I wiped sticky fingers on a napkin, which did more clinging than cleaning. “The bar in town? Which one?”
“No, not here. It’s up a-ways.”
“On the Route?”
“Yes. A small town. Have you heard of McLean?”
“Sure.”
“Oh, so you’ve driven this way before?”
“Sure.”’
“Maybe I should ask you whatyouare, Brogan Gauge.”
There was that breeze again, coming in through a window that didn’t exist, brushing over my skin like silk. It smelled like shade and creek water, loamy and sweet.
“I’m exactly what I look like,” I said.
She brightened. “Oh, good. So am I.”
Abbi tipped her bowl and slurped the melted slurry. “Why do you want him to go to the bar?”
“The same reason I wanted to take you to the best ice cream there. I think he’d like it.”
“No. You want him to see something, I think,” Abbi said. “Plus, you think you know me.”
“You seem...familiar.”
“I know.”
Franny stared at her bowl a moment as if making a decision. She scraped up the last half spoon of ice cream, then placed her spoon in the bowl.
“Let’s see the Blarney Stone. I will tell you more then.” She scooted her chair back and stood.
“Yes!” Abbi bounded out of her chair. “It’s okay,” she said, taking Franny’s hand, and tugging her to the door. “He’s not mad at you. He knows you’re using magic. So do I. You should just tell us why.”
Franny threw me a look. I raised my eyebrows, agreeing with Abbi. Before Franny could speak, Abbi pushed through the door.
“What happens if someone licks the stone?” Abbi asked. “Is that good luck or bad luck? Is it extra luck because it gets in yourstomach? Can you swallow luck? What does it taste like? Brogan, I bet it’s delicious!”
“Abbi,” I said, following them into the heat.
Abbi hopped on one foot, then the other, pausing to check for traffic before releasing Franny’s hand and bouncing across the street. “Is it this way? I think it’s this way. You look like I’m right. Of course I’m right. I’m always right! I’m so excited! How big is it? It must be huge! The biggest, luckiest stone ever!”
“Abbi,” I picked up my pace. “Don’t run.” There was no traffic, but I didn’t want her getting lost.
“It’s right over there!” She pointed at the archway on the corner with a little courtyard beyond. Then she ran.
“That’s it!” Franny called out. She put on some steam and pulled ahead of me. “Abbi, Abbi, dearest. Wait up. I can tell you all about it.”
Abbi didn’t need me protecting her from Franny. But I was in a bad mood, and letting Abbi out of my sight with a stranger reminded me too much of Lu and the monster hunter.
“Hey.” A hand around my left wrist pulled violently enough, I stumbled mid-pivot like a whipcrack in a kids’ game.
I cocked my right fist, but the asshole who had grabbed my wrist twisted. My knuckles hit shoulder, instead of the guy’s jaw.
He grunted from the impact. But instead of staggering away, he moved up into my space, into my reach, and simultaneously lifted my left arm and hand, then pressed my hand backward with one swift, incredibly powerful motion.
