“But why does she want you to get on aplane?”
“I canstillhear you. And I’m not drunk. I mean maybe a little, but seriously, I think this stuff is just some kind of truth serum.” She picked up the whiskey bottle and contemplated it seriously for a moment. Then she set it down again without drinking. “Justus needs to get on a plane and get out of the country, so they can’t execute him. “If you assholes will get out of here for a few minutes and let us consummate this sham of a marriage, he can go, and you can drag me home, and everyone will be happy. I mean, except me. And the council. But everyone will still be alive andintact.”
“This isn’t a sham, Kaci.” I took her goodhand.
“I know. But it needs to be. You’ll be alive and gone, and you’ll find someone else. And Faythe’s right. Eventually one of those asshole enforcers will learn to live with the idea of marrying a freak, andI’ll—”
“No,” I growled, squeezing her hand. “I’ll kill anyone who eventries—”
“Maybe we should do the stitches now,” Chris suggested as he carefully guided Kaci’s arm back onto the towel. “While she’s clearly feeling…despondent.”
Vic sipped his coffee. “Was she like this the last time shedrank?”
“No. Last time she was happy, then she vomited, then suddenly she wasasleep.”
“You know what would be great?” Kaci asked, and I turned to find her staring at the wicked-looking suture needle. “If I could forget this, after it’s over. Like a memory exchange. I wish I could remember marrying you, and forget about thisentirely.”
“You can’t remember your wedding?” Chris picked up the needle, and I watched, half fascinated, half horrified, as he began stitching her arm backtogether.
Kaci hissed in pain and turned to me. “Whiskey isnotapainkiller.”
“No,” Vic admitted. “But it calms you down and helps you careless.”
I took her free hand again. “Just look at me. Think about us. Tell me something. Just keep talking and it’ll be over in a minute.” I glanced at her arm again. “Chris looks like he’s pretty good atthis.”
“He’s not as good as Vic. Vic’s been the top enforcer since Faythe and Marc took over the territory, when I was a kid.” She flinched again. “Butsomeoneput our best suturer out ofcommission.”
Chris frowned, but seemed too focused on his task to take seriousoffense.
“So, what happened?” Vic asked. “Why did Jared takeyou?”
“He said I was being apprehended on charges oftrespassing.”
“Which you’re guilty of,” Chris mumbled as he tugged the needle through Kaci’s flesh again, and she flinched. “But why? What good does it do Blackwell to actually charge you? I can’t think of a tabby ever being charged withtrespassing.”
“I believe Faythe was charged with trespassing once,” Vicsupplied.
“Okay, but that was different. That was trespassing with a side of murder. But it’s not like Blackwell thinks Kaci was staging a coup against him or anything. And why would they take her, but notJustus?”
“Because they didn’t have to take him.” Vic frowned over his coffee cup. “Jared saw them together. He knew Justus would followKaci.”
“He used me as bait.” Kaci scowled. “That bastard! Howinsulting.”
“But what do they want with me?” I asked. “To hold me in custody to make sure I show up for my trial? Faythe said they wouldn’t chase me if I left the country, because they don’t care whether I’m dead or gone. That they just want me out of theway.”
“So then why lure him into the territory, if they would be just as happy to see him flee the country?” Kaciasked.
Vic shrugged, “There has to be more to this. Something we’re notseeing.”
“I feel like that all the time,” I toldhim.
“Okay, I think we’re done here.” Chris tugged gently on the tiny knot he’d tied in the thread coming out of Kaci’s arm. “Let me just…” He took a little pair of scissors and clipped the thread as close to the knot as possible. Then he tossed me a tube of antibiotic cream. “Wash your hands and apply that, then re-bandage her. We’ll pack up thecar.”
“Where are you supposed to drop the rental?” Vic asked as he stood with hiscoffee.
“Denver,” I told him. “That’s where I was going to catch myflight.”
“Well, I’m afraid you’re on the hook for whatever penalty comes from dropping it off somewhere else.” Vic caught my eye in the bathroom mirror while I washed my hands. “Good thing you’rerich.”
