Page 94 of Autumn L.A.W

“Muerto.” Dead.

Victoria must have understood it too, because her eyes widened slightly before narrowing again.

Duke’s heart slammed against his ribs. No more waiting. No more hoping this turned reasonable. He shifted his weight subtly, calculating distance. Three steps to the weapons room. Maybe four. If he moved fast enough...

The leader barked another sentence.

Duke lunged. He sprinted toward the open doorway just as shouting erupted behind him. He grabbed the nearest rifle, spun around, and prepared for gunfire.

None came. The room’s action had frozen. The guards stood motionless.

The leader remained half out of his chair, mouth open mid-yell. Even the cigar smoke hung motionless in the air.

Duke blinked. Slowly, he lowered the weapon and looked at Victoria.

She stared back at him, equally stunned.

“How did you...” he started. “I thought you couldn’t...”

“I didn’t,” she said immediately. “Did you?”

“No.”

A calm female voice drifted across the room.

“That was me.”

Both of them watched as a woman in a flowing, printed silk robe stepped through the doorway like she had all the time in the world.

“I knew you two were in trouble.”

“Mom?” Duke exclaimed.

Victoria extended her hand. “Uh, I guess I should introduce myself and thank you. I’m Victoria De La Fontaine.”

“And I guess we should all get the hell out of here,” Duke said. “We can save introductions for later.”

As they raced past the motionless armed men toward the library, Duke kept glancing at his mother.

“What?” she asked.

“I didn’t know you could do that.”

She gave him a sly smile and winked. “You don’t know everything.”

“I guess not.”

As soon as they reached the sanctuary of the library, Duke spun his magical globe and touched a spot in the Florida interior. A window opened, displaying a 3D image of the area, like a real-time Google Maps view. Duke’s finger glided over the area until he found a safe and private spot, and then he took his finger off the screen. A moment later, the library touched down so gently that the books on the shelves didn’t even move.

“Now, before you leave to get your ghost orchid, tell me why you went to Cuba instead of Florida?” Duke’s mother demanded.

“Mother…”

“I can answer that,” Victoria said. “I had such a good time visiting exotic places and experiencing other cultures that I wanted to see Cuba. I’ve been to Florida many times. Since I’m Canadian, I thought any locals would be open to our visit. Even though I don’t have my passport, I could sing Oh, Canada, albeit off-key, until they let me in.”

One side of Duke’s mother’s mouth twitched up, as if she were trying to stifle a grin. She extended her hand toward Victoria and said, “Now that the crisis is over, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Amelia Masterson. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Victoria.”

Victoria shook her hand, then pulled her in for a hug. “I cannot thank you enough for coming at the exact moment we needed you. How did you know?”