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“Aw, Theta’s too smart to fall for my hooey,” Sam said, trying to save her. “Besides, she knows all about my powers.”
“So does most of New York City by now. The question is, will your powers work now that they are known? Does that knowledge affect people’s suggestibility?”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought about that,” Sam said.
“Theta, could you, please?” Sister Walker extended a hand to her.
Theta put out her cigarette and, feeling nervous, took a seat opposite Sam.
“Okay?” Sam asked.
“Okay,” she said.
“Evie, since Sam seems to affect your reading ability, let’s see if you have any sway over his powers. Come sit close to him, if you would, please,” Sister Walker said.
With a pained sigh, Evie left the comfort of her chair and came to sit beside Sam. She liked the way he smelled, like spicy aftershave and something else, something she could only describe as Sam.
Sam squinted at her. “You jake? You look funny.”
“I’m fine. Just… don’t steal anything from me,” Evie warned.
“Here goes.” Sam thrust his left hand toward Theta. “Don’t see me.”
Theta blinked and Sam’s shoulders sagged. She could see him losing confidence.
“Try again,” she urged. “Go all out.”
“You sure?” Sam said quietly.
“Yeah. Think about putting me right to sleep.”
“Sam’s good at that,” Evie grumbled.
“Okaaay,” Sam said, breathing deeply.
Theta took hold of Sam’s other arm, and he looked into her eyes, thinking of every time he’d been doubted. A memory swam into his head. The night his mother kissed him good-bye. I must do this, Little Fox. Our country needs me. But I will be home soon enough. He never saw his mother again. He would find her. He would get stronger and he would find her.
“Don’t. See. Me,” Sam growled.
Static charged the air, raising the hair on Evie’s arms and the back of her neck. She blinked, a bit dazed. Sam was no longer beside her. Had she gone under?
“Sam? Sam!” Evie called as she turned in her chair, searching.
“You already tried that little stunt, Evie.”
She could hear Sam’s voice, but she couldn’t see him. At his desk, Will had gone slack and glassy-eyed, as had Mabel and Jericho. Theta stared straight ahead. Even Henry, Ling, and Isaiah looked dazed. Other than Evie herself, only Memphis and Sister Walker were alert.
“I’m not pulling your leg, Sam. Honest!” Evie put out a hand and yelped when she touched something solid. He was right next to her. “Sam. You’re…invisible!”
“I am?”
“Yes, you’re—aaah!” Evie shrieked, and leaped from her chair. “Stop tickling me!”
“This is the best day of my life!” Sam’s laughter rippled the air where he sat, and then he began to reappear like a ghost image on film until he was fully restored.
“Twenty-two seconds,” Sister Walker said, clearly excited. “That’s how long you were invisible.”
“Five seconds. That’s how long it’s gonna take me to give you a black eye,” Evie said.
