“It’ll slow us down too,” Alexis said. “We have more defenses to put up. But I guess this is better in a way. No practitioner is going to want to risk cluing these guys into what’s going on in reality, not with the amount of badditude headed our way.”
“We’ve got until dark, then things get messy,” I said.
“Yeah. What can you tell me, going in?”
“Only that you should watch out for Ellie, Peter, and Roxanne. Ellie’s a bit crook. Peter’s a con artist in training, just the type to take that route, smart as he is, and Roxanne’s… toxic. I can explain more when we have more time.”
“Okay. I-”
I made a sudden gesture as I saw a shadow behind her.
Peter.
“Hey,” he said. He smiled.
“Hey,” Alexis said, voice low.
He stepped close, and she backed away a step.
“So,” he said. “Couldn’t help but notice the symbols on the floor. There’s a story there. Are you going to share details, or should I bring it up with my sister and cousins?”
11.07
“Symbols,” Alexis said. Buying time to think.
“Symbols you went out of your way to hide,” he said. “You really should sweep more, if you’re strategically redecorating. There’s very blocky spaces on the floor where dust hasn’t settled, which means books or boxes were moved very recently. It’s really obvious if you look at it from the right angle, where the sun comes in through the window and reflects off the floor.”
“So you looked and you saw the markings on the floor.”
“Yeah,” he said. “It’s recent, probably, since they weren’t around when I was here for my grandmother’s death.”
He let that hang in the air, as if he was trying to make a point. It’s your turn to talk, not mine.
It was obvious enough what he wanted her to talk about.
Alexis leaned over to look into the living room, where Kathryn, Callan and Roxanne were watching TV.
“Hmm,” Peter said. “It’s a secret? Something you don’t want them to hear about?”
Alexis didn’t answer the question. Couldn’t. “I’m wondering why you didn’t tell them before you came to me.”
He shrugged.
Putting the ball right back in her court.
I could have broken a window, but I didn’t like just how small a number of reflective surfaces we had nearby. What happened when I effectively removed all the workable area inside Hillsglade House? I’d effectively lock myself out.
I wasn’t sure Rose would go to the effort of buying mirrors just to give me some room, not when she wasn’t all that keen on me.
“It’s complicated,” Alexis said.
“I’m not surprised,” he replied. “Hard to imagine there’s a simple explanation.”
“At least one of the people who could break in and come after us believes in things like ghosts and goblins,” Alexis said. “We thought we could use this stuff to protect ourselves.”
“Oh,” Peter said, nodding, “That makes a lot of sense.”
“I think I’m going to go check on the others,” Alexis said.
“Wait, wait, hold up,” Peter replied. “I’m still a little confused. You’re willing to draw stuff around the house, and sure, I get where that’s sort of an idea, maybe, if you’re dealing with someone crazy.”
“We’re dealing with a few people who could be called crazy,” Alexis said.
“Great, great,” Peter said. He smiled. “So why not, I dunno, barricade the doors and windows? Or call the police?”
“Police are in on it,” Alexis said.
“RCMP, then,” Peter said, without missing a beat. I couldn’t tell if he had the answer ready before she’d asked, or if he was just quick. I wasn’t sure which was more impressive.
He’s as smart as Paige, I thought. He just walked a very different path.
“RCMP wouldn’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Because,” Alexis said, pausing for a second to decide on an answer.
“Because what?” Peter cut in.
“Because-”
“If you have to think of the answer, you’re not being honest,” he said.
I leaned closer to Alexis’ ear, a foot away from the little picture frame I was standing within. “Grandmother had her thumb in-”
“You’re hesitating,” Peter said.
“And you’re being an asshole,” she retorted.
“-something illegal,” I finished.
“Whatever,” he said. “I’ll go tell Ellie, and we’ll figure out which would fuck you up more: calling our parents in or calling the RCMP ourselves.”
“Do that, and you’re just going to be fucking with everyone here,” she said.