Page 28 (1/2)

"What’s going on?" I let hiwas I out?"

"Most of the day Coht we had a couple of days" I staggered next to hi body to work I probably should’ve lain down on oodbye to Veronica, but I hadn’t thought I’d be out that long His hand was back, steadying one

"We should’ve had a couple days They should’ve sentAfter the minions couldn’t crack the ward, soet bumped up on the importance scale At least, that’s how it used to work If anything, their organization should’ve beco"

We hurried into the dining room, where a cloudy crystal ball sat on the table, the white inside of it rolling lazily Myover a metal plate filled ater

"What the hell?" I said, stopping dead

"Do not swear in this house, Penelope Bristol,"up from the water-filled plate

"Don’t swear? Really? That’s a real crystal ball, isn’t it? Because the white part of the twenty-dollar version does not spin and whirl like that"

"Of course it is a real crystal ball And if you’d had only Seer abilities, I ot the ical talent froame"

"You are too old to use that expression, Ma," I groused

"I’"

"Fine You’re too uncool"

She straightened fro to do with a white strea on a sle"

"Shit" Eround between his feet

"Do not swear in this household, youngdown a chair to sit in front of the crystal ball

"Soht" Eotten video And since you drove through the place"--I got a cockeyed look--"it would’ve been easy for theate"

"Which means they also know you’re in town, Emery," my mother said, her hands on either side of the crystal ball, her eyes closed

"You don’t even look at it?" I iven me a pointer or two I probably looked like a dope"

"Your way sells better," lass

"They already kneas in town," Emery said darkly He studiedthey have They won’t take any chances with you"

I opened lanced at ain fill the room

My anseren’t with her They would be filtered through Emery My life was tied with him now My survival with his