13
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Tad holds open the condo door for me and Langley.
“Be up in a sec,” I call, still at the car.
“I’ll get the spellbook out,” he says, and they both disappear inside the building.
Darkness is complete now. The air is still warm from the heat of the day, tangy from sea spray. In the parking lot outside headquarters, I stare at the dark water and call my parents. They’ve put Lillie to bed and are waiting up.
“Don’t?” I say, and Mom falls silent.
I overhear Dad’s protest. “Who’s she with? Ask her who she’s with, Mary.”
“I’m not with anybody,” I say truthfully—for the moment. “I’m out for an evening run and then heading to a late show. It’ll be 2:00 am by the time it’s over. 2:30 by the time I’m back. Y’all just go to sleep, okay?”
Mom says nothing. I hear Dad huffin
