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PROLOGUE

A Fairy Tale

Once upon a tiirl nas happened: her mother left Leslie and her father to move to California with a stockbroker; and, in the middle of a sensationaladmitted to their existence Leslie never heard froain, but the fairies were another e city, rown up in to an apartment in Boston where they were the only black people in an all-white neighborhood Their apartment encompassed the upper floor of a narrow house owned by their downstairs neighbor, Mrs Cullinan Mrs Cullinan kept an eye on Leslie while her dad was at work, and by her silent chahborhood kids who casually dropped by for cookies or lemonade In Mrs Cullinan’s capable hands, Leslie learned to crochet, knit, sew, and cook while her dad kept the old woman’s house and lawn in top shape

Even as an adult, Leslie wasn’t sure if her dad had paid the old wo hi Mrs Cullinan would have done

When Leslie was in third grade, one of the kindergarten boys went irl by the nahout the sa pets -that would have attracted her attention if it weren’t for Mrs Cullinan On their daily walks (Mrs Cullinan called thehborhood were up to), the old wo-pet notices taped in store s and taking out a little notebook and writing all the infor for lost animals?" Leslie asked finally Shequestions because, in her experience, people lied better with their lips than they did with their actions But she hadn’t co-pet list and she was forced, at last, to resort to words

"It’s always good to keep an eye out" It was a not-quite answer, but Mrs Cullinan sounded troubled, so Leslie didn’t ask her again

When Leslie’s new birthday puppy - a , Mrs Cullinan had gotten tight-lipped and said, "It is time to put a stop to this" Leslie was pretty sure her landlady hadn’t known anyone was listening to her

Leslie, her father, and Mrs Cullinan were eating dinner a few days after her puppy’s disappearance when a fancy limousine pulled up in front of Miss Nellie Michaelson’s house Out of the dark depths of the shiny vehicle eed two men in suits and a woman in a white flowery dress that looked too suood match for the men’s attire They were dressed for a funeral and she for a picnic in the nearby park

Unabashedly spying, Leslie’s father and Mrs Cullinan left the table to stare out theas the three people entered Miss Nellie’s house without knocking

"What are they?" The expression on Leslie’s father’s face changed frorirabbed his service revolver and his badge Mrs Cullinan caught hie, fierce voice "No They are fae and it’s a fae mess they’ve come to clean up You let the around the adults, finally sahat had gotten everyone in a tizzy The two ling, her , but not a sound caht that Nellie looked as though she should be a model or a movie star, with her sad blue eyes and downturned soft ht then She didn’t look frightened - she looked enraged Her beautiful face isted, ugly, and, at the saly scary in a way that would haunt Leslie’s dreams even as an adult

The woman, the one in the airy-fairy dress who’d come with the men, exited the house about the sa Nellie in the backseat of the car She locked the door of Nellie’s house behind her, and when she was finished she looked up and saw the three of the After a pause, she strolled across the street and down the sidewalk to the fast, but she was opening the front gate al for the at?" she saidthe snap that held his gun in the holster

Mrs Cullinan stepped forward, her jaw set like it had been the day that she’d faced down a couple of young toughs who’d decided an old woame "Justice," she said with the same soft menace that had sent the boys after easier prey "And don’t get uppity with me I knohat you are and I’e woht Leslie took a step behind her father But Mrs Cullinan’s retort had drawn the attention of the men by the limousine

"Eve," said one of the men mildly, his hand on the open car door His voice was mellow and rich, as thick with Ireland as Mrs Cullinan’s own, and it carried across the street and down the block as if there were no city sounds to muffle it "Come to the car and keep Gordie company, would you?" Even Leslie kneasn’t a request

The woman stiffened and narrowed her eyes, but she turned and walked away from them When she had taken his place at the car, the man approached them

"You’d be Mrs Cullinan," he said, as soon as he was on their side of the street and close enough for quiet conversation He had one of thosefaces that didn’t stand out in a crowd - except for his eyes No matter how she tried, Leslie could never remember what color his eyes were, only that they were odd and strange and beautiful

"You know I a us on this and I would like to leave you with a reward" He held a business card out to her "A favor when you need it most"

"If the children are safe to play in their yards, that is reward enough" She dried her hands on her hips and made no move to take the card from him

He smiled and did not put down his hand "I will not leave indebted to you, Mrs Cullinan"