held up my hand to stem the flow of questions

“It’s a long story,” I said

“Never irl”

I came in and closed the door behind me The bed was untouched and the TV set was on, the sound muted “Your concern touches me I probably have a concussion or two But don’t let that worry you What’s the problem?”

She flounced over to the bed and perched on the end Her slender legs, encased in purple capri pants, looked poised and ready to spring at a moment’s notice

“Our connection We can forget about that big meet we had worked out”

I stared at her My head was starting to pound again It wasn’t the ocean this time The TV set was tuned to the news She picked up the re about bodies found in Delaware