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We returned to the subject of the Nix, and I asked Lizzie whether she ever sensed her or saw images of
her.
"I see her& what she's done. Sometimes it stops for a while, but when it starts again " Her hands
quivered. "When it starts again, there are always more."
More killings. The images stopped while the Nix was in the world of the living, then she returned bearing
fresh nightmares for her dead partners.
I asked Lizzie what she'd seen recently, whether she had any idea where the Nix was or where she was
headed.
"She seeks a teacher," Lizzie said. "A man named Luther Ross."
My head jerked up. "Luther Ross?"
"You know him?" Kris whispered.
I glanced over at him. "Heard of him. A poltergeist teacher."
Kristof snorted. "Another charlatan."
"No, Ross is actually& " I motioned that I'd explain later and turned back to Lizzie. "What does she want
with this teacher?"
"I don't know. I never know. I only see."
Lizzie glanced over at Bridget, who was almost finished cleaning the dining room curtains.
"There's a sale on at Sargent's today," Lizzie said. "Dress material at eight cents a yard."
"Oh," Bridget said, smiling. "Then I will indeed be going out. I'm done here. May I leave now?"
"Certainly."
When Bridget was gone, Lizzie peeked into the living room, where her father had drifted off to sleep.
"Excuse me," she murmured.
While she went to get the hatchet, Kristof and I decided we'd learned all we could from Lizzie Borden,
and transported ourselves out before the gore started to fly& again.
Chapter 20
I LANDED IN A POOL OF WATER.
"Your aim, my dear, is excellent," Kristof said.
He was submerged up to his armpits in muddy water. He looked over at me, the water barely reaching
my knees. As he opened his mouth, something jumped from the water, splashing a sheet of brown ooze
over his face and into his mouth. I bit my cheek to keep from laughing.
"Sorry," I said as he spit the water out. "I told you I only have one travel code for Honduras."
He spit again, then swim-walked over to me. As he drew close, he gave a wet-dog shake, water
spraying in all directions, including mine. I yelped, stumbled back, and fell flat on my ass, with a splash
that drenched any part that hadn't fallen under the waterline. He grinned and held out a hand to help me
up. I took it, and yanked him down beside me.
He rolled onto his side. His gaze traveled across my wet clothing, and his lips parted.
I cut him off. "If that sentence contains the words 'mud wrestling,' I'd strongly suggest you reconsider
them."
"I wasn't going to say anything about mud wrestling. Now, mud bathing, that's a whole other matter.
Plenty of people pay good money to do this." He lifted a handful of mud and squeezed it through his
fingers. "It would be& interesting, don't you think? A new sensation. You always love a new sensation."
"So you're suggesting this for my benefit?"
"Of course. I won't touch you. Won't even try. I'll just watch." A quick grin. "That'll be enough."
I pushed to my feet.
"God, you're sexy when you're flustered," he said.
"Please. It would take more than you to fluster me, Kristof Nast."
"Oh?" He swung to his feet and sidestepped into my path. "Then, if you don't want to try a mud bath, you
won't mind waiting while I do."
He unbuttoned the top of his shirt.
"You take that off, and I'm leaving," I said.
He grinned. "Flustered?"
"Exasperated. And too busy for games."
"Oh, you can spare a minute or two. You wait right here, watch me, and I'll be done before you know it."
The grin broadened. "You know how much I liked it when you watched."
I turned fast, and slid in the mud. An overhanging vine slapped my face. With a muttered oath, I shoved
the vine out of my way and stomped toward the shore.
"Flustered," Kris called after me.
As I turned to answer, something splashed beside me. On the bank lay a huge alligator.
"Enjoying the show?" I asked.
He blinked and gave a lazy flick of his tail. A mini-tidal wave of mud splattered over me. Kristof laughed.
I glowered at the beast. He yawned, showing off teeth as big as bowie knives, and twice as sharp.
"Yeah, yeah," I said. "Very impressive. And I'd be even more impressed if you could use them,
ghost-gator."
Once on the bank, I gave my head a shake. Mud flew everywhere, but when I stopped, every strand of
hair fell into place shiny, clean, and brushed. Gotta love the afterlife. I closed my eyes and murmured an
incantation. When I opened them, I was dressed in worn jeans and a T-shirt. The alligator harrumphed. I
flipped him the finger and started walking, leaving Kristof to catch up.
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