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“It’s not your final wish!” I say, a bit indignantly “You’ve already had your final wish! It was searching for your necklace, remember?”

For an instant Sadie looks caught out

“This is my other final wish,” she says at last

“Look, Sadie” I try to sound reasonable “I can’t just ask a stranger on a date You’ll have to do without this one Sorry”

Sadie is surveying , wounded expression that I wonder if I somehow stepped on her foot

“You’re really saying no,” she says at last, her voice cracking as though with e me One last innocent wish One tiny request”

“Look-”

“I was in that nursing hohter Never any life Just oldness… and loneliness… and misery…”

Oh God She can’t do this to me It’s not fair

“Every Christmas, all alone, never a visitor… never a present…”

“It wasn’t nores me

“And now I see the chance of a sliver of happiness A reat-niece-”

“OK!” I stop in my tracks and rub my forehead “OK! Whatever! Fine! I’ll do it”

Everyone in er on a date will hted

“You’re an angel!” Sadie’s iddy excitement She whirls around on the pave out “I’ll show you where he is! Come on!”

I follow her toward the ht foyer If I’ to do this, I need to do it very quickly, before I change my mind

“So where is he?” I look around the echoing marble chamber

“In a roo the leash

“I can’t just walk into an office building!” I hiss back, gesturing at the electronic security barriers “I need a plan I need an excuse I need … aha”