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"You're right, and she would have to do that," Finn said. "But this is where the fountains come in, all those fountains Salina had her giants steal from Cooper. The ones she got her dead husband to commission for her. Turns out Salina has been doing quite a bit of work out at the old Dubois estate, sprucing it up, updating, modernizing, and renovating everything. "
"So what?" Eva asked again.
"Well, it just so happens that one of the new features she's had installed is a series of fountains. . . . " He pulled a map of the Dubois estate out of his folder and spread it out on the table so Eva and I could get a better look at it. "Right here, on the north lawn. "
"So?" Eva asked for the third time. "What's so unusual about that?"
"For starters," Finn said, "there's already a series of fountains on the north lawn. It's costing Salina a small fortune to get even more installed just where she wants them. And she specified that the job had to be done by yesterday. But most telling? The north lawn happens to be the very place where dear old dad was murdered all those years ago - and where she's set up the dinner for tonight. "
I thought about all the things Salina had said to me over the past few days. All the sly hints she'd dropped that she was in Ashland to pay back her old friends and anyone else who'd ever supposedly wronged her. All the comments about taking her father's place in the underworld. Even the mention of the future in her note to Owen. I thought that Salina had just been talking out of her ass with her delusions of grandeur, but I was beginning to get an idea of what the water elemental had in mind - and of just how devious she really was.
"She's going to kill them all," I said.
Finn gave me a grim look. "That's what I think too. "
"What do you mean?" Eva asked. "How is she going to kill them all? Salina might be strong in her magic, but there's no way she can take on every single person on this list. Not if they're all bringing their bodyguards with them. And some of them are elementals too, or vampires or giants or dwarves. "
"She's going to use the fountains to supplement her own magic," I said. "She'll use the water in them to put down anyone who challenges her. Salina's going to take her revenge on all the folks who stood by and watched Mab murder her father all those years ago. That's why she really invited them to her estate tonight - to finally get her revenge. "
That also explained why she'd invited Kincaid and even me - so she could kill us along with everyone else.
"And while she's at it, she'll take out everybody who's anybody in the underworld," Finn added, "clearing the way for her to take control of all the crime in the city. Two birds, one stone. You gotta admit that it's brilliant, in a completely sociopathic sort of way. "
Brilliant? No, it was ingenious. Whatever else she was, Salina was exceptionally clever. She was going to lure all the crime bosses onto her turf, ply them with food and booze, then turn on the waterworks when they were too drunk and full to defend themselves. The folks at the party wouldn't even know what hit them. With all those fountains, Salina could saturate the whole area with water. Then it would just be a matter of using her elemental magic to either suck the moisture out of people or drown them with all the water that would be available.
And Owen was on his way to her estate right now.
I had no doubt my lover would try to stop Salina, once he realized what she was doing. But by then, it would be too late for everyone - including Owen. He might not think Salina would turn on him, but I knew she would if he got in her way.
I immediately pulled my cell phone out of my jeans pocket and dialed Owen's number, but for once he didn't answer. Probably because he knew I'd be upset with him for leaving me to go see her.
"Dammit, Owen!" I snarled.
"What's going on?" Finn asked. "Where is he?"
Eva passed Finn the invitation Salina had sent Owen. Finn let out a loud curse.
I dialed Owen's number again. Once again, he didn't pick up. I knew that he wouldn't until he'd confronted Salina.
"There's no use trying that," Finn said. "If he's already at the estate, he won't get your call anyway. Among the many things that Salina has had delivered to her mansion in recent days is a series of cell phone jammers. No calls in, none get out. There's no way to warn anyone who's there. "
I threw my phone across the kitchen. It hit the refrigerator and clattered to the floor. Emotion surged through me, and I wanted to go over and stomp on it until there was nothing left but tiny plastic pieces. I drew in a breath and forced myself to calm down, to go to that cold, calm, dark place where the Spider dwelt, as I had so many times before. Slowly, my emotions receded, leaving nothing behind but the black determination that beat in my heart to end Salina - once and for all.
I looked at Finn. "What kind of gear do you have in your car?"
"Enough. When I realized what Salina was planning, I grabbed everything I could get my hands on. I stopped by Dad's and got a few things for you, too. I'm loaded for bear. "
"Good. Let me get my knives. "
I started to head back to the bedroom, but Eva planted herself in front of me, her blue eyes flashing.
"I'm coming with you. "
I sighed. "Eva - "
"No," she said, her hands clenching into fists. "Don't you dare tell me that I don't know what I'm doing or that it's too dangerous. Owen is my brother, and I can't just sit here and do nothing while he's in danger. Besides, this is my fight too. It was my fight before it was ever yours, Gin. I want to help you finish it for Owen's sake - for all our sakes. "
I stared at her. Eva might only have been nineteen, but she'd been through a lot in her life. The death of her parents, living on the streets, being tortured by Salina, and now this. She was right. This was her fight too, even more than it was mine, and I'd be damned if I'd keep her from it.
