SOMEWHAT WARMER IN jeans and T-shirt, I checked the time. Almost six. I decided to give Jess an early wakeup call.
She answered after about six rings, sounding half asleep. “Flipping heck. Do you know what time it is?”
“Sorry, but this can’t wait. I need your help.”
“What’s up?” She must have heard something in my voice, switching to alert in an instant. “Did the witches do something else?”
“They took Sean.” My jaw tightened.
“They took .... They what? What do you mean they took Sean? Wh ... what happened? How?”
“They—Marianne asked Josh over last night. Said she needed his help with something.” I almost spat in anger at the recollection. “He had Dan with him, like she expected, but Kyle and Sean were with them, too. None of them came home.”
“D’you think she already intended to take
