Part 28 (1/2)

him. If she walked a bit faster, she could catch up to him.

But no matter how fast she walked, he remained the same distance ahead

of her. She began to run. Her heart pounded and her breath came raggedly, and still he was distant and out of her reach.

Beyond her ability to touch.

She finally stopped running and paused to catch her breath, and when she

did she was puzzled to find that the beach was gone. She could stillhear the waves, the rhythmic pulsing that was so soothing, but now shewas at the construction site where Kane's building was going up.

Only it wasn't quite right somehow.

She walked around the steel skeleton to the back, and frowned because on

this side it was a solid office building, windows gleaming in the sunlight. That was very odd, she thought. Only half a building.

Why would Kane build half a building?

”He must have a reason,” she said aloud.

The words were no sooner out of her mouth than she was in her apartment,

and she walked through it curiously, looking at familiar things, touching them.

But everything was curiously insubstantial, and she was puzzled again.

'You're dead, - Faith told her.

”Don't be ridiculous.”

”You are.

Dinah shook her head and continued through the apartment, searching now, her expression determined. ”I'll find it, and then everything will be all right again, she said.

”But you're dead, - Faith insisted, miserable. ”It's too late, becauseyou're dead. When I find it, I won't be dead anymore,” Dinah explainedreasonably.

”How do you know that?”

”I just know, that's all. Why are you here?”

”I tried to reach you,” Faith explained, following her. ”I tried and

tried.

But it was so dark, and all I could hear was the water.”

You're reaching me now.”

”Yes, but I think it's because you're dead.” 'How you do harp on that,”

Dinah said, shaking her head.

”Well, I'm sorry, but it's the truth. What is it you're looking for, anyway?”

”The Macguffin, I think somebody called it.”

”That's what we're looking for.

”Yes, I know. But you're looking in the wrong place.

”Then tell me where to look.

Dinah made a sound of exasperation. ”If I did, it wouldn't be a treasure

hunt, now would it?”

”I guess not. But-”

They were in the bedroom, and Dinah turned to her suddenly. ”Faith, you

have to wake up.”

”But I want to talk to you.

”Listen to me. You have to wake up.”

”But-”

”Faith, someone's trying to get in your window.”

CHAPTER TEN.

Faith opened her eyes and was instantly wide awake.