Part 319 (1/2)

her combs came loose and spun off into empty s.p.a.ce. ”No one knows but

you. And no one but you will ever know.”

She clawed at him, fighting her way back from the edge. Her strength

threw him off balance, and for an instant, she was free. Then he

clamped an arm around her waist and began to heave.

She lost her footing, teetered, then threw her weight back against him.

Screaming, she saw the sky and ground revolve.

Michael broke through the door at a run. He shouted, but neither of the

two locked in a life-and-death struggle heard. He saw Pete raise his

gun, and fired his own.

The wall caught Emma at the waist, stealing her breath. Hands

grabbed at her, dragged at her until half her body tilted over the edge.

Dazed, she saw Pete's face below her, his eyes wide and terrified. The

fingers on her wrist slipped, and released. Then he was falling,

falling. Momentum had her sliding toward him.

Hands were dragging her back, pulling her away from the wall. Her feet

left the floor again, but there were arms around her, squeezing, holding

her safe and close. Through the ringing in her ears, she heard her name

repeated over and over.

”Michael.” She didn't have to look, but let her head drop on his

shoulder. ”Michael, don't let go.”

”I won't.”

”I remembered.” She began to sob then. Through the tears, she saw her

father standing beside her. ”Dad. I remembered.” She reached out for

him.

EMmA WATCHED mE RAmEs from the fire Stevie had built in the hearth. He