Page 40 (1/2)

"I told you, ere thinking about coe for…" Lucian paused hiating the strange, weird, downright frightening, or bizarre Jade is a writer You know the old saying--it’s all grist for the mill But maybe you’d like to explain just a biton?"

"I don’t know, really Maybe nothing Maybe it’s all iined Mostly, at the moment, no matter how bizarre this sounds… it’s dreams Both my wife and I… her cousin is a Wiccan, and we started out here listening to soland There’s the standard concept, of course, that dreaestion And since it’s Halloween season here, any manner of creature in the street is acceptable, so the power of suggestion is surely strong But still… there’s a weird fog out around here all the tis… hard to explain over the phone And it’s impossible, you see, to really trust anyone here, not that I believe in spells and things like that, but… and of course, Wiccans aren’t supposed to be evil

Actually, I can’t believe I’ers… but it was just so odd, too, havingthe article in the national paper… and then the book"

"Was there so at the others once again while he waited for the answer

"Again, I’estion, of course I mean, none of this can be real But eventhat I… well, they’re re sure that she knoas in Boston… never o… on the last fullany sense It’s difficult to suddenly confide in and explain things to people who are… well, really strangers But then… if I had to trust in having friends here… I think I’d be in a fair a here, I would appreciate the chance to talk with you again"

"Oh, we’re really co," Lucian murmured "We’ll see you by to so soon?"

"It’s the day before Halloween," Lucian reht, of course You knoas really ready just to walk away Screw our careers But Megan was afraid I’d wind up resenting the fact that we had to leave a great job and experience because she was having nightmares Now I’m afraid she’s convinced that I’ the baby She spoke very softly, looking at Lucian "She’s left him," she said

Lucian nodded "Finn, whatever the problem, don’t let your alk anywhere alone in the dark"

"What?"

"Just keep an eye on her, no , drawn out pause from the other end "Did I mention that there were… circuht now?"

"No"

"Watch out for her," Lucian said

"At night In the darkness… he needs to beware of the fog," Maggie whispered

Lucian nodded "The dark hours are when… well, you knohen s happen Don’t let her be alone in the dark--or the fog Take care tonight"

A sniff sounded over the phone "I told you that I was ready to throw it all in Get the hell out of here

Megan thought I’d resent her for what it would do to our careers And no, I’ie stared at Sean "Tell him that it wouldn’t have mattered He’d have wound up back there, one way or the other"

Lucian repeated Maggie’s words "If so on, it probably wouldn’t make any difference, whether you were there, or if you’d tried to leave Circuet you back But don’t worry We’ll be there by ht off the common If you don’t find us by early afternoon, we’ll find you Jade will have this cell And, of course, yours is noith our caller ID"

"Right"

"We’ll see you"