“There’s a gun in that bush,” she said. “Grab it, would you?” He gave her an uncertain smile, but shuffled across the asphalt and bent over. The revolver she had taken away from Claimayne two days ago was suspended in the aromatic branches, and he tugged it free and carefully tucked it into the right-hand pocket of his jacket. He straightened up with an effort. “Would you rather do this later?” Ariel asked. “How long do you think you’ll be able to sense where the thing is? Or was?” “Hours, at least,” he said, starting forward toward Madeline’s car. “But let’s do it now.” “Hello, Louise,” said Madeline, and Scott wheeled around. He could make out the figure of Louise Odell leaning against the wall beside the kitchen door, dressed in woolen trousers and a dark blue quilted jacket. Her short blond hair looked as if she’d just run her fingers through it, and sunglasses hid her eyes. “Hi, Maddy,” Louise said. Then she faced Scott. “I need to get to the bank and pull all my money out,”
