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“Don’t even think about it,” Mack warned.
“But we tell immunes all the time,” I argued.
“When we have a purpose for them.”
“But I’m afraid that if we don’t tell her, she’ll find out some other way that might go badly for us.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that because it’s a decision we’ll make,” Mack said. “And I figure I ought to warn you that while I’m not going to try to talk to Owen today, he’ll probably get a visit at the office Monday from Jabez Jones. He’s just looking for something to blame Owen for.”
“Why?” I demanded. “Hasn’t he proven himself time and again? He’s put himself on the line so many times. He’s had chances to take over the magical world, and he’s never abused his power. But you people keep suspecting him just because of who his parents were, and he never so much as met them.”
“I don’t think you understand just how much trouble they caused.”
“Even so, he’s basically Luke Skywalker, and did they hold Darth Vader against him?”
“Interesting analogy. I’ll keep it in mind. Now, you said that reporter was getting news releases. Did she say where they came from?”
“No. I don’t think she knows. Which is kind of odd. You don’t generally get anonymous news releases. People who send news releases usually want you to know who they are. I also don’t know if she’s merely been invited to something that’s been planned or if all this is being staged just for her.” I wondered how much I should share with him about what I’d learned, but then I hadn’t really learned all that much about the various magic watchdog groups.
“Is there anyone else here you find suspicious?” Mack asked.
“Half the crowd is magical,” Rod said with a shrug. “As I said, there were some former Collegium people. A lot of people trying to avoid Owen.”
“My old boss,” I added. “She’s the one who got that brooch last summer. She doesn’t have magic, but it’s possible that she figured out the secret after that experience and now wants to expose it, so she may be working with one of those groups.”
“Okay, we’ll keep an eye on her,” Mack said with a nod. “Which one is she?”
I searched the crowd for Mimi, spotted her, and pointed her out. It was a pity I hadn’t gotten to see her dancing. “And be warned, she can be a nasty piece of work, even without magic.”
As much as I’d have loved to pin something on Mimi, I doubted she was really the one responsible. Even if she was, she’d have to have accomplices. But who was behind it?
There wasn’t much opportunity for investigating at the festival. I figured the culprit had probably left when the Council people showed up. That meant I could focus on dealing with Nita. “We have to tell her now, don’t we?” I said softly to Rod. “I mean, making excuses for what she experienced would be more morally shaky than just telling her, as far as I’m concerned. It was already silly trying to keep her in the dark.”
“I think we’re in the clear,” he agreed.
“So, do you guys want to take care of it? I’m not sure what I should say, and I can’t show her anything.”
“Why don’t we regroup at Owen’s place? I’ll give him a heads-up, and you go collect the girls. We do have some experience with bringing people in on the secret.”
I found Marcia, Gemma, and Nita on their way back from the snow cone stand. “Ready to go?” I said.
“I guess there’s no chance of talking with the band, huh?” Nita said.
“Probably not today. But I’m sure there will be other opportunities.” Like maybe at my wedding, which Nita could go to now.
“You’re not off the hook, you know,” she said. “I’m still waiting on an explanation.”
“You’re going to get one,” I reassured her.
“Today?” she asked. Her blueberry lips from her snow cone made her look rather sinister.
“Today.” If I had to tell her myself.
Rod joined us, giving me a slight nod to indicate that he’d briefed Owen. “I just heard from Owen,” he said. “He had to deal with something for James, so he had to head home. But he invited us all over. We thought we could maybe get a pizza and watch a movie, or something.”
Nita’s eyes started to crinkle in a skeptical frown, and I hurried to say, “And we’ll talk. Don’t worry, Owen’s probably the best one to explain everything.”
“He’s involved in this?”
