Page 8 (2/2)

"No We gave it back to your wife I have everything that was on it And I left it altered Now it’sinforamble, and one that could have cost lives From where I sat now, the risk had been worth it "The inforlass I’ve read through everything I can, and I’ the rest There’s centuries of information to cover"

"You’re here because a man I trusted deeply believed in you" He looked at Lialass estured toout is oal, sir, and I’m one hundred percent colass, you have an ability What is it?"

I sed, hard "I can control water The tides Moon phases--that’s how it’s connects with the ti I mess with very often Too hard to control"

"Yet you come to New Orleans ‘Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink’ " The man had been in my presence for all of five est fears and quoted "The Ri to handle thevolatile If working for you requires me to do so … I’ll find a way around it"

I didn’t look at Lia that much water would do to lass that involved my ability had been the previous summer A tiny country stream had required a reroute fro enough toThen Nate and I had helped fill the now-dry section of creek bed with clay mud

I’d acted like it was sirass, a result of ht off panic

"I don’t foresee a circu on the water would be necessary Unless you can’t handle the pool in the back"

"That’s not a problem"

Girard sat back in his seat "Tell ave him the short version because I didn’t kno to approach the long one "You deal in rare antiquities People with time-related abilities assist"

"Succinct Diplomatic Nice" Girard crossed his ankle over one knee "The Hourglass has a very high bar when it comes to morality I acquire antiquities under certain furtive circu to co to work forsorts of people to ask questions Are you prepared to answer theood guys or the bad Paul Girard had no ties of human nature Uncertainty wouldn’t do in this situation

"I’m prepared"

"Good Ideally, I can keep you out of that end, since your hter But if it becomes part of your cover, so be it I don’t want Hallie to knohat you’re really doing here" He stared atI was totally on board "I told her I was planning to hire new security We’ll let her believe you’re part of her new detail"

"I don’t--I have no idea how to be a bodyguard I don’t even kno to fake it"

"It doesn’t matter I rarely have anyone on her in the house She’ll be really, really pissed off, and hter, pissed off …" He looked at me like he felt sorry for lass?" Liam asked

"Her ability is translass"

Lia her?"

"That depends" Girard asked, focusing on me, "Do you have answers for her?"