Stupid me.
All he'd have needed was a piece of paper.
"Chad's all right?" asked Corban urgently.
"Fine," I told him.
"And he's leading the cavalry here." "It sounds like we're not needed," said Adam.
I needed him.
"Blackwood is dead," I told Adam.
"I thought so, since you are calling me," Adam said.
"If it weren't for the oakman, it might have been bad," I told him.
"And I think the oakman is dead." "All honor to him, then," said Samuel's voice.
"To die killing one of the dark-bound evils is not a bad thing, Mercy.
Chad asks after his father." I wiped my face and gathered my thoughts.
"Tell Chad he's fine.
We're both fine." I watched bruises fade from my legs.
"Could you ...
could you stop at a convenience store and buy a yellow toy car for me? Bring it with you when you come?" There was a little pause.
"A yellow toy car?" asked Adam.
"That's right." I remembered something else.
"Adam, Corban's worried that the police will think he's killed Amber-and probably Blackwood, though there won't be any body." "Trust me," said Adam.
"We'll fix it for everyone." "All right," I told him.
"Thank you." And then I thought a little more.
"The vampires will want Chad and Corban gone.
They know too much." "You and Stefan and the pack are the only ones who know that," said Adam.
"The pack doesn't care, and Stefan won't betray them." "Hey," I told him lightly--pressing the handset into my face until it almost hurt.
"I love you." "I'll be there." I LEFT CORBAN SITTING IN THE LIVING ROOM AND WALKED reluctantly down the stairs.
I didn't want to know for sure that the oakman was dead.
I didn't want to confront Catherine if she was still about ...
and I thought she would have killed me if she could have.
But I also didn't want to be naked when Adam came.
The oakman was gone.