into　a　hurricane

out　here？　Couldn't　you　have

waited　for　me？〃　Anger　filled　his　tone　as　the　relief　faded。

〃Sorry；〃　I　muttered。　〃It　was　stupid。〃

〃Yeah；　it　was　really　stupid；〃　he　agreed；　drops　of　rain　shaking　free　of　his

hair　as　he　nodded。　〃Look；　do

you　mind　saving　the　stupid　stuff　for　when　I'm　around？　I　won't　be　able　to

concentrate　if　I　think　you're

jumping　off　cliffs　behind　my　back。〃

〃Sure；〃　I　agreed。　〃No　problem。〃　I　sounded　like　a　chain…smoker。　I　tried　to

clear　my　throat—and　then

winced；　the　throat…clearing　felt　like　stabbing　a　knife　down　there。　〃What

happened　today？　Did　you　find

her？〃　It　was　my　turn　to　shudder；　though　I　wasn't　so　cold　here；　right　next　to

his　ridiculous　body　heat。

Jacob　shook　his　head。　He　was　still　more　running　than　walking　as　he　headed　up

the　road　to　his　house。

〃No。　She　took　off　into　the　water—the　bloodsuckers　have　the　advantage　there。

That's　why　I　raced

home—I　was　afraid　she　was　going　to　double　back　swimming。　You　spend　so　much

time　on　the　beach〃

He　trailed　off；　a　catch　in　his　throat。

〃Sam　came　back　with　you　is　everyone　else　home；　too？〃　I　hoped　they　weren't

still　out　searching　for　her。

〃Yeah。　Sort　of。〃

I　tried　to　read　his　expression；　squinting　into　the　hammering　rain。　His　eyes

were　tight　with　worry　or　pain。

The　words　that　hadn't　made　sense　before　suddenly　did。　〃You　said　hospital。

Before；　to　Sam。　Is

someone　hurt？　Did　she　fight　you？〃　My　voice　jumped　up　an　octave；　sounding

strange　with　the　hoarseness。

〃No；　no。　When　we　got　back；　Em　was　waiting　with　the　news。　It's　Harry

Clearwater。　Harry　had　a　heart

attack　this　morning。〃

〃H