Page 57 of Heart of Mischief

Abigail stared at the screen for several blank seconds.

“Shit,” she said at last.

“Yeah,” agreed Lou.

“Shit.” Abigail looked between Charlie and Mason. “It’s you two. You’re the ones Rattatosk is looking for.”

The Hudsons could only nod.

“Did someone forget to invite me to the party?”

Charlie stifled a groan. OfcourseElias had already found them. He could probably smell their fear from all the way in the bathroom. She started to tell him to get lost but remembered just in time that she was supposed to be friendly. Or, if notfriendly, then not outright hostile.

Mason had no such limitations. “Go away. No traitors allowed.”

“No, it’s fine,” Charlie said quickly.

Her brother shot her a bewildered look.

“I mean…” She backtracked.Gods.How was she supposed to buddy up to Elias without making her brother hate her even more?She would have to share her plan with him later. If he would even listen. “I mean, he needs to see the photo. Since we’re working together to find Rattatosk’s master.”

Mason’s eyes narrowed to little slits.

“What photo?” asked Elias.

“This one.” Lou held her phone up.

“Oh,” he said. “Oh.That’sgruesome.” He leaned forward, eagerly using two fingers to zoom in. “Wow. Amazing attention to detail. The claw marks on the garage? Gorgeous stuff, honestly.”

“You’re a sociopath,” said Mason.

Elias inclined his head in a slight bow. “Thank you.” He moved the image, zooming in on a blurry close-up of one of the hand stumps. “That’s Rattatosk for sure. Guy is a master of terror.” He laid a fist over his heart and looked meaningfully around the circle. “Respect.”

“Why are you here, again?” Abigail asked, glaring at him. “I, for one, am not too keen on sharing privileged information with a known murderer.”

“It’s like Charlie said,” Elias said. “We’re on the same side now.”

“Nope. I don’t buy that for a second. I’m with Mason here. You’re a sociopath who can’t be trusted.”

“Trust or not, you need me,” Elias pressed. “I have information.”

“What kind of information?” Abigail snapped.

“On the riddle, for one.”

“Excuse me?” Abigail’s eyes flared. “No. Absolutely not. The riddle ismyproject. I’m the one who’s going to solve it.”

“Really?” Lou asked. “I thought obsessively studying the Valkyrie was your project now.”

Abigail groaned. “I told you already: I amnotobsessing over the Valkyrie. I’m merelyintrigued. Like, in an academic fashion.”

Lou nodded sagely. “Linnea’s ample chestisworthy of academic analysis.”

Abigail opened her mouth, ready with a retort, but Lou went on.

“Come on, Abigail,” said Lou. “Let Elias lend a hand. Sharing is caring. We could use the help.”

Abigail narrowed her eyes. “Whose side are youon?”