Page 19 of Luna & Andres

I shook my head. "No, I mean I've seen thatexactpicture. The pair who attacked us, they came around my apartment asking questions about you. They had that picture with them, except you held up one of those boards with the mugshot numbers."

Vincent picked up the paper. "So does that mean I've been arrested?"

"No, it means somebody wants everybody to believe you've been arrested," I corrected him.

"So what do I do now?" he murmured.

"We'llwait until the banks open. Then I can go and get some money out, and we can follow that hunch of yours," I told him.

He looked up at me. Those emerald eyes showed concern. "But what if they link you to me? You'll be in danger, too."

"The police don't work that fast. I'll be fine until Meyer tells them I'm missing. Maybe Red's missing, too. You beat him up pretty well. He might be somewhere licking his wounds," I pointed out.

Vincent looked down at his lap and pursed his lips. "I can't let you go. It's too dangerous."

I grinned. "You can try and stop me, but I'm pretty stubborn."

Vincent stood. The light from the fire danced across his face and cast deep shadows over his features. His lips were pursed together, and his emerald eyes almost glowed in the weak light as they stared down at me.

"I can't let you help me, and I can't let you go with me," he insisted.

I glared at him. "I'm going with you." He turned away and headed down the filthy waterway. I jumped to my feet. "Where are you going?"

"Away," he called back.

"Damn it. . ." I muttered.

I hurried after him. His pace was fast, but consistent. I caught up to him fifty yards down the bank and slipped in front of him. I glared into his sorrowful face.

"I'm not letting you leave without me," I insisted.

He tried to step around me. I pulled out my gun and pointed the barrel at his face. That stopped him cold, but his eyes didn't widen. His voice was apathetic.

"Are you really going to shoot me?" he wondered.

"I don't want to, but I can't let you go alone," I replied.

He closed his eyes and a small, bitter smile slipped onto his lips. "Because I'm dangerous?"

"Because you hold the answers," I explained.

Vincent opened his eyes and furrowed his brow. "Answers to what?"

I shook my head. "That's not important. What is important is that you need me and I need you, so we can work together to get you where you need to go or we can work against each other and get caught separately. It's your choice."

He sighed and turned his face away from me, but the smile became less bitter. "I guess I don't have much of a choice."

"Good." I tucked the gun back into its holster. My hand ached just from pulling it out. "Now we should get some sleep. Even if they haven't found any connection between my disappearance and you it's still not going to be easy bringing you along with me to the bank."

"I could stay here," he offered.

I pursed my lips. "Unfortunately, that's probably the best plan, but can I trust you to stay here?"

He nodded. "I'll stay."

"All right. I'll go tomorrow as soon as the bank opens," I told him. I passed by him and walked in the direction of the fire. "It shouldn't take me more than two hours."

"And if you're not back by then?" he wondered.

---