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We shot out the other side onto empty country roads.
"Are you okay?" Cortez asked as he slowed the car.
"Jostled, but fine. That was some driving."
"Where are we?" Savannah asked, sitting up.
"Heading home," I said.
Cortez glanced in the rearview mirror. "Unfortunately, we have something of a predicament. I would presume those officers made a note of our license plate."
"You're right. I didn't think of that."
"Not to worry. It simply means we have to abandon the car outside town and walk in through the woods. When we get to your house, you'll need to call Miss Levine and apprise her of the situation. If the police arrive before morning, she can claim the car was stolen while she slept. If they don't contact her by nine, I would advise that she call and report the car missing herself."
"Police?" Savannah said, blinking sleepily. "What police?"
"Don't ask," I said. "And don't ever cast that spell again. Please."
"I conjured cops?"
"In a manner of speaking," Cortez said. "I'm going to pull over up here. I believe that leaves us with about a twenty-minute walk."
He parked the car with the nose pulled into a stretch of forest, leaving the tail end out, so it could be found, but not easily.
"Should we leave the keys in the ignition?" I said as I hoisted my knapsack onto my shoulder.
"No. That would raise too many questions as to how the thieves obtained the keys. Better to make this look like a typical car-theft."
He opened his jacket and pulled out a tiny tool case.
"You're going to hot-wire the car?" Savannah said, leaning over the seat. "Cool. Did you boost cars when you were a kid?"
"Certainly not."
"Let me guess," I said. "Another of those questionable, but necessary skills. Like knowing how to un-conjure ghosts and drive a getaway car."
"Precisely."
"How many cars have you boosted?" Savannah asked as we got out of the car and headed down the road on foot.
"Two. Both times, I assure you, it was an absolute last resort. I found myself without transportation and in urgent
need of it. Fortunately, neither vehicle was damaged and I was able to leave it in a safe place, after washing it and filling the tank."
I grinned. "Bet that had the cops scratching their heads. A conscientious car thief."
Savannah rolled her eyes. "Don't you guys ever do anything bad?"
"I lifted a tube of lipstick when I was twelve."
"Yeah. You told me about that one." She looked at Cortez. "Know what she did? Stole it, then felt so bad she mailed the money to the store. Tax included. You guys are really setting a bad example, you know."
"A bad example?"
"Sure. How do you expect me to live up to it? I'm going to need serious therapy someday."
"Don't worry," I said. "I've budgeted for that."
