Page 18 (1/2)

Dawna looked at the building and it was obvious she didn’t want to go back inside She was probably noticing that there were more cars than usual in the lot Someone had even parked in my reserved spot, so I’d had to take the last free space I’ve never understood that tendency of people to ignore signs and bright yellow letters against black pavement But they do, and then look surprised when you confront the on bitter

I glanced at my watch "Quarter ’til"

Her nose wrinkled "It’s the French settle over Mo, I’n on to this job to be a combination nanny and bouncer"

I didn’t bite on that bait, because in my mind, that’s pretty much what a receptionist is And I knona knows that She’s said it herself more than once "You’re just cranky because you’ve been up too long"

"You’re probably right" She climbed out of the car I made a esture "I’ve got a date tonight anyway I’d have canceled for the lessons, but I’d rather not You’re going to need it to get home I can pick it up later"

"You sure?"

"Yeah No problema" She pasted a sht behind her for the first couple of steps, but thenWhen she paused, as if to wait, I waved her on It sounded like they really needed her in there

I pressed the button, answering, "Graves"

"Take the job!" I couldn’t put a name to the panicked voice on the other end of the line, but it sounded faularly, but I’d spoken to him before, and recently

"You have to take the job,"he pleaded "You have to Her psychic told her that she had to get you out of the way if this was going to work She won’t kill you if you just leave"

"Who is this? What job?" I asked, but I had a pretty good idea about the last part

"It wasn’t supposed to be like this Sanchez is dead Marjorie’s in the hospital I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, too" He was sobbing, now "Please Just take the job" He hung up before I could say anything else

I was cold, and it had nothing to do with the temperature outdoors Sanchez is dead Marjorie is in the hospital The only Sanchez I’d run into lately was the principal at Abe Lincoln, and Marjorie was the naiven the business card with my cell number to The caller could have been Jamisyn Or maybe the vice principal … as his na on Jamisyn We’d talked, and he actually had see to hurry up to my office and do a little conaCheuard have to do with a drug manufacturer?

The voices inside the office became audible before I’d taken a dozen steps froan to rise Because Daas right This wasn’t going to be a quietOne of the voices was newly fa to convince me to set off a bomb

"I really feel it will be best if you listen to h my veins, felt my body react to it the way it had in the school basement My hand automatically went for my Colt and I pulled it back with effort There were too un into the mix Instead, I pulled a couple of very particular charms out of

Dawna didn’t seem to notice me She wasto herself than oodto be trouble"

Yeah Me, too