Page 15 of Simon Says

“Maybe not, but she could be. She could have ended up in a world where people age three times as fast, which means she could be really, really, really old.”

“Alright. I hear what you’re saying and your concerns are legitimate. I don’t know what happened to Sorcha. I only know that knowing is better than not knowing.” Rosie’s face softened, along with her heart. “What can I say to convince you to try? No guarantees. No expectations. Just giving it a shot.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. “If I say yes, then you agree to give my husband anything he needs on demand.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Personnel.”

“Knights? I can’t, Rosie. I can’t make decisions as Director based on something that would profit me personally. What kind of a man would I be if I agreed to that?”

“The usual kind.”

Simon shook his head sadly. “Please don’t make this conditional on something I can’t give.”

“Great Paddy, you drive a hard bargain. Well, it’s not really even a bargain. It’s me doing something for you and you doing nothing for me.”

“You’re wrong, Elora Rose. There’s great satisfaction in doing work you were meant to do, designed to do. You’ll learn that. Chickens be damned.”

“Do not damn my chickens.”

The edges of Simon’s mouth twitched. “Will you find my girl?”

“I’ll try, but only if you promise that you’re not getting your hopes up.” Taking one look at Simon’s face she knew it was too late to extract that promise. “Too high. Promise you won’t get your hopes up too high?”

“Swear on my knighthood.”

“Well, who could argue with that?” she muttered under her breath. “What do I have in the way of resources?”

“What do you need?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ve got to give this some thought. Meanwhile though, I’d like to see where you were when, um…”

“Sorcha.”

“Yes. Sorcha. I’d like to see where you were when she disappeared.”

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