Girl in the Shadows (Shadows 2)

bedroom. "You could have put on the lights," I said. "I thought you had to conserve the batteries." "Yes. I suppose."

I took the candle and made my way back and

found him lying on the bed, his hands behind his

head.

"Hey," he said. "Hey."

"I see Rhona's van isn't there. Did they leave for

good?"

"We don't kniow. They didn't call or return for

dinner. I took Echo for a ride earlier to the mall and

then to the fair in Healdsburg."

You were there today? We had some of our

product for sale at one of the booths."

"Yes, and while I was there I saw Rhona and Skeeter come out of a tavern. Two men looked like they were threatening him. Maybe because of that, they ran off. When I got back here. I found Mrs. Westington had prepared a big dinner as a sort of

celebration."

"Why? Celebrating what?"

"She was hoping that somehow Rhona would

change if she made her feel more at home. I guess.

She's very, very depressed now. She wants to talk to

you about getting Echo into the school and then she

wants to set things up with her attorney, trusts, stuff

like that. She's thinks the Grim Reaper has been

peering in her window."

"Well. I hope not, but she's wise to want to do

all that. I'll help with the school."

He sat up. "What does this mean? You're going

to leave?"

"Not until it's all arranged. I promised her." "Good," he said. "Well, in an ironic way. Rhona

did us all a favor. She convinced Mrs. Westington to

do the right things with Echo and I won't have to quit

tutoring to force her to do it. That will make my