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"Tucker's getting restless," Xavier said. "We should go."
"Bring her back some time," Savannah said, returning to her seat. "I'm out of Mars bars, too."
"And remind me what should compel me to do you these favors?" Xavier said. "Your boundless charm?"
Savannah gave a mock sigh, eyes twinkling with a cunning that was half-child, half-woman. "Fine. Get me some candy bars and I'll play Monopoly with you. Since you get so bo-o-o-red."
"I don't think that's such a good idea, dear," Ruth whispered.
"It's okay," Savannah said. "He's a really shi--crappy player. We can both beat him."
There was still something I needed to say to Ruth, but I had no idea how to do it without Xavier overhearing. I didn't dare ask to speak to Ruth in private. Even if I could, where would we find privacy in a glass cube?
"You're having trouble contacting Paige," Ruth said.
I jumped and glanced over at Xavier. He was still bantering with Savannah.
"He can't hear me," Ruth said. "Don't answer aloud, though. The spell only works for me. Just nod."
I nodded.
Ruth sighed. "I was afraid of that. I spoke to her yesterday, but when I tried this morning, I couldn't contact either you or her. Perhaps it's because I'm concentrating too much of my energy on the child. I had no idea how powerful Savannah would be. Her mother had great potential, but she never lived up to it. Too undisciplined. Too inclined toward ... darker things. With the proper training, this one could be--" She stopped. "But that's witch business. I won't bore you with it. Just please make sure you get her to Paige. After what I'm doing, Savannah must not be left on her own. As for renewing contact, try to relax, dear. It will come. If my energy returns, I'll communicate with Paige myself and get a message to you."
"--poker?" Savannah was asking me.
"Hmmm?" I said.
"Do you play poker?" she said. "Xavier says he won't play because we need a fourth person, but I think he's just scared he'll get beat by a girl."
"Good night, Savannah," Xavier said, ushering me out of the cell.
"Not the dark Mars bars," Savannah called after him. "They give me zits."
Xavier chuckled and pulled the door shut. Tucker still stood in the hall, arms crossed.
"So?" Xavier asked him. "See any unidentified flying objects? Did the walls come crumbling down?"
Tucker only glared. Xavier grinned and led me toward the exit.
"You don't believe that psychic energy explanation?" I asked as we walked. "What do you think it is? A poltergeist?"
"Pol--?" he started, then his lip curled. "Leah."
"She seems to think--"
"I know what she thinks." Xavier opened the security door. "Her poltergeist theory."
"There you are!" a voice called.
I looked to see Carmichael bearing down on us.
"You," she said to Xavier. "I should have guessed. I asked for Elena over twenty minutes ago."
"If it was an emergency, you'd have come yourself," Xavier said.
"It's an emergency now." She waved him off. "Go make yourself useful for once. Maybe you can help--"
Xavier vanished. Carmichael sighed and shook her head, then grabbed my elbow and propelled me to the elevator. As
