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Scithe turned us loose. Out of earshot, Singe said, “It stopped raining while we were inside, but the pavement is still wet. The girl smelled damp when she brought the beer.”
“And that box was dry inside.”
“She said nothing to her aunt.”
“She didn’t. I feel like running all the way home.”
Singe and I were rattled, but Penny had other things on her mind. She said she would catch up at the house. She and Bottle were going to meet up for an egg cream.
Singe wouldn’t let me get stupid.
“Here.” I fished out the coin the fat woman made me take. “I want to see some change. And be careful.”
Penny laughed, waved the noble in the air, and then dashed away.
Singe promised, “She will not spend it all.”
THE DEAD MAN SENSED OUR AGITATION WHILE WE WERE GETTING THE door unlocked. Come straight to me. Dean is fine.
He asked no questions. He dived straight into our minds, slithered through the muck. He expressed no concern about Penny.
I asked, “Am I off? Or is that Eliza kid a killer?”
Given what you brought, what I got from Rock Truck, and subject to what I may get from Penny, yes. She is not what she seems. Give me a minute to digest.
He took five.
Why did the woman send the child out? Being distracted enough to have done so in Karentine?
I had overlooked that.
The answer might be implied from her lack of scent, her absence of presence, and the deep nausea I felt when she came to the door.
“Grünstrasse wanted her out because she interferes with mind stuff.”
Excellent.
“And she wanted a peek inside my head.”
Which she got. Clearly, though, her talent holds no candle to mine. She could not discern details or specific thoughts but did see that you truly do not have the Shadow. She saw that Penny was with you. She may have been alerted to my existence.
That might not be a bad thing. She would want to stay away.
Did she develop suspicions of the girl? Did she note the evidence you did when the child returned? If Eliza fails to volunteer a satisfactory explanation, the aunt should become extremely nervous. If she learns of the incident outside, she might suspect a sudden alliance between Eliza and Rock Truck.
I do wish I could have her in for a consultation.
I wasn’t sure how he might connect Rock and Eliza but wouldn’t bet against it. He conjures correct answers from gossamer and fairy dust, drawing on centuries of observing how human bad behavior takes shape.
Proof of that hypothesis will be Mr. Rock returning here.
“You think he’ll panic and come to us because he doesn’t know anyone else.”
Yes.
“He’s lethally stupid.”
That was obvious from the beginning.
