dn't

wly, the way you'd look at a crack

id you g

yanked my hand back. This t

nd him actua

ks. That is my water they stole. And you're the

Cal

ater. The man who controlled Meridian Dam. People in Phoenix ca

t her shotgun, at the pot of

er out of a

said. "Your engineers

es nar

am

e Ha

s Hale. You'll give a

where without her.

not my

s, or I suddenly don't remember

didn't talk to Rhys Calder like that.

at me for

id. "Both of

ditioned. I almost pa

yping on a satellite phone

e. I didn't

ome, by the

look up. "

he fleet numbers. Your people ca

lread

eeping your only witness a

one look.

for someone wi

for someone who just

w. Lupe made a sound tha

, without looking up, he said,

t. "What makes you th

aped like somebody's ring." He finally lifted his eyes.

k. Diane's weddin

mily,"

am

n send them a t

w who to

t made the back of my neck prickl

said. "And my

on the screen. Jus

e kept

window and though

dian. The family Te

driven straight

urned into mountains. The moun

dian

han any building in Phoenix. And behind it, impossibly, a

cross the valley. Thousands of peop

my hand to

ehind that wal

h," Rh

gh fo

dn't

n lawns. Real grass. Sprinklers. I watched one spray water across a bed of roses while a

stopped, and

s. Guards. Staff

red on the front steps

oing on?"

s face changed. Just a fl

er came home this morning," he

d turne

truck before anyo

hrough the guards. Until I co

hin, white-haired, his hands shaking as

s neck. She was crying too

flashing in the sun,

n sobbed. "My little gir

clapped. A maid by the d

ead from Gideon As

out over

he sa

her face went

she s

with one trembling finger, and let

That's the woman who

d turned

est