Echoes in the Dark by Robin D. Owens Page A

one that can be tuned to the Dimensional Corridor, too?”
    Marian
said, “You old fox. You just want Koz to do some research for you.”
    Bossgond
pursed his lips, said, “The Singer does not answer my calls to her crystal.”
    “What
of her Friends?” Koz asked.
    Silence
from the old man.
    Koz
rubbed his chin. “Okay, I’m hooked. I’d like to visit the Singer, in case
she’ll give me more and better info.” He glanced at Raine. “That all right?”
    “Whatever’s
best,” she said.
    Nodding,
Koz said. “I’ll fly to the Singer’s Abbey first, shouldn’t take more than a day
or so if she’s cooperative.”
    Marian
snorted, and Alexa said, “Not likely,” then stared into the crystal ball.
“These old, Powerful folks don’t do anything they don’t want to. Pity they’re
so stuck in their ruts.”
    Bossgond
huffed, said, “I will be on the invasion force.”
    Koz
turned to Raine. “After that, you and I can go to Bossgond’s island and the
dimensional telescope. You can leave a note with the mirrors, say you ended up
in France with your great-grandfather’s lover’s family or something.”
    Raine
tottered. She’d never considered what she could say to her family to reassure
them, explain without explaining, and not sound like a selfish, insensitive
bitch or raving lunatic.
    But
she did know something. She swept her gaze around the room, meeting everyone’s
eyes. “I don’t want to go. It would be faster if you went alone.” She met
Bossgond’s gaze in the sphere. “You have my notes and a good enough map of Best
Haven. Pearson and Pearson is located in their own three-story building on the
southwest corner of Main Street and Seadrive Boulevard. Koz can find it.”
    Koz
raised his brows, then grinned, rubbing his hands. “Fun.” Then he winked at
Bossgond. “More time to look around the town, than if Raine came with us. You
know Marian likes us to limit our time, but without Raine…”
    Marian
frowned, turned to Raine and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to go
yourself, see your home?”
    Raine
didn’t think she could bear it since there was no way she was going home
before the ship was built…but if she had strong moral support…“Would you be
coming with me?” Raine trusted Marian.
    “I
can’t, I have—”
    “I
have responsibilities, too—the ship,” Raine said. “My task for Lladrana, Amee.
My turn, now.”
    Koz
said to the crystal, “I’ll be there no later than tomorrow unless the Singer
cooperates. I’ll let everyone know if that happens. See ya,” he said to
Bossgond, then waved the crystal ball dark, leaving a grumpy sound coming from
it.
    He
paused with his hand on the doorknob, looked at Raine and again sympathy was in
his eyes. “I’ll give you time to think of a story, write a note.”
    Raine
raised helpless hands. “What can I tell them that they might believe?”
    Shrugging,
Koz said, “I dunno.” His grin was fast and charming as he scanned them all.
“Bunch of very creative women, you’ll think of something.” He sketched a bow
and left, whistling “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
    Babble
erupted as the women began to brainstorm. Alexa and Bri concocted the most
outrageous stories. Marian frowned and tapped her lips with her finger, Calli
just shook her head.
    A
few seconds later Koz popped his head back in. “Oh, hey, down payment could be
a hat like Bastien’s. Thought it was ugly at first, but every Chevalier who is a Chevalier has one.”
    “Guys
wear those hats,” muttered Alexa. She sniffed. “ We have cowboy hats. The
Exotique Gang.”
    Koz
winked again, this time at Raine. “’Kay, I’ll take one of those, too.” He shut
the door.
    It
was going to happen! She would be able to see her father and brothers after
nearly a year. The emotions swamping her were too huge. “I have to go.” Raine
bolted to the door. “Arrange stuff with the master tailor in Castleton.” That
lady would have Koz’s measurements.
    The
talk