Page 86 of Stripping Bare

As it was at the beginning of allthings,

It can also be theend.”

Then, as he had before, he turned and walked down a computer-generated representation of Steele Ridge’s Main Street. The scene slowly faded toblack.

“Whoa,” Micki said. “That’screepy.”

“Did you expect a fuzzy bunny?” Jonah let his head droop and rest against the back of his chair. “What the hell was that little ditty? Something about the beginning and theend.”

“Play it again,” Mickisaid.

When Jonah tried to restart the sequence, he had no luck. “Dammit.”

Tessa had been repeating the refrain in her head, and she recited it aloud, letting the words glide through and expand in herconsciousness.

“Impressive,” Micki said. “How did you dothat?”

“It’s a form of eideticmemory.”

“Likephotographic?”

“Sort of, except it’sauditory.”

Micki chuckled and slapped Jonah on the arm. “You are so screwed. That means she’ll remember every idiotic thing you eversay.”

“It’s a riddle,” Tessa said as she listened to the words echoing inside her head. “Fire. It’s a riddle aboutfire.”

“He said a new game in a new world,” Mickimused.

“A world of fire.” Saying it aloud sent a shudder through Tessa. “And he was in Steele Ridge again,right?”

“Yeah.”

“What about the fire station? Could he be directing usthere?”

“Little brother,” Micki said. “This one’s akeeper.”

It looked as if she’d received the Micki Steele seal of approval. And with the look of admiration and affection Jonah turned on her, Tessa almost believed he thought she was a keeper,too.

Jonah started for the door,but Tessa out-juked him. “Don’t even think about it. I’m going with you. Steele Survivor twenty-four-hour rule,remember?”

He could’ve danced around that some way, but now that she knew where his spare keys were, he had no doubt she’d simply followhim.

He’d have to wait to call the restaurant in Charlotte again to find out if the bartender had drummed up the martini guy’s name forhim.

Micki stayed at his house to monitor anything else that might come through from the Mega Douche Modder. When he and Tessa left, Badger was happily sprawled across Micki’s lap like a sausage-sizedblanket.

They headed to Steele Ridge’s single fire station with Tessa once again at Clementine’s wheel. He had a sinking feeling he’d never drive the caragain.

“Do you think he wants you to play again?” sheasked.

He was pretty damn sure the guy had a hard-on for jerking him around. “I brought all the equipment, just incase.”

When they pulled into the fire station parking lot, a trio of guys had the big engine pulled out of the bay and were polishing it to a gleaming shine. Jonah and Tessa got out of the car, and one of the firefighters turned to greetthem.

“Look who the cat dragged in,” Cash said. “Hope you’re not planning to run around town knocking down morewomen.”

“What’re you doing here today?” Cash had been on duty yesterday and normally the firefighters worked twenty-four-hourshifts.