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"Hope this orth it," I ain
The ocular scanners were calibrated to test only two people at a tiate Mahir and I went first--me because safety protocols say to clear the driver as fast as possible, him because I was afraid he’d actually fall asleep if weto insist he stay awake long enough to tell us everything he knew, but I wanted to knoere looking at another Oakland Last time we let an unexpected visitor have ti, our apart for our lives I’d like to avoid having that happen again if I get any say in theon the front lawn, and they ot out of the van Mahir backpedaled frantically, winding up sitting on the arer seat with his feet drawn up, out of reach of inquisitive noses This didn’t stop the in their oddly sonorous ss leashed?"
"Not when they’re at hoie replied "Bruiser, Butch, Kitty, down" The three dogs that had see to Mahir dropped to all fours and trotted over to Maggie, tongues lolling
"They grow on you," I said, leaning past Mahir to grab his bag It was deceptively heavy I’d been expecting it to weigh h to throw , bricks?"
"Computer equipment, mostly I hope you have a few shirts I can borrow It seemed like a poor idea to travel with s warily as he slipped out of the van and edged toward the house The dogs, for their part, stayed clustered around Maggie, looking up at her with adoring eyes
"You can borrowcotoward the kitchen door "Coffee awaits, unless you’d rather have tea You look like shit, by the way"
"Yes, I’ve gathered," said Mahir wearily "Tea sounds fantastic"
He kept trudging onward as I glanced back at Maggie Kelly had e thoughtfully Maggie nodded, signaling her understanding I answered her nod with a brief, relieved smile I needed a few ht-hour co me she’d keep Kelly out of the way until I was ready for her
The kitchen was empty Alaric and Becks were still off-site, and all the bulldogs were outside, probably harassing Maggie into playing catch with theuided Mahir to a seat at the table "You have a tea-based preference? Maggie has so like five hundred kinds I think they all taste like licking the laer, so I really can’tthat isn’t herbal will be fine" Mahir collapsed into the chair, his chin dipping until it alot it" I kept one eye on hi
He’s worn out
"I got that," I h to blink at me I offered an insincere s Hello, Georgia I hope your ongoing haunting hasn’t driven your brother too far past the edge of reason to justify this visit"
There’s no such thing as ghosts, said George, sounding peevish
The idea of getting into that particular arguiven e instead, answering, "George says hey Your tea will be ready in just a minute Want to tell me why you decided to be a surprise? We could’ve at least "
"I didn’t want to broadcast it anywhere," Mahir said, with a cal This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision I hadn’t really expected it would be, but still, the tone of his voice, combined with the exhaustion in his face, made me want to put away the tea and break out the booze "I purchased a flight froency, rather than online, and flew from there to Seattle, where I switched froht to Portland Froentleman ns the plane took pay wo the state for a flower show"
"How rateful I’e of overall site inco a salary, or you’d owe lasses in order to scrub at his eyes with the heel of his hand "I’er, I’m afraid I’ve been awake daured" The kettle began to whistle I turned it off, dropping a teabag fro and covering it ater before walking theand soy milk over to Mahir "Give me the short form How bad is it?"