Infernal

10

-80:53

Tom saw Jack's hands tighten into fists. He wasn't going to hit him again, was he?

"Damn you," he said through clenched teeth. Then his fists relaxed. "All right, here's how it's gonna play. First thing tomorrow you're up and on the phone and you're calling anybody and everybody who might have heard of this thing."

"Okay, okay. Sure. Nobody wants to find out about it more than I do."

No lie there.

Jack said, "Don't be too sure of that."

Tom tried to put a positive spin on this for himself. Sure, Jack's pissed, and he's not the kind of guy you want pissed at you, but look on the bright side: You've just engaged a willing helper in your search.

He glanced back at the Lilitongue and—

"Holy shit! Jack! It's gone!"

"What?"

Tom didn't have to say any more. Nothing but empty air where it had floated only seconds ago.

But where—?

He dropped to his knees and reached for the sea chest. He tugged at its top thinking, Please be there! Please!

He pushed back the top: empty.

No! He couldn't have gone through all this just to have it disappear on him. It wasn't fair!

"Got to be around here somewhere," Jack said. "Not like it vanished into thin air."

But it had. They searched every room, every closet, every nook and cranny—nothing.

Tom wanted to scream.