Part 10 (2/2)
”What?”
”We've taken another look at the trap. It appears that another shape-s.h.i.+fter was caught. And Rinna got him out.”
”G.o.ds! How could that be true?”
Calag shrugged. ”That's the only conclusion-if you're sure that the trap only catches shape-s.h.i.+fters.”
”I am,” Falcone answered. At least, that was what he'd been told. Perhaps the maker had lied to him. He'd have to question the man carefully.
”You're saying she wasn't injured?” he asked.
”We don't think so. But the other person seemed to be in physical distress. She had to hold him up so he could walk.”
”How do you know it was a man?”
”His feet are large. And his weight dragged her down. We were able to follow their trail back through the portal and into the badlands. Then we lost the trail.”
Falcone clenched and unclenched his fists. ”I suppose they were going to some hiding place where the old man was waiting for her.” When Rinna had escaped from the city, she had taken Haig with her. He looked toward Calag. ”How far did you follow the trail?”
”Half a mile into the badlands.”
A plan began to form in Falcone's mind. He went back and explained the situation to Avery. ”I want you and Brusco to close that portal so she can't get back to the other world.”
”If we close it, it may not open again.”
”I don't need it,” he said, keeping his voice even. ”I want her trapped here so I can scoop her up.”
WHEN Rinna finally opened the bathroom door and focused on Logan, he saw her draw in a quick breath. ”Didn't your mother teach you manners?” she snapped.
”Of course. But she also made it clear that I have to protect myself. We have to talk.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the old man, who stuck the rabbit carca.s.s onto a spit and inserted it into the metal box that looked like a portable oven.
As Haig stared at it, the interior glowed red. He didn't appear to be paying any attention to the other two people nearby, but Logan was willing to bet he was hanging on every word.
Rinna must have had the same thought because she jerked her head toward the back of the cave, then turned and walked into the shadows.
He watched the rigid line of her back. A very smooth and feminine back, as he remembered.
Grimly, he followed her until they turned a corner into a part of the cave where there was almost no light.
Logan looked back, seeing the old man focused on the cooking rabbit. Gesturing toward him, he said, ”I don't see any flames. Or any electric outlets. Or any portable gas tank. Where does the power come from?”
He felt Rinna's gaze on him, and the look in her eye made his stomach clench.
”The power comes from his mind.”
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