Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

at me.
    Caine somehow sensed my steady gaze, the way people And it fucking hurt .
    do when you stare at them long and hard enough. His Donovan turning his back on me hurt far worse than head turned right, then left, trying to find the source of anything Tobias Dawson had done to me in the coal his unease. He said something to Grayson and headed mine. or anything else I’d endured these last few hours. in my direction. Donovan kept looking right and left at But I didn’t have time to dwell on the detective’s harsh everyone he passed. I stepped farther out onto the edge reaction because of owen Grayson.
    of the ridge, so he could hopefully see me. The detective Grayson didn’t stay where he was, but he didn’t go back walked back through the mass of people and machines. either. Instead, he walked closer to me, glancing over his After a moment, owen Grayson followed him. Probably shoulder every once in a while to make sure no one was curious as to what the detective was up to. too interested in his whereabouts. He stopped close to Donovan Caine was halfway across the basin toward the bottom of the ridge where I stood, close enough now me when he stopped and finally looked up. our eyes met that I could see the grin that stretched across his features. and held over the distance. Gray on gold. owen Grayson Too bad the smile was on the face of the wrong man. reached his side and followed the detective’s line of sight. But what was even more curious was the fact Grayson He spotted me too. He actually smiled.
    started climbing up the ridge. I stepped away from the Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 364-365
    12/17/09 9:32 PM
    366 JENNIFER ESTEP
    Web of Lies 367
    edge and hobbled back into the clearing. I didn’t want his eyes. Admiration mixed with amusement. A look I’d anyone seeing me in my current state—or guessing where never seen in Donovan Caine’s golden gaze. I’d been. Let them think owen Grayson wanted a better “Did Donovan say anything else to you down in the view of the disaster I’d caused. But there was nothing I basin? Anything at all?”
    could do about Grayson now, so I sat down on the bare Grayson’s face shuttered. “Nothing important.”
    earth and leaned against a tree. Waiting.
    His voice was so kind, so pitying, it made me want to It didn’t take him long to climb up the ridge. He stab him with my walking stick. I hated being pitied. didn’t even bother to dust the mud and leaves off his
    “Donovan wasn’t happy to see me, was he? He thought jeans. Instead, he came straight to me and stopped, his I’d died in that mine with Tobias Dawson and the others, violet eyes flicking up and down my body, assessing my and he was happy about it. or at least relieved.” My heart injuries.
    twisted as I said the words, but I knew they were true.
    “You look like you’ve been to hell and back,” he murThat was the only way to explain the detective’s cold reacmured. tion to me. “He didn’t want me to be alive. Not really.”
    I almost managed a smile. “You might say that.”
    owen Grayson shrugged. “I don’t know what DetecGrayson took off his leather jacket and carefully draped tive Donovan Caine thinks or wants, but I consider him it over my chest. His scent drifted up to me—that rich, to be an enormous fool.”
    earthy aroma that made me think of metal.
    “Why’s that?”
    “Can I do anything for you?’ he asked. “The detective He stared at me. “Because he’s down there looking for asked me to call your friend Finnegan Lane. I had a rather Dawson, and I’m up here with you.”
    interesting conversation with him at Mab Monroe’s party I didn’t say anything. My emotions were too raw, too last night. I don’t think Mr. Lane believed me when I told fresh for that. owen Grayson opened his mouth again, him you were standing on the ridge above the coal mine. but the sound of a car engine cut him off. He got to his He called me a cruel, lying bastard, but he said he was feet.
    on his way. And that if I was lying, he’d beat me to death
    “I think your friend Finn is here,” he murmured. with his bare hands.”
    Grayson held out his hand to me, but I didn’t take it.
    “Finn was probably just upset. He tends to be emoInstead, I heaved myself to my feet, using my crude walktional in times of crisis.”
    ing stick for support.
    “And what do you do in times of crisis, Gin?” Grayson
    “You know you can lean on me if you need to.”
    asked.
    I shook my head. “No need.