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Callahan, as well as Sam,” Merlin said.
“We also have Dean on the inside,” Owen added.
“And then Miss Chandler as an immune.”
“Plus my brother Teddy, who’s also immune.”
Merlin raised an eyebrow and said to Owen, “Now I see what you mean about an interesting family tree. And then we have whatever local creatures deign to show up. That’s against how many of them?”
“About two dozen to start with, but a few of them left this morning,” Dean reported.
“Mr. Idris is the only fully qualified wizard of the lot?” Merlin asked.
“As far as I can tell,” Dean replied. “Not that I’m an expert, but the whole group seems to be students.”
“Ah, then it looks as though the odds are in our favor. Shall we convene at the park half an hour before sunset?”
I finally managed to herd the magical cabal out of my office so I could get some work done and so the work of the store could continue. I couldn’t imagine explaining to my dad why I was holed up in my office with a group of strangers during peak operating hours. Owen let out a huge whoosh of breath when they were all gone. “I guess I’m not fired,” he said.
“Yeah, but the question is, will you have to stay after school when this is over?”
“Oh, this is definitely not the last I’ll hear of this. How much trouble I’m in will depend on how things go tonight.”
When I’d finished my work early that afternoon, I said to Owen, “Ready to go bait the hook?”
He sighed heavily. “We might as well.”
“Having second thoughts?”
“Of course, but I can’t think of anything else that would be as effective. I’m sure I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah, but we don’t want you wearing yourself out before tonight. I’m worried about you.”
“You are?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Of course I am. Why do you think I’m here in the first place?”
“Saving me from myself, I know.” He sounded almost dejected.
I patted him on the arm. “I mean that in a good way. Do you think I’d have willingly left New York and come back here for just anyone?” That earned me the slightest hint of a smile and an incredibly cute blush.
I’d parked my truck behind the store in the loading area so it wouldn’t be as visible to anyone driving by. As we pulled out onto the road, Owen said, “Let’s go by the square. See if any of them are there.”
There weren’t nearly as many of the visitors wandering the square this afternoon, just a couple of groups. “Drive slowly by them,” he said. Then he turned his face to the truck’s window so he was fully visible.
One of the men in the group did a double take as I drove past, then he got the attention of the others and pointed. “Speed up now,” Owen directed. I gunned the truck to drive away as the group of wannabe wizards took off running after us. I was almost out of their reach when I reached a stoplight that had just turned red. The tires squealed as I slammed on the brakes. It was an intersection with a major highway, so I wasn’t about to try running that light.
The band of wizards had almost reached the truck, and my necklace buzzed to the point that it was painful. “They’re using magic,” I said.
“I know. I’m deflecting it.”
Then they veered off to the side, and I let myself relax. Maybe they’d given up. But then a car roared around the corner of the square, heading toward us.
“Oh great, now they’ve got a car,” I said, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel in worry and impatience. “I can’t run the light.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Well, in about fifteen seconds they’re going to rear-end us unless we find another way to get out of here.”
