Penny went out first, peering cautiously through the open door, first one way, then the other, to see who might be waiting for them.
No one was waiting for them, but she was far from relieved.
Tovar was gone. He had awakened and escaped. Or maybe his feathery friend had carried him away. Someone had closed the mirror door, and Penny could almost picture Tovar walking through it, the reflective surface parting around his shape to admit him, then closing when he was through.
She had no doubt at all he was somewhere close, maybe hiding, but most likely watching and waiting.
There was nothing to do but go forward though, so she motioned to Zoe and Katie, who got the others moving in her direction.
Penny moved into the hallway, half carrying, half dragging the youngest of the sleeping kids
