The Reckoning (Darkest Powers 3)

While Simon helped Derek gather food and blankets, I went outside and called Liz.

“I need to know if you can get in the attic,” I said.

“I’m one step ahead of you. I can get on the roof, in the attic, and kind of in the basement, but not so well. ”

I told her about our plans for Derek.

“You want me to keep him company?” She grinned. “We can play tic-tac-toe in the dust. ” She saw my expression and stopped smiling. “That’s not what you need, is it?”

“I’m worried about him. He’s not very good at looking after himself. ”

“And he could use a poltergeist bodyguard?”

I nodded. “Take care of him for me. Please. ”

“I will. ”

Next we released Andrew. We told him that Derek had decided it was safer for everyone if he left. We’d tried to stop him, but he’d snuck off into the woods, where he was presumably going to hide until he found a way to get off the property.

We didn’t tell Andrew that we planned to find a way off the property, too. As far as he knew, we were going along with his plans.

Margaret showed up while we were having breakfast, and we discovered another advantage to Derek’s disappearance-it gave us an excuse for being anxious and quiet.

As we were finishing, the doorbell rang. All three of us jumped, Simon dropping his spoon into the bowl with a clatter.

“I guess Derek wouldn’t be ringing the bell, huh?” I said.

“He might. ” Simon pushed back his chair. “I’ll answer. ”

I knew what he was thinking-hoping. That it was his dad. The chances of Mr. Bae ringing a bell at a house where his sons might be captives seemed pretty remote, but I followed, if only as an excuse to get away from Andrew and Margaret.

I got to the door as Simon was swinging it open. There stood Gwen.

“Hey, guys,” she said with a strained smile. She held up a box. “No donuts this time-I learned my lesson-but I brought some amazing muffins. You can eat those, right?”

“Uh, sure,” Simon said.

Simon backed up to let her in. He shot a glance at me, a clear What’s she doing here?

“Andrew’s b-been trying to get in touch with you,” I said.

“I know. Work. You know how it is. ” A forced laugh. “No, I guess you don’t, lucky kids. Enjoy it while you can because the truth is”-she leaned over and whispered-“grown-up life sucks. But I’m here now and ready for action. Andrew’s message said we’re leaving for Buffalo today. ”

I nodded.

“Great. I’m just in time, then. Come on in and let’s chow down on these muffins. They are amazing. ”

When we showed Gwen into the kitchen, I tried to gauge Andrew’s and Margaret’s reaction. Both seemed surprised. For Andrew, it was pleasant surprise. For Margaret, not so much. She didn’t seem angry, just annoyed at the flighty girl zipping in and out at whim.

They adjourned to the living room. The three of us made excuses and took off.

“She’s lying,” Tori said. “I don’t care how ditzy she is, no one ignores a half dozen urgent calls, then sails in with blueberry muffins. ”

“Russell sent her to spy,” Simon said. “He’s up to something. ”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Whatever their scheme, we’ll be gone soon enough. Just keep an eye on her until then. I’m going to send Liz out looking for escape routes. ”

Thirty-eight

I WAS NEARING THE stairs when Simon hailed me.

“Can you give something to Derek?” he whispered.

“It’s in my room. ”

We went up. He pulled his bag from its hiding place, took out his sketch pad, folded a page in quarters, and handed it to me.

“Give him that. And tell him it’s okay. ”

“Okay?”

Simon’s gaze dropped and he shrugged. “He’ll understand. ” After a moment’s pause, he looked up again and forced a smile. “Now let’s do this and get out of here. ”

Simon walked me to the stairs leading to the attic and roof.

“Chloe? Simon?” It was Margaret, downstairs.

Simon swore. He glanced at me.

“Can you go?” I said. “I really need to send Liz out or we’ll never get away. ”

He nodded. I slid into the nearest room and shut the door as he called, “Right here!”

“I need to speak to you two. ”

Margaret’s pumps clicked up the stairs underscored by the thump of Simon’s feet, running toward her. I leaned against the door to listen.

“Have you seen Chloe?” she asked.

“Mmm, no,” Simon said. “She was trying to find a quiet place to do some writing. Did you check the sunroom, around back? She likes-”

“I’ll look. I need you to go to the basement and help Tori bring up extra chairs for lunch. ”

“Lunch? We just had breakfast. And we have plenty of chairs-”

“No, we don’t. The rest of the group is arriving to make final preparations. Andrew’s gone to the airport to pick them up, so I need you kids to help with the chairs. ”

“Tori can handle-”

“I asked you, Simon. ”

“All right,” Simon said, raising his voice to be sure I heard. “I’ll get the chairs from the basement. I wouldn’t bother Chloe with it, though. Those chairs are bigger than she is. ”

Margaret sent him on his way, saying she’d be right down to supervise. Simon’s sneakers pounded down the steps. Then Margaret called Gwen, who answered from downstairs.

“I need to speak to Chloe,” Margaret said when Gwen got there. “I brought a necromancy book for her. Simon said she’s up here. You look at the front of the house, and I’ll take the back. ”

Simon had said I was probably in the sunroom…on the main level.

I looked down at the door handle. There was a lock, with an old-fashioned key on the inside. I turned it as slowly as I could.

I glanced around. I was in one of the unused bedrooms. There weren’t any closets, but the wardrobe across the room looked big enough to hold me. As I stepped toward it, my sneakers squeaked. I considered pulling them off, but the floor was filthy, and it’d be just my luck to step on a rusty thumbtack and yelp loud enough to bring everyone running.

I picked my way across the room. I was halfway to the wardrobe when a thump stopped me midstride. I looked up. Derek?

I listened. Silence. I took another slow step. Then another.

“Chloe?”

It was Gwen’s voice, a stage whisper from just outside the door. I froze.

“Chloe? Are you up here?” Then lower, under her breath. “Please, be up here. Please. ”

I looked at the wardrobe. It was too far for a silent dash.