Krakens and Lies by Tui T. Sutherland Page A

didn’t have Abigail . . . what if they were using Logan’s dad to steal something else?
    Zoe’s phone vibrated—a text from her dad.

    On our way home with Pelly. Who is in quite the wonderful mood. Batten down the hatches.

    â€œOh dear,” Zoe said with a sigh. She did not particularly want to deal with the world’s most passive-aggressive golden goose right now. But on the other hand, maybe that meant SNAPA had released Miss Sameera to them as well. Zoe was dying to sit the school librarian down and ask her a million questions—like who she followed to find Pelly. Whoever it was had to be the saboteur, surely. And if they caught him, they’d be able to use him to stop the Sterlings. Zoe was still hoping it wouldn’t turn out to be Logan’s dad.
    â€œMy parents are on their way,” Zoe said, scrambling to her feet. “You should go before they get here.”
    â€œOr else with the awkward questions,” Jasmin said, nodding.
    Or else with the kraken ink , Zoe thought. “Last chance for a delicious jackalope milk smoothie?”
    â€œHa-ha, NO,” Jasmin said. “I’m watching you, Zoe Kahn.” She hesitated, and then threw her arms around Zoe. “Are we really friends again? This isn’t a dream?”
    â€œIt’s real,” Zoe said, hugging her back. No matter what happened with the Sterlings, Zoe wasn’t going to let anyone tell her she couldn’t be friends with Jasmin again. “I’ll tell you the whole awful story sometime.”
    â€œSometime soon,” Jasmin said. They headed out of Zoe’s room and downstairs. Captain Fuzzbutt heaved himself up and tromped after them, making the entire house shake.
    Blue looked up and smiled as they came into the kitchen. “Grilled cheese?” he said. “I’m putting seaweed in mine.” Marco was leaning on the island, wolfing down a sandwich already.
    â€œSorry, I have to get home,” Jasmin said.
    â€œOh.” Blue poked the plate of sandwiches with his spatula. “Right. Okay.”
    She picked up the jacket she’d left on the chair and glanced around at everyone. “I wish I could stay. I didn’t even get to meet any dragons.”
    â€œNext time,” Zoe promised.
    Jasmin looked at Blue again. He gave her an awkward smile and went back to spreading butter on a slice of bread. “Okay. Bye.”
    Zoe walked her to the door and gave her another hug. “Remember, don’t say anything to anybody,” Zoe said. “Especially your parents. Don’t let them know you were here, or that you talked to me or Blue, or—”
    â€œZOmygoodness,” Jasmin said. That was a phrase she’d made up long ago for whenever Zoe was worrying too much. Zoe hadn’t heard it in months, and it made her giggle even through her anxiety. Which was, of course, the point. “I’ll call you soon, okay?”
    â€œDefinitely,” Zoe said. She watched Jasmin walk away down the long drive and felt the weirdest combination ofsoaring happiness and bone-crushing dread.
    She might have her best friend back. Maybe. She wasn’t entirely ready to believe it yet.
    But the Sterlings were out there, planning whatever they were planning, and if Jasmin was right, they needed to be stopped before Tuesday.
    She went back into the kitchen and found Logan staring mournfully at the sandwiches and wearing what looked like about four long-sleeved shirts on top of each other. The top one was pumpkin orange, which was a nice color on him.
    Thanks a lot, Jasmin in my brain .
    â€œI don’t think I can eat,” Logan said. “The basilisk smell is stuck in my nose and it’s too awful.”
    â€œYou should try, though,” Zoe said. “Did you ask your dad if you can sleep over?”
    â€œMy phone is still drying out,” Logan said, pointing at the windowsill where his phone sat in a beam of pale