been all but shouting when sheâd spoken to Agent Erikson.
They appeared like a very strange Greek chorus. Ralph, Simon and Larry bundled in the Alaska Hut robes, the cops in uniform, a very sleepy Agent Aklaq still in rumpled plain clothes and then the film crewâNate, Becca and Thomasâcoming up from the other hallway. Magda and Justin Crowley were there, looking very grumpy in their own robes.
Obviously theyâd been sleeping just fine until the commotion in the kitchen had wakened them.
Clara realized that Jackson was there, as well, alertâready to come to her defense if necessary.
âWhat? What? Whatâs going on?â Mike demanded.
Thor Erikson looked at Clara as if she had just caused the roof to collapse.
âI believe Miss Avery is having trouble sleeping,â he said.
âMiss Avery! Oh, my dear Miss Avery!â
Marc Kimball had joined themâhis dressing gown was more elegant than the rest, made of an exceptionally fine fabric. And, of course, the minute he was out, his little assistant, Emmy, came running out as well, and more state police seemed to materialize from nowhere.
Clara felt like a deer caught in blinding headlights.
Marc Kimball broke through to set his hands sympathetically on her shoulders. âIâm so sorry. What can I do to help you through this ghastly night?â
She tried desperately to think quickly, wishing that sensations and emotions were not racing through her like wildfire. The image of Amelia Carson had just disappeared againâright when the state cop had come to stand exactly where she had been.
It might have been a projected image?
She lowered her headâalso feeling clammy and almost dirty somehow because Marc Kimball was touching her, because it seemed that she breathed in something that wasnât evil, but...
Slimy.
âClara,â Jackson said, coming through the crowd. âI guess weâre all having trouble trying to get some sleep. Perhaps, since youâre awake, you wouldnât mind coming into the office? I think you might be able to give me a hand with somethingâa timetable?â
She had lost her mind for a few minutes there. No way in hell would Jackson Crow be involved in such a farce and no way in hell would he chance anything ridiculous for his precious Krewe of Hunters.
She swallowed hard, wanting to scream and shake off Marc Kimballâs touch. Thor Erikson had risen and done so in such a way that he forced Marc Kimball back.
She didnât particularly want to feel she owed the man in any way, but at that moment, she was eternally grateful.
âIâm so sorryâI had no idea I was speaking so loudly,â she said to everyone. âForgive me. Please, try to get back to sleep. Jackson, of course Iâll help,â she added, looking over at him.
âCome on, folks, break it all up!â Mike Aklaq said.
They all began to disperse.
âReally, Miss Avery, if thereâs anything...â Marc Kimball said.
âThank you. Thank you so much,â she told him. And she fled toward Jackson. She realized that her three friendsâSimon, Ralph and Larryâlooked at her with grave concern.
âIâm all right, I swear!â she whispered to Larry as she passed him.
Following Jackson to the office, she heard Becca speaking with one of the policemen. âPlease, this is rough. If youâll really keep an eye on my door...â
âOf course, Miss Marle,â one of the officers assured her.
Then Clara found herself in the office with Jacksonâand Thor Erikson and Mike Aklaq. She wound up seated on the sofa that faced the desk; the three men were perched on the edge of it, arms folded over their chests, looking at her with grave expressions.
âClara, what happened?â Jackson asked her.
âI think maybe the, uh, the film crew is still at it somehow,â Clara managed. âI saw AmeliaâI saw Amelia Carson in the
They appeared like a very strange Greek chorus. Ralph, Simon and Larry bundled in the Alaska Hut robes, the cops in uniform, a very sleepy Agent Aklaq still in rumpled plain clothes and then the film crewâNate, Becca and Thomasâcoming up from the other hallway. Magda and Justin Crowley were there, looking very grumpy in their own robes.
Obviously theyâd been sleeping just fine until the commotion in the kitchen had wakened them.
Clara realized that Jackson was there, as well, alertâready to come to her defense if necessary.
âWhat? What? Whatâs going on?â Mike demanded.
Thor Erikson looked at Clara as if she had just caused the roof to collapse.
âI believe Miss Avery is having trouble sleeping,â he said.
âMiss Avery! Oh, my dear Miss Avery!â
Marc Kimball had joined themâhis dressing gown was more elegant than the rest, made of an exceptionally fine fabric. And, of course, the minute he was out, his little assistant, Emmy, came running out as well, and more state police seemed to materialize from nowhere.
Clara felt like a deer caught in blinding headlights.
Marc Kimball broke through to set his hands sympathetically on her shoulders. âIâm so sorry. What can I do to help you through this ghastly night?â
She tried desperately to think quickly, wishing that sensations and emotions were not racing through her like wildfire. The image of Amelia Carson had just disappeared againâright when the state cop had come to stand exactly where she had been.
It might have been a projected image?
She lowered her headâalso feeling clammy and almost dirty somehow because Marc Kimball was touching her, because it seemed that she breathed in something that wasnât evil, but...
Slimy.
âClara,â Jackson said, coming through the crowd. âI guess weâre all having trouble trying to get some sleep. Perhaps, since youâre awake, you wouldnât mind coming into the office? I think you might be able to give me a hand with somethingâa timetable?â
She had lost her mind for a few minutes there. No way in hell would Jackson Crow be involved in such a farce and no way in hell would he chance anything ridiculous for his precious Krewe of Hunters.
She swallowed hard, wanting to scream and shake off Marc Kimballâs touch. Thor Erikson had risen and done so in such a way that he forced Marc Kimball back.
She didnât particularly want to feel she owed the man in any way, but at that moment, she was eternally grateful.
âIâm so sorryâI had no idea I was speaking so loudly,â she said to everyone. âForgive me. Please, try to get back to sleep. Jackson, of course Iâll help,â she added, looking over at him.
âCome on, folks, break it all up!â Mike Aklaq said.
They all began to disperse.
âReally, Miss Avery, if thereâs anything...â Marc Kimball said.
âThank you. Thank you so much,â she told him. And she fled toward Jackson. She realized that her three friendsâSimon, Ralph and Larryâlooked at her with grave concern.
âIâm all right, I swear!â she whispered to Larry as she passed him.
Following Jackson to the office, she heard Becca speaking with one of the policemen. âPlease, this is rough. If youâll really keep an eye on my door...â
âOf course, Miss Marle,â one of the officers assured her.
Then Clara found herself in the office with Jacksonâand Thor Erikson and Mike Aklaq. She wound up seated on the sofa that faced the desk; the three men were perched on the edge of it, arms folded over their chests, looking at her with grave expressions.
âClara, what happened?â Jackson asked her.
âI think maybe the, uh, the film crew is still at it somehow,â Clara managed. âI saw AmeliaâI saw Amelia Carson in the
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