Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,15

her their name. All right, we’re all here. Tomorrow I want you to be on your guard with the people in the jail with you. One of them that has been talking to your dad is Sandra Merkle. She’s trouble of the worst kind. That isn’t what I wanted to tell you, but something you should be told about. I’ll leave that up to you, Rachel.

I can do that. There was a short discussion about Sandra’s trial coming up and how they couldn’t wait for her to be another name in the books. Also, I’ve yet to meet you, Pem, but I’m sure we’re going to get along well. Will you be coming to dinner at our house tonight?

Yes. She looked at Theo, who sat down next to her in the grass. I can wait to meet you all, however. I’m not sure what you expect, but don’t expect too much.

You’re going to fit in perfectly. Now, we need to talk about tomorrow. She could tell that Carson was a hard ass, but it seemed to her that she had a sense of humor too. While I’m not going to be in the room with you when the will is read, I’ve already broken into the camera system at the jail—particularly the room you will be using. So, don’t be surprised if I speak to you.

Do you expect trouble? Carson told her she always did and that Pem more than likely did as well with her training. Yes, well, if someone pulls out a knife to kill someone, I can sew them back together. That’s about as far as my training goes, I’m afraid.

That will be useful. However, I think you have a great many skills you can pull out as well. I’ve read the reports, the real ones, of the trouble you ran into that got you shot.

Pem didn’t know what to say to that but did look at Theo. When she got up to go and sit closer to him, he wrapped her into his arms and set her on his lap. Pem thought at first, she was going to fight him about taking over like this, but it was about the most comfortable place she could have been right now.

All right. Your grandma carries a gun, did you know that? Pem told Carson she did. Don’t let her take it tomorrow. First, it’s against the law. But for some reason, I don’t know yet, it is going to be important she’s not carrying. I don’t know why—sometimes I only get bits and pieces of what is going to happen.

After twenty minutes of Carson telling them what she knew was going to happen tomorrow, she cautioned them about not letting their guard down. She also said, several times to Theo, to remain calm. While Pem didn’t know why that was so important, Theo promised her he’d do his best.

The connection was closed when Carson told them she’d see them tonight. Neither she nor Theo moved to go back home, so she just looked around where they were. It was a beautiful place up here. She thought she would come here a lot if she could fly.

“Are you all right?” She nodded at Theo when he finally spoke. “I’m worried more than I was before about tomorrow. If something gets out of hand, I’d very much like it if you were to cover your grandma, if need be, with your body. I’ll have you, but I don’t want anything to happen to her either.”

“I will gladly do that.” She watched his face. “There is more that you’re not telling me, isn’t there? Something you need for me to know, but you don’t want me to freak out. Right?”

“Pretty much. One thing I’ve been thinking of for the last few days. I want you to hear me out before you agree or disagree. I have a home. It’s huge. My family bought each of us one when we moved here. I would like for you and your grandma to come there to live. I won’t push you into anything, but I would feel much better if you were someplace safer than you are.” She told him yes. “I’m sorry. Yes, to what?”

“I’ve seen, thanks to you, how far we are from the next home. Also, the police station is further away than I’d like to think about should we need them in a hurry. Last night when I was taking a shower, the hot water went out three times. I