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Hawk pulled the book froe Then he stooped down to where Jablonsky was hog-tied on the floor with a sock in his mouth

“You can’t beat Bradbury for an opening,” Hawk said And then he read aloud with a clear, dramatic voice

“ ‘It was a pleasure to burn It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed’ ”

As Hawk read, Pidge hauled a large package out froold ribbon Soy had alanted and had waited for, for years

“To Peggy, froh the wrappings with a knife

He had a knife!

Pidge opened the box, peeled back the layers of tissue

“A Birkin bag, Peggy Santa brought you a nine-thousand-dollar purse! I’d call that a no, Peg A definite no”

Pidge reached for another wrapped gift, shook the box, while Hawk turned his attention to Peggy Jablonsky Peggy pleaded with Hawk, her actual words muffled by the wad of sock in her mouth It broke Henry’s heavy heart to see how hard she tried to communicate with her eyes

Hawk reached out and stroked Peggy’s baby-blond hair, then patted her da to open all your presents now, Mrs J Yours too, Mr J,” he said “Then we’ll decide if we’re going to let you live”

Two

HENRY JABLONSKY’S STOMACH HEAVED He gagged against the thick wool of the sock, pulled against his restraints, smelled the sour odor of urine Heat puddled under his clothes Christ He’d wet hi that et out alive

He couldn’t move He couldn’t speak But he could reason

What could he do?

Jablonsky looked around from his place on the floor, took in the fire poker only yards away He fixed his vision on that poker

“Mrs J,” Pidge called out to Peggy, shaking a small turquoise box “This is from Henry A Peretti necklace Very nice What? You have so to say?”

Pidge went over to Peggy Jablonsky and took the sock out of her mouth