me off the next time he saw me.
Let the good times roll.
* * *
Chapter Ten
» ^ «
I told the cabby to keep the meter running and headed for the Carpenters front door. Molly remained cool, distant, and untouchably silent all the way over the small lawn. She walked calmly up the steps to the porch. She faced the door calmlyand then broke out into a sweat the moment I rang the bell.
Nice to know I wasnt the only one. I wasnt looking forward to speaking with Michael. As long as I kept the conversation brief and didnt get too close to him, he might not sense the presence of the demon inside me. Things might work out.
My already sore head twinged a little more.
Beside me, Molly rolled her shoulders in a few jerky motions and pushed at her hair in fitful little gestures. She tugged at her well-tattered skirts, and grimaced at her boots. Can you see if theres any mud on them?
I paused to consider her for a second. Then I said, You have two tattoos showing right now, and you probably used a fake ID to get them. Your piercings would set off any metal detector worth the name, and youre featuring them in parts of your anatomy your parents wish you didnt yet realize you had. Youre dressed like Frankenhooker, and your hair has been dyed colors I previously thought existed only in cotton candy. I turned to face the door again. I wouldnt waste time worrying about a little mud on the boots.
In the corner of my eye, Molly swallowed nervously, staring at me until the door opened.
Molly! shrieked a little girls voice. There was a blur of pink cotton pajamas, a happy squeal, and then Molly caught one of her little sisters in her arms in a mutual hug.
Hiya, hobbit, Molly said, catching the girl by an ankle and dangling her in the air. This elicited screams of delight from the girl. Molly swung her upright again. How have you been?
Daniel is the boss kid now, but he isnt as good as you, the girl said. He yells lots more. Why is your hair blue?
Hey, I said. Its pink, too.
The girl, a golden-haired moppet of six or seven, noticed me for the first time and promptly buried her face against Mollys neck.
You remember Hope, Molly said. Say hello to Mister Dresden.
My name is Hobbit! the little girl declared boldlythen lowered her face into the curve of Mollys neck and hid from me. Meanwhile, the house erupted with thudding feet and more shouts. Lights started flicking on upstairs, and the stairwell shuddered as brothers and sisters pounded down it and ran for the front door.
Another pair of girls made it there first, both of them older than Hope. They both assaulted Molly with shrieks and flying hugs. Bill, the smaller of the pair greeted me, afterward. You came back to visit.
My name is Harry, actually, I said. And I remember you. Amanda, right?
Im Amanda, she allowed cautiously. But we already have a Harry. Thats why youre Bill.
And this is Alicia, Molly said of the other, a child as gawky and skinny as Molly had been when I first met her. Her hair was darker than the others, trimmed short, and she wore black-rimmed glasses over a serious expression. Shes the next oldest girl. You remember Mister Dresden, dont you, Leech?
Dont call me Leech, she said in the patient tone of someone who has said something a million times and plans on saying it a million times more. Hello, sir, she told me.
Alicia, I said, nodding.
Evidently the use of her actual name constituted a gesture of partisanship. She gave me a somewhat relieved and conspiratorial smile.
A pair of boys showed up. The oldest might have been almost ready to take a drivers test. The next was balanced precariously between grade school and pimples. Both had Michaels dark hair and solid, sober expression. The younger boy almost threw himself at Molly upon seeing her, but restrained himself to a hello and a hug. The older boy only folded his arms and frowned.
My brother Matthew, Molly said of the younger. I nodded at him.
Where have you been? the oldest boy said. He stood there frowning at Molly for a moment.
Nice to see you too, Daniel, she replied. You know Mister Dresden.
He gave me a nod, said to Molly, Im not kidding. You just took off. Do you have any idea of how much it messed things up here?
Mollys mouth