Pandora's Daughter

"For heaven's sake. There's nothing wrong with—" She wasn't reaching her. Renata's moment of softness was over and she was pushing her away.

Why accept it? She felt closer to Renata now than ever before. Renata would just have to learn to deal with affection.

Megan deliberately reached out and took her hand. "I think you're nuts to put yourself through this, but I admire and respect you for it." She got to her feet. "If I can help, let me know. What do you do next?"

"I drive around and see where it leads me." Renata smiled unsteadily. "I'll try hard to find Molino for you before tonight, Megan."

"I know you will. But if you don't, stay away from the graveyard. Do you hear?" Renata didn't answer.

"I mean it. I don't know what to expect, but I don't want Molino to make any phone calls that will hurt

Phillip."

"I'll think about it. It wouldn't do any good to try to make a co

What's the plan?"

"Harley is going to scout around the cemetery and make sure Molino doesn't have backup there. Grady will stay in the trees with a rifle trained on Molino."

Renata thought about it. "I suppose that's as safe as Grady can make it for you."

"Then promise me you'll stay away from the cemetery."

"If I can locate Molino before that it will be a moot issue."

"Promise."

She frowned.

"Promise."

"Hell, no." She turned on her heel and walked back toward her car.

10:45 P.M.

"HARLEY SAYS THE IMMEDIATE area's clear," Grady said. "There are four of Molino's men in the forest across the way. I didn't expect him to take a chance and come alone." He gestured to the south. "I'll be in that patch of trees with a rifle trained on Molino. Harley will circle and keep an eye out to make sure Molino's men don't start moving toward you. Understand?" She nodded her gaze on the top of the hill. "I understand." The Redwing cemetery had been in existence since the start of the Civil War and it showed its age. Rotting wooden crosses and stone markers with the inscriptions eroded by time, overgrown patches of grass sprouted between the graves.

"Don't get too close to him. I might need a clear shot."

"You can't shoot him. He has Phillip and Renata still hasn't been able to find where Molino's keeping him."

He put the scope on his rifle. "If I have to make a choice, it won't be Phillip," he said grimly. "Molino doesn't want to kill me. Not yet."

Harley appeared out of the brush. "Molino's here. He and Sie

She stiffened. "Then I'd better join him, hadn't I? We wouldn't want him to become impatient."

She heard Grady's low curse behind her as she moved up the path. He was feeling helpless and out of control and he hated to be put in that position, she knew. Well, he would have to deal with it. She was feeling pretty helpless herself at the moment.

The moon was full and shining brightly as she caught sight of Molino and Sie

Molino was smiling at her. "Ah, Sie

Sie

"What do you say about that, Megan?" Molino asked. "I keep telling Sie

"If you can call that filth you do business," Megan said as she came level with them. "Tell me how I can get Phillip back."

"Presently."

"Is he still alive?"

"Yes, but I can't dial him and have him talk to you." He chuckled. "His communication skills aren't exactly top notch at present. I understand Gardner was excited about him squeezing his hand, but we haven't bothered to explore that route." He tilted his head. "I'm more interested in having you squeeze Sie

"What?" Sie

"Why, Sie

"I don't want to touch him," Megan said. "He's as dirty as you are."

"But you were boasting how you were going to turn me into a vegetable. Such an ugly threat. Were you bluffing?"

"I don't want to touch him," she repeated.

"But I insist. That's why we're here. I had to know what I had to face with you, what I have to face with all those freaks listed in the Ledger. You boasted that you could find me, but that didn't happen. You bragged that you had powers like your mother, but there's no proof of that either." He smiled. "Show me proof, Megan."

"I don't have to show you anything."

"You do unless you want me to make a call and tell my men to disco

Blair."

She shrugged. "All right, I'll admit it. I'm no Pandora. I just wanted to make you angry."

"Show me," he repeated softly.

"Screw you," Sie

"Scared?" Molino asked. "Why? As you said, it's only bullshit. My Steven went insane for no reason at all."

"Don't be an ass," Sie

"And you're scared of the pretty lady. My, my."

"Oh, for God's sake." Sie

She didn't move.

"Take his hand," Molino said. He took out his phone. "I'll give you thirty seconds before I make the call." She glared at him. "Why don't you let me take your hand, Molino?"

"Because Sie

She reached out and took Sie

"Press it," Molino said. "Hard."

Her hand tightened. She was hating this.

"Harder," Molino said.

She tightened her grip again.

"Crap," Sie

Then Sie

Relief soared through Megan with dizzying force. Nothing had happened. She hadn't realized until this moment how afraid she'd been.

"No." Molino was studying Megan's expression. "I believe I'm disappointed. I admit I hoped to get a little of my own back by having you teach Sie