Chapter 31

           Theruntooklessthanthreedaystosetup.IreneElliottturnedstone-coldproandmadeithappenthatway.

           InthelimobacktoBayCity,Ilaiditoutforher.Atfirstshewasstillcryinginside,butasthedetailmountedsheclickedin,nodding,grunting,stoppingmeandbackingmeuponminorpointsIhadn’tmadeclearenough.IshowedherReileenKawahara’ssuggestedhardwarelistandsheOK’dabouttwothirdsofit.TherestwasjustcorporatepaddingandKawahara’sadvisors,inheropinion,didn’tknowshit.

           Bytheendofthejourneyshehaditdown.Icouldseetherunalreadyunfoldingbehindhereyes.Thetearshaddriedonherface,forgotten,andherexpressionwascleanpurpose,locked-downhateforthemanwhohadusedherdaughter,andanembodiedwilltorevenge.

           IreneElliottwassold.

           IrentedanapartmentinOaklandontheJacSolaccount.ElliottmovedinandIlefthertheretocatchuponsomesleep.IstayedattheHendrix,triedtodosomesleepingofmyownwithoutmuchsuccessandwentbacksixhourslatertofindElliottalreadyprowlingabouttheapartment.

           IcalledthenamesandnumbersKawaharahadgivenmeandorderedthestaffElliotthadticked.Thecratesarrivedinhours.Elliottcrackedthemopenandlaidoutthehardwareacrosstheflooroftheapartment.

           TogetherwewentthroughOrtega’slistofvirtualforumsandworkeditdowntoashortlistofseven