Page 4 of Defying the Relic Hunter

Sirens wailing, several fire trucks and cop cars squealed to a stop. A large crowd of panicked people poured out of the hotel’s front doors. I’d say my diversion was a success.

My calf muscles protesting loudly, I hobbled over to my ancient gold Sonata and climbed in.

The door to the staircase flew open and a pissed as hell Coletti warrior barreled out.

Crap. The effects were already wearing off. I waved all friendly-like at him and started the engine.

Ethan mouthed:I will find you.

Flipping him the bird, I mouthed back:no you won’t.

His fists clenched Ethan sprinted towards me. Wow! That sucker could really run.

I gunned it and roared out of the parking lot. Ha! I showed him. A smug look at the rearview mirror had me groaning. He was typing something into his warrior’s bracelet keypad. Like maybe my license plate number?

I hit 9-1-1 on my com-link. The line rang and rang and rang. To my horror an automated voice answered, “You have reached 9-1-1. All the lines are busy. If you have a life-threatening emergency, please stay on the line.”

Crap. My plan was going down the toilet.

My com-link snapped, crackled and went dead. I glanced over at the passenger seat and sure enough there sat Granny Annabel still decked out like a gypsy.

“You’re messin’ up our plan!”

“The museum mafioso arrested Aldo.”

My stomach clenched in horror. “That’s not possible.”

“How they know Aldo is El Gato, the most wanted thief in Europe. How?”

“That hateful Coletti you’re so fond of, installed a facial recognition system,” I replied.

“No good. No good. The mafioso detained him until la Polizia came. They take him to jail.”

I rubbed my suddenly aching head. “It doesn’t make any sense. Sebastian and his geek squad deleted all known data on the Dragos clan from Central Command’s computers years ago.”

“Ethan’s a clever man, bambina. He finds way to recover this information. Now he searches for the other half of his soul.”

“There’s nothing romantic about this. Ethan isn’t some starry-eyed man, looking for his lost love. He wants to put me in jail,” I shot back grumpily.

“I do not like your tone.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t try to set me up with the Tai-Kok.”

“The Tai-Kok were alien monsters,” Granny retorted.

“So are the Coletti.”

Granny stated implacably, “Ethan is your man.”

“No, he’s not.”

Granny Annabel gave me the evil eye. “You doubt me?”

“Yes.”

“Then do as you wish but fate will not be denied.” She vanished.

Fate will not be denied. What a bunch of hooey.

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