CHAPTER 37The back door leading into the Lantern residence rattled, despite the fact that it was newly installed after Mara had blown up the previous one, making the kind of subtle announcement that someone who lived in the house would pick up on from any room. As Mara and Sam stepped into the kitchen, Diana called from the living room, “Is that you kids back there?”
“Yes, Mom, we’re home,” Mara called back, and then turned and whispered to Sam. “You distract her for a few minutes, and I’ll run upstairs to my room. Don’t tell her yet. Got it?”
“Got it. She’s going to kill you,” he said.
“Us. We’re in this together.”
“She’ll know whose idea it was.”
“Go.”
“You guys need to come out here and see what they are reporting on the news in Portland. This thing looks horrible.” Diana shook he
