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something evil, right?”
                  “Yea, a shade. That’s another story for another time. Tony’s just overly paranoid and thought that something must be up. I think it made him feel better seeing you—as was the point of the trip, but I’m sure it didn’t make you feel better about us.”
                  She paused for a calculated moment.
                  “Is something after you guys?”
                  Adam kept his attention on the road, and the wheel in a steel grip. He pulled off for her exit while pumping the break.
                  “Again, another story for another day.”
                  His words felt dismissive and his mind appeared to be other things. For the first time, Adelaide sensed that she’d lost his undivided attention. If his mind stayed on other things, there was the chance she would become irrelevant. All they had thus far was a pizza date and rockslide. It wasn’t enough and it made Adelaide uncomfortable. She suddenly wanted to reach out and touch him; she wanted to say exactly the right thing to strengthen their bond. She wanted to, but came up with nothing. By the time they pulled up to her house, he seemed more despondent than ever.
                  “Have a good night, Adelaide,” he said half-heartedly. He watched the road in front of him, his gaze distant. “Thank you…”
                  She hopped out of the car. He didn’t wait until she got inside before driving away. Her gut churned and her mind threatened to tear as it stretched in a dozen different directions. Her fingers sought out the hard metal lump of her phone in her pocket before she thought about it. Dialing, she stuck the phone to her ear.
                  “Hello?”
                  “What’s up, rubber duck?” she asked, though her voice lacked enthusiasm.
                  “...nicknames aren’t making up for deadbeat sisters who didn’t come to my birthday party. Or my graduation. In fact, I’m almost insulted you called at all. What do you want?”
                  “Chill out, Bradley. You know why I couldn’t make it and I sent you gifts for both of those.” She felt awkward having this conversation outside at a moment like this so she made for the house.
                  “You need a favor then.”
                  “I do…but this is for the best. And I’m thinking it may get me a one-way ticket to come home for awhile.”
                  She struck a chord, she knew, because she heard the waver in his voiced answer.
                  “Tell me what you need.”
                  “There’s a mage out west around Denver that I need to find. Subtly though, I can’t have him think that I’m looking for him. I’ve meet everyone else in his coven but no one even talks about him. I’m worried now. Maybe he left for somewhere else. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place.”
                  “Um, okay…”
    She could hear the scratching of a pen in the background.
                  “I need you to find him for me and tell me I’m looking in the right place.”
                  A moment ticked by and the scratching stopped.
                  “Okay, just give me the name.”
                  “The man I’m looking for is Leonardo Colton. And I need to know if I can go through his brother, Adam, to finally see Leon in person.”

    Five
                  A jolt of excitement raced through her when her phone buzzed. When she grabbed the Nokia and read the screen, the excitement rapidly disappeared. The text message came from an anonymous number which really only meant one person. And that person wasn’t Adam. Her hope turned back into frustration quickly.
                  “Green light,” it said and nothing more.