“I’m not a beagle,” the boy declared. “I can’t just doze on some couch or rug. I need a bed. I promise I’ll be a perfect gentleman. And I’ll wake you right away if Hannah’s condition changes.”
Amanda traded a dim look with Theo, then gave David an acquiescent shrug. She raised a worried eyebrow when he closed the door behind him.
“Did I just make an awful mistake?”
Theo smirked. “Even if she was conscious, Hannah wouldn’t mind.”
“You mean if he shares a bed with her or if he tries something?”
“Yes.”
She covered her laugh with a hand, feeling guilty to be glib under the circumstances. She slipped out of her sweaty T-shirt and into a tank top, stunning Theo with her sudden lack of inhibition. What a strange unit the six of them had become. He already felt more at home with the Silvers than he ever did with the Maranans.
Amanda turned off the light and stretched out on the long sofa. Theo had curled up in the love seat, his bandaged thigh dangling awkwardly over the edge. She asked him if he’d be okay like that. He assured her he was quite the beagle.
At dawn, a shrill electronic chirp blared throughout the suite. Zack’s eyelids fluttered in jarring disruption. He dazedly processed the teenage girl in his bed, then plucked his ringing handphone from the dresser.
Mia rolled over and opened a groggy eye. “What time is it?”
“Early.”
“Who’s calling?”
“Well, that’s the weird thing.”
He held the phone in front of her. She squinted at the screen. Mia Calling.
For a brief disturbing moment, Mia wondered if her future self had discovered a new venue. Once the ringing stopped, she stumbled onto the saner theory.
“Someone found my phone. The one I threw away.”
Zack had a strong idea who it was. When the phone rang a second time, he painfully scuttled out of bed. Mia sat up in worry.
“Wait. You’re not going to answer that, are you?”
“I’ll be all right.”
“But it could be—”
Before she could finish, Zack pressed the phone to his ear and heaved a sigh into the speaker.
“Hello and up yours, Evan.”
From the airy balcony of his newest suite, Evan laughed. This was his fifth trip through their conversation. Zack always started the same way.
“Good morning,” he said, with sunny cheer. “How are the new digs?”
“Spiffy,” he’ll say, and then inquire my purpose in calling.
“Spiffy,” Zack said. “Are you calling to gloat or is there another reason?”
“For you, my friend, I’m all rainbows and kittens. Come outside. Let’s talk privately.”
Beyond the sliding glass door, two naked corpses bled out on the bed. This suite’s balcony was the only place Evan could get a decent view of the Silvers’ new hideout. Tragically, the room had been occupied by a pair of young newlyweds who were light sleepers and loud screamers. Evan had to rewind twelve times before he was able to murder them quietly. It didn’t help that he’d invaded their room in a smiling gray goblin mask.
Evan pressed binoculars to his eyeholes, waiting for Zack to emerge onto the patio.
“By the way, I’m sorry about the mimosa prank. I only wanted the sisters to shriek and pull some hair. I didn’t expect a full tempic smackdown. Jesus.”
Zack stepped outside and slid the door shut. He scanned Tower Two, the only spire within view.
“Over here,” said Evan. “Top floor.”
Zack squinted across the distance at the tiny waving goblin. “You’re wearing a mask.”
“No. This is just how I look in the morning.”
“Why the mask? I’ve already seen your face.”
“It’s for the Deps and their damn ghost drills,” Evan explained. “They can be a real hassle when they’ve got your mug in their system, as you’ll soon discover. The woman on your tail is particularly smart. In fact, I’d say she’s your next big problem.”
“I’m still stuck on the current one.”
Evan sighed. “I know. I’m a handful. Look, you took this call because you’re hoping to reason with me, to convince me to leave you guys alone. The good news is that there’s a way. Let’s just . . . Whoops. Here comes the concern brigade.”
Mia, Amanda, and Theo stood at the glass door, all watching Zack with leery caution. Theo and Amanda backed off at the sight of Zack’s assuring palm. Mia kept her nervous vigil.
Evan chuckled. “Ah, that Farisi. Such a little sweetheart. Enjoy it now before she changes.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“I mean all teenagers are wet clay, but Mia really takes a different shape. Sometimes she becomes a thin and pretty slut-tease, the Third Little Given. Other times she hardens into a fat and angry ass-kicker. That’s when she’s really fun.”
“Evan . . .”
“Most of the time, she just dies. It’s weird. She’s like the team’s cannon fodder. She rarely makes it to Year Two.”
Zack’s empty stomach churned. “You’re obviously trying to upset me.”