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Luc didn’t answer for a long moment "Well, that is the question of the day, isn’t it?"

I nodded

"But you knohat the more important question is?" he asked "What if a Luxen was in you house and they did take so? You said Sylvia’s office door was open, but it’s noraze flew to his "Why wouldn’t shemoment, and when he spoke, he didn’t answer the question He posed another one "Hoell do you think you know Sylvia Dasher?"

14

The local news Wednesdaywas consumed by what had happened to Colleen, and A

The reporters openly speculated that it had been a Luxen attack--an unregistered Luxen attack--and that one was also behind Aht that, but the why didn’t seem to matter to them They’d already made up their , news crews fro and interviewing students as they stepped off the buses

The whole day felt off At lunch, even Jained it would be that way for a while No one had heard fro, I knee all feared the worse

She would turn up just like Colleen

Mo she wouldn’t be home until late, so I was left tothat had happened in the last week, thatovertime and what Luc had asked me yesterday had haunted me on and off over the last twenty-four hours, and it was back with a vengeance, pecking away as I walked into the quiet house Why would he asklike that about my mom?

Why hadn’t I asked myself that yet?

Because I’d learned firsthand this weekend that there was a lot I didn’t know about my mom or my father I had no idea they’d been involved in the Daedalus--hell, I hadn’t known about the Luxenthis planet their home sweet horoom table, I shivered as I stood in the saht when I’d felt the presence behind me Someone had been in here and they had been in Mo on this was pointless, but it was better than thinking about what had happened to Colleen and what could be happening to Amanda That hat I didn’t want to dwell on while I was ho rooht strea here it should be, but the house seelass French doors were closed, and a thick white curtain shielded the little square s I’d never been in Mo in there for all I knew

Biting down on my lip, I reached out and wrapped old handle My wrist twisted The door was locked, as always

Would be really nice to have that nifty Luxen ability right about now

"Wait," I whispered Luc had that awesoet into her office

But seriously? Would I ask hiet in touch with hiet ahold of hi was on the dining roo the little voice in the back ofto knohat the hell I was planning to do I hit the second contact on irl, what’s up?"

"U if Emery ith you?"

There was a beat of silence "Yeah, she’s right here"

"I know this is going to sound really weird, but can I talk to her for a

"Is this about Luc?"

I tripped over my feet "What? Why would you ask that?"

"Why else would you be calling ht, but I still lied "There could be tons of reasons why I’d want to talk to her Like your birthday is co with her"