like¡¡his¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡made¡¡
of¡¡a¡¡million¡¡diamond¡¡facets¡ªwas¡¡burned¡¡into¡¡my¡¡memory¡£¡¡No¡¡human¡¡who¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡
would¡¡ever¡¡forget¡£¡¡
The¡¡Volturi¡¡couldn't¡¡possibly¡¡allow¡¡it¡£¡¡Not¡¡if¡¡they¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡their¡¡city¡¡
inconspicuous¡£¡¡
I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡slight¡¡gray¡¡glow¡¡that¡¡shone¡¡through¡¡the¡¡opened¡¡windows¡£¡¡¡¨We'll¡¡
be¡¡too¡¡late£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡whispered£»¡¡
my¡¡throat¡¡closing¡¡in¡¡panic¡£¡¡
She¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¨Right¡¡now£»¡¡he's¡¡leaning¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡melodramatic¡£¡¡He¡¡wants¡¡
the¡¡biggest¡¡audience¡¡
possible£»¡¡so¡¡he'll¡¡choose¡¡the¡¡main¡¡plaza£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡clock¡¡tower¡£¡¡The¡¡walls¡¡are¡¡
high¡¡there¡£¡¡He'll¡¡wait¡¡till¡¡the¡¡
sun¡¡is¡¡exactly¡¡overhead¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¨So¡¡we¡¡have¡¡till¡¡noon£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¨If¡¡we're¡¡lucky¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡sticks¡¡with¡¡this¡¡decision¡£¡¨¡¡
The¡¡pilot¡¡came¡¡on¡¡over¡¡the¡¡inter£»¡¡announcing£»¡¡first¡¡in¡¡French¡¡and¡¡then¡¡in¡¡
English£»¡¡our¡¡imminent¡¡
landing¡£¡¡The¡¡seat¡¡belt¡¡lights¡¡dinged¡¡and¡¡flashed¡£¡¡
¡¨How¡¡far¡¡is¡¡it¡¡from¡¡Florence¡¡to¡¡Volterra£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¨That¡¡depends¡¡on¡¡how¡¡fast¡¡you¡¡drive¡¡Bella£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¨Yes£¿¡¨¡¡
She¡¡eyed¡¡me¡¡speculatively¡£¡¡¡¨How¡¡strongly¡¡are¡¡you¡¡opposed¡¡to¡¡grand¡¡theft¡¡auto£¿¡¨¡¡
A¡¡bright¡¡yellow¡¡Porsche¡¡screamed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡stop¡¡a¡¡few¡¡feet¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡where¡¡I¡¡
paced£»¡¡the¡¡word¡¡TURBO¡¡
scrawled¡¡in¡¡silver¡¡cursive¡¡across¡¡its¡¡back¡£¡¡Everyone¡¡beside¡¡me¡¡on¡¡the¡¡crowded¡¡
airport¡¡sidewalk¡¡stared¡£¡¡
¡¨Hurry£»¡¡Bella£¡¡¨¡¡Alice¡¡shouted¡¡impatiently¡¡through¡¡the¡¡open¡¡passenger¡¡window¡£¡¡
I¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡myself¡¡in£»¡¡feeling¡¡as¡¡though¡¡I¡¡might¡¡as¡¡well¡¡be¡¡
wearing¡¡a¡¡black¡¡stocking¡¡over¡¡
my¡¡head¡£¡¡
¡¨Sheesh£»¡¡Alice£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡plained¡£¡¡¡¨Could¡¡you¡¡pick¡¡a¡¡more¡¡conspicuous¡¡car¡¡to¡¡
steal£¿¡¨¡¡
The¡¡interior¡¡was¡¡black¡¡leather£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡windows¡¡were¡¡tinted¡¡dark¡£¡¡It¡¡felt¡¡
safer¡¡inside£»¡¡like¡¡nighttime¡£¡¡
Alice¡¡was¡¡already¡¡weaving£»¡¡too¡¡fast£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡airport¡¡traffic¡ª
sliding¡¡through¡¡tiny¡¡spaces¡¡between¡¡
the¡¡cars¡¡as¡¡I¡¡cringed¡¡and¡¡fumbled¡¡for¡¡my¡¡seat¡¡belt¡£¡¡
¡¨The¡¡important¡¡question£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡corrected£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡whether¡¡I¡¡could¡¡have¡¡stolen¡¡a¡¡
faster¡¡car£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡so¡£¡¡
I¡¡got¡¡lucky¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¨I'm¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡will¡¡be¡¡very¡¡forting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡roadblock¡£¡¨¡¡
She¡¡trilled¡¡a¡¡laugh¡£¡¡¡¨Trust¡¡me£»¡¡Bella¡£¡¡If¡¡anyone¡¡sets¡¡up¡¡a¡¡roadblock£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡
be¡¡behind¡¡us¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡gas¡¡
then£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡prove¡¡her¡¡point¡£¡¡
I¡¡probably¡¡should¡¡have¡¡watched¡¡out¡¡the¡¡window¡¡as¡¡first¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡Florence¡¡
and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡Tuscan¡¡
landscape¡¡flashed¡¡past¡¡with¡¡blurring¡¡speed¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡my¡¡first¡¡trip¡¡anywhere£»¡¡
and¡¡maybe¡¡my¡¡last£»¡¡too¡£¡¡But¡¡
Alice's¡¡driving¡¡frightened¡¡me£»¡¡despite¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡I¡¡could¡¡trust¡¡her¡¡
behind¡¡the¡¡wheel¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡was¡¡
too¡¡tortured¡¡with¡¡anxiety¡¡to¡¡really¡¡see¡¡the¡¡hills¡¡or¡¡the¡¡walled¡¡towns¡¡that¡¡
looked¡¡like¡¡castles¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance¡£¡¡
¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡see¡¡anything¡¡more£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¨There's¡¡something¡¡going¡¡on£»¡¨¡¡Alice¡¡muttered¡£¡¡¡¨Some¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡festival¡£¡¡The¡¡
streets¡¡are¡¡full¡¡of¡¡people¡¡and¡¡
red¡¡flags¡£¡¡What's¡¡the¡¡date¡¡today£¿¡¨¡¡
I¡¡wasn't¡¡entirely¡¡sure¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡nineteenth£»¡¡maybe£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¨Well£»¡¡that's¡¡ironic¡£¡¡It's¡¡Saint¡¡Marcus¡¡Day¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¨Which¡¡means£¿¡¨¡¡
She¡¡chuckled¡¡darkly¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡city¡¡holds¡¡a¡¡celebration¡¡every¡¡year¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡legend¡¡
goes£»¡¡a¡¡Christian¡¡
missionary£»¡¡a¡¡Father¡¡Marcus¡ªMarcus¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Voltun£»¡¡in¡¡fact¡ªdrove¡¡all¡¡the¡¡
vampires¡¡from¡¡Volterra¡¡
fifteen¡¡hundred¡¡years¡¡ago¡£¡¡The¡¡story¡¡claims¡¡he¡¡was¡¡martyred¡¡in¡¡Romania£»¡¡still¡¡
trying¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡away¡¡the¡¡
vampire¡¡scourge¡£¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡that's¡¡nonsense¡ªhe's¡¡never¡¡left¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡But¡¡
that's¡¡where¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
superstitions¡¡about¡¡things¡¡like¡¡crosses¡¡and¡¡garlic¡¡e¡¡from¡£¡¡Father¡¡Marcus¡¡
used¡¡them¡¡so¡¡successfully¡£¡¡
And¡¡vampires¡¡don't¡¡trouble¡¡Volterra£»¡¡so¡¡they¡¡must¡¡work¡£¡¨¡¡Her¡¡smile¡¡was¡¡
sardonic¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡bee¡¡more¡¡of¡¡
a¡¡celebration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡recognition¡¡for¡¡the¡¡police¡¡force¡ªafter¡¡all£»¡¡
Volterra¡¡is¡¡an¡¡amazingly¡¡safe¡¡city¡£¡¡
The¡¡police¡¡get¡¡the¡¡credit¡£¡¨¡¡
I¡¡was¡¡realizing¡¡what¡¡she¡¡meant¡¡when¡¡she'd¡¡said¡¡ironic¡£¡¡¡¨They're¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡
be¡¡very¡¡happy¡¡if¡¡Edward¡¡
messes¡¡things¡¡up¡¡for¡¡them¡¡on¡¡St¡£¡¡Marcus¡¡Day£»¡¡are¡¡they£¿¡¨¡¡
She¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head£»¡¡her¡¡expression¡¡grim¡£¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¡They'll¡¡act¡¡very¡¡quickly¡£¡¨¡¡
I¡¡looked¡¡away£»¡¡fighting¡¡against¡¡my¡¡teeth¡¡as¡¡they¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡break¡¡through¡¡the¡¡
skin¡¡of¡¡my¡¡lower¡¡lip¡£¡¡Bleeding¡¡
was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡best¡¡idea¡¡right¡¡now¡£¡¡
The¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡terrifyingly¡¡high¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pale¡¡blue¡¡sky¡£¡¡
¡¨He's¡¡still¡¡planning¡¡on¡¡noon£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡checked¡£¡¡
¡¨Yes¡£¡¡He's¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡wait¡£¡¡And¡¡they're¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¨Tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¨¡¡
She¡¡kept¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡on¡¡the¡¡winding¡¡road¡ªthe¡¡needle¡¡on¡¡the¡¡speedometer¡¡was¡¡
touching¡¡the¡¡far¡¡right¡¡on¡¡the¡¡
dial¡£¡¡
¡¨You¡¡don't¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡anything¡£¡¡He¡¡just¡¡has¡¡to¡¡see¡¡you¡¡before¡¡he¡¡moves¡¡into¡¡
the¡¡light¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡has¡¡to¡¡see¡¡
you¡¡before¡¡he¡¡sees¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¨How¡¡are¡¡we¡¡going¡¡to¡¡work¡¡that£¿¡¨¡¡
A¡¡small¡¡red¡¡car¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡racing¡¡backward¡¡as¡¡Alice¡¡zoomed¡¡around¡¡it¡£¡¡
¡¨I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡get¡¡you¡¡as¡¡close¡¡as¡¡possible£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡you're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡run¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡direction¡¡I¡¡point¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡
I¡¡nodded¡£¡¡
¡¨Try¡¡not¡¡to¡¡trip£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡added¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡don't¡¡have¡¡time¡¡for¡¡a¡¡concussion¡¡today¡£¡¨¡¡
I¡¡groaned¡£¡¡That¡¡would¡¡be¡¡just¡¡like¡¡me¡ªruin¡¡everything£»¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡in¡¡
a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡klutziness¡£¡¡
The¡¡sun¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡climb¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡while¡¡Alice¡¡raced¡¡against¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡too¡¡
brigh£º£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡had¡¡me¡¡
panicking¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡he¡¡wouldn't¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡need¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡noon¡¡after¡¡all¡£¡¡
¡¨There£»¡¨¡¡Alice¡¡said¡¡abruptly£»¡¡pointing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡city¡¡atop¡¡the¡¡closest¡¡
hill¡£¡¡
I¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡it£»¡¡feeling¡¡the¡¡very¡¡first¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡fear¡£¡¡Every¡¡
minute¡¡since¡¡yesterday¡¡morning¡ªit¡¡
seemed¡¡like¡¡a¡¡week¡¡ago¡ªwhen¡¡Alice¡¡had¡¡spoken¡¡his¡¡name¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
stairs£»¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡only¡¡
one¡¡fear¡£¡¡And¡¡yet£»¡¡now£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡sienna¡¡walls¡¡and¡¡towers¡¡
crowning¡¡the¡¡peak¡¡of¡¡the¡¡steep¡¡
hill£»¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡another£»¡¡more¡¡selfish¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡dread¡¡thrill¡¡through¡¡me¡£¡¡
I¡¡supposed¡¡the¡¡city¡¡was¡¡very¡¡beautiful¡£¡¡It¡¡absolutely¡¡terrified¡¡me¡£¡¡
¡¨Volterra£»¡¨¡¡Alice¡¡announced¡¡in¡¡a¡¡flat£»¡¡icy¡¡voice¡£¡¡
¡¡20¡£¡¡VOLTERRA
WE¡¡BEGAN¡¡THE¡¡STEEP¡¡CLIMB£»¡¡AND¡¡THE¡¡ROAD¡¡GREW¡¡CONGESTED¡£¡¡As¡¡we¡¡wound¡¡higher£»¡¡
the¡¡cars¡¡became¡¡too¡¡close¡¡together¡¡for¡¡Alice¡¡to¡¡weave¡¡insanely¡¡between¡¡them¡¡
anymore¡£¡¡We¡¡slowed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡
crawl¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡little¡¡tan¡¡Peugeot¡£¡¡
¡¨Alice£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡moaned¡£¡¡The¡¡clock¡¡on¡¡the¡¡dash¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡speeding¡¡up¡£¡¡
¡¨It's¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡in£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡tried¡¡soothe¡¡me¡£¡¡But¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡too¡¡strained¡¡to¡¡
fort¡£¡¡
The¡¡cars¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡edge¡¡forward£»¡¡one¡¡car¡¡length¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡£¡¡The¡¡sun¡¡beamed¡¡
down¡¡brilliantly£»¡¡seeming¡¡
already¡¡overhead¡£¡¡
The¡¡cars¡¡crept¡¡one¡¡by¡¡one¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡As¡¡we¡¡got¡¡closer£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡cars¡¡
parked¡¡by¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
road¡¡with¡¡people¡¡getting¡¡out¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡the¡¡test¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¡At¡¡first¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡
it¡¡was¡¡just¡¡
impatience¡ªsomething¡¡I¡¡could¡¡easily¡¡understand¡£¡¡But¡¡then¡¡we¡¡came¡¡around¡¡a¡¡
switchback£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡
see¡¡the¡¡filled¡¡parking¡¡lot¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡city¡¡wall£»¡¡the¡¡crowds¡¡of¡¡people¡¡walking¡¡
through¡¡the¡¡gates¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡
was¡¡being¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡through¡£¡¡
¡¨Alice£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡whispered¡¡urgently¡£¡¡
¡¨I¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡Her¡¡face¡¡was¡¡chiseled¡¡from¡¡ice¡£¡¡
Now¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡looking£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡were¡¡crawling¡¡slowly¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡see£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡
tell¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡very¡¡windy¡£¡¡
The¡¡people¡¡crowding¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡gripped¡¡their¡¡hats¡¡and¡¡tugged¡¡their¡¡hair¡¡
out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡faces¡£¡¡Their¡¡
clothes¡¡billowed¡¡around¡¡them¡£¡¡I¡¡also¡¡noticed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡color¡¡red¡¡was¡¡
everywhere¡£¡¡Red¡¡shirts£»¡¡red¡¡hats£»¡¡red¡¡
flags¡¡dripping¡¡like¡¡long¡¡ribbons¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡gate£»¡¡whipping¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wind¡ªas¡¡I¡¡
watched£»¡¡the¡¡brilliant¡¡crimson¡¡
scarf¡¡one¡¡woman¡¡had¡¡tied¡¡around¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡was¡¡caught¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡gust¡£¡¡It¡¡
twisted¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the¡¡air¡¡above¡¡
her£»¡¡writhing¡¡like¡¡it¡¡was¡¡alive¡£¡¡She¡¡reached¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡jumping¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡but¡¡
it¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡flutter¡¡higher£»¡¡a¡¡
patch¡¡of¡¡bloody¡¡color¡¡against¡¡the¡¡dull£»¡¡ancient¡¡walls¡£¡¡
¡¨Bella¡£¡¨¡¡Alice¡¡spoke¡¡quickly¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fierce£»¡¡low¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡can't¡¡see¡¡what¡¡the¡¡
guard¡¡here¡¡will¡¡decide¡¡now¡ªif¡¡
this¡¡doesn't¡¡work£»¡¡you're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡have¡¡to¡¡go¡¡in¡¡alone¡£¡¡You're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡have¡¡
to¡¡run¡£¡¡Just¡¡keep¡¡asking¡¡for¡¡
the¡¡Palazzo¡¡dei¡¡Priori£»¡¡and¡¡running¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡they¡¡tell¡¡you¡£¡¡Don't¡¡get¡¡
lost¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¨Palazzo¡¡dei¡¡Priori£»¡¡Palazzo¡¡dei¡¡Priori£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡name¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡
again£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡get¡¡it¡¡down¡£¡¡
¡¨Or¡¡'the¡¡clock¡¡tower£»'¡¡if¡¡they¡¡speak¡¡English¡£¡¡I'll¡¡go¡¡around¡¡and¡¡try¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡
secluded¡¡spot¡¡somewhere¡¡
behind¡¡the¡¡city¡¡where¡¡I¡¡can¡¡go¡¡over¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¨¡¡
I¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¨Palazzo¡¡dei¡¡Priori¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¨Edward¡¡will¡¡be¡¡under¡¡the¡¡clock¡¡tower£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡¡of¡¡the¡¡square¡£¡¡There's¡¡a¡¡
narrow¡¡alleyway¡¡on¡¡the¡¡
right£»¡¡and¡¡he'll¡¡be¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡there¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡to¡¡get¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡before¡¡
he¡¡can¡¡move¡¡into¡¡the¡¡sun¡£¡¨¡¡
I¡¡nodded¡¡furiously¡£¡¡
Alice¡¡was¡¡near¡¡the¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡line¡£¡¡A¡¡man¡¡in¡¡a¡¡navy¡¡blue¡¡uniform¡¡was¡¡
directing¡¡the¡¡flow¡¡of¡¡traffic£»¡¡turning¡¡
the¡¡cars¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡full¡¡lot¡£¡¡They¡¡U¡turned¡¡and¡¡headed¡¡back¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡place¡¡
beside¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡Then¡¡it¡¡
was¡¡Alice's¡¡turn¡£¡¡
The¡¡uniformed¡¡man¡¡motioned¡¡lazily£»¡¡not¡¡paying¡¡attention¡£¡¡Alice¡¡accelerated£»¡¡
edging¡¡around¡¡him¡¡and¡¡
heading¡¡for¡¡the¡¡gate¡£¡¡He¡¡shouted¡¡something¡¡at¡¡us£»¡¡but¡¡held¡¡his¡¡ground£»¡¡waving¡¡
frantically¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡next¡¡
car¡¡from¡¡following¡¡our¡¡bad¡¡example¡£¡¡
The¡¡man¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡matching¡¡uniform¡£¡¡As¡¡we¡¡approached¡¡him£»¡¡the¡¡throngs¡¡
of¡¡tourists¡¡passed£»¡¡
crowding¡¡the¡¡sidewalks£»¡¡staring¡¡curiously¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pushy£»¡¡flashy¡¡Porsche¡£¡¡
The¡¡guard¡¡stepped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡Alice¡¡angled¡¡the¡¡car¡¡
carefully¡¡before¡¡she¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡full¡¡
stop¡£¡¡The¡¡sun¡¡beat¡¡against¡¡my¡¡window£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡was¡¡in¡¡shadow¡£¡¡She¡¡swiftly¡¡
reached¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡and¡¡
grabbed¡¡something¡¡from¡¡her¡¡bag¡£¡¡
The¡¡guard¡¡came¡¡around¡¡the¡¡car¡¡with¡¡an¡¡irritated¡¡expression£»¡¡and¡¡tapped¡¡on¡¡her¡¡
window¡¡angrily¡£¡¡
She¡¡rolled¡¡the¡¡window¡¡down¡¡halfway£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡do¡¡a¡¡double¡¡take¡¡when¡¡he¡¡
saw¡¡the¡¡face¡¡behind¡¡
the¡¡dark¡¡glass¡£¡¡
¡¨I'm¡¡sorry£»¡¡only¡¡tour¡¡buses¡¡allowed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡city¡¡today£»¡¡miss£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡in¡¡
English£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡accent¡£¡¡He¡¡
was¡¡apologetic£»¡¡now£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡he¡¡had¡¡better¡¡news¡¡for¡¡the¡¡strikingly¡¡
beautiful¡¡woman¡£¡¡
¡¨It's¡¡a¡¡private¡¡tour£»¡¨¡¡Alice¡¡said£»¡¡flashing¡¡an¡¡alluring¡¡smile¡£¡¡She¡¡reached¡¡her¡¡
hand¡¡out¡¡cf¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡into¡¡
the¡¡sunlight¡£¡¡I¡¡froze£»¡¡until¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡she¡¡was¡¡wearing¡¡an¡¡elbow¡length£»¡¡tan¡¡
glove¡£¡¡She¡¡took¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡still¡¡
raised¡¡from¡¡tapping¡¡her¡¡window£»¡¡and¡¡pulled¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡car¡£¡¡She¡¡put¡¡something¡¡
into¡¡his¡¡palm£»¡¡and¡¡folded¡¡
his¡¡fingers¡¡around¡¡it¡£¡¡
His¡¡face¡¡was¡¡dazed¡¡as¡¡he¡¡retrieved¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡roll¡¡of¡¡
money¡¡he¡¡now¡¡held¡£¡¡The¡¡
outside¡¡bill¡¡was¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡dollar¡¡bill¡£¡¡
¡¨Is¡¡this¡¡a¡¡joke£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡mumbled¡£¡¡
Alice's¡¡smile¡¡was¡¡blinding¡£¡¡¡¨Only¡¡if¡¡you¡¡think¡¡it's¡¡funny¡£¡¨¡¡
He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡staring¡¡wide¡£¡¡I¡¡glanced¡¡nervously¡¡at¡¡the¡¡clock¡¡on¡¡
the¡¡dash¡£¡¡If¡¡Edward¡¡stuck¡¡to¡¡
his¡¡plan£»¡¡we¡¡had¡¡only¡¡five¡¡minutes¡¡left¡£¡¡
¡¨I'm¡¡in¡¡a¡¡wee¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hurry£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡hinted£»¡¡still¡¡smiling¡£¡¡
The¡¡guard¡¡blinked¡¡twice£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡shoved¡¡the¡¡money¡¡inside¡¡his¡¡vest¡£¡¡He¡¡took¡¡a¡¡
step¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡
window¡¡and¡¡waved¡¡us¡¡on¡£¡¡None¡¡of¡¡the¡¡passing¡¡people¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡notice¡¡the¡¡quiet¡¡
exchange¡£¡¡Alice¡¡drove¡¡
into¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡both¡¡sighed¡¡in¡¡relief¡£¡¡
The¡¡street¡¡was¡¡very¡¡narrow£»¡¡cobbled¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡color¡¡stones¡¡as¡¡the¡¡faded¡¡
cinnamon¡¡brown¡¡buildings¡¡
that¡¡darkened¡¡the¡¡street¡¡with¡¡their¡¡shade¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡the¡¡feel¡¡of¡¡an¡¡alleyway¡£¡¡Red¡¡
flags¡¡decorated¡¡the¡¡walls£»¡¡
spaced¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡yards¡¡apart£»¡¡flapping¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡that¡¡whistled¡¡through¡¡the¡¡
narrow¡¡lane¡£¡¡
It¡¡was¡¡crowded£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡traffic¡¡slowed¡¡our¡¡progress¡£¡¡
¡¨Just¡¡a¡¡little¡¡farther£»¡¨¡¡Alice¡¡encouraged¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡gripping¡¡the¡¡door¡¡handle£»¡¡
ready¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡myself¡¡into¡¡the¡¡
street¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡she¡¡spoke¡¡the¡¡word¡£¡¡
She¡¡drove¡¡in¡¡quick¡¡spurts¡¡and¡¡sudden¡¡stops£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡people¡¡in¡¡the¡¡crowd¡¡shook¡¡
their¡¡fists¡¡at¡¡us¡¡and¡¡said¡¡
angry¡¡words¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡understand¡£¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡onto¡¡a¡¡little¡¡
pat