Page 35 of The Hunting Moon
“Okay.” There’s a wariness now. “How about I take you to school tomorrow morning. Will that work? Just us, no Andrew.”
“Yeah, that would be great.”
“Cool.” Instantly, Darian is back to distracted, and Winnie hears a loudrip!as if packing tape is coming off a box. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Love you. Talk later.”
The line goes dead.
CHAPTER19
Since Winnie won’t see Darian today, she leaves the birthday cards hidden away in her room before emerging into the day. Her plan has multiple pieces, and it’s time to check off the next part.
Of course, thanks to the Volvo, Winnie travels so fast, she overestimates the time she will need to cross town before school and arrives at the Monday history library five minutes before they open. She huddles in the hallway outside, apparently the only overeager Luminary hoping to get in at 8:00A.M.on a Tuesday morning. As soon as Winnie spots the librarian unlocking the door, she blazes inside.
“Morning!” she says with a weak smile.Don’t mind me. I am just a dork here to study.The librarian waves tiredly, and Winnie’s blaze continues uninterrupted toward the row of shelves dedicated to Diana books—and in particular, the shelf with books on sources. It is the same spot where Dad’s secret map is still hidden.
When Winnie reaches the row in question, however, she discovers someone already standing there. He is backlit from the window twenty feet behind him—the overhead fluorescent lights haven’t been switched on in this part of the library yet—but Winnie has no problem recognizing his lean frame given that he was slouched in her bedroom nine hours ago.
She skids to a halt before him. “What are you doing here?” she blurts. Then, at a lower whisper-shout: “Andhow?”
“I have a key.” Jay lifts a lanyard, where sure enough a white keycard dangles. “All Lead Hunters get them.”
“Oh.” There is a lot to parse in this one sentence—the reminder that Jay is Lead Hunter now (Youngest in Hemlock Falls! You must be so proud!), that Grayson had to die for him to become that Lead Hunter, and the startling new revelation that he has a keycardandhas used it to access the library before it opens.
All so he could comehere,no less, right where Winnie told him that her dad’s map would be.
She approaches Jay warily. He wears his usual uniform, though his jeans are darker today. New, maybe, and this time, the white V-neck beneath his navy flannel is not soaking wet. Bergamot and lime drift her way.
As does the faint scent of chlorine, and when she glances behind Jay, she sees a package of bleach wipes. “What are those for?” Winnie asks, even though the answer is obvious.
Jay grimaces. “I removed the map, Winnie.” He stuffs a used wipe into his pocket, the wipe mostly dried and now stained with black ink. “At least your dad used washable markers, so it was easy.”
“No, no, Jay.” Winnie scoots forward to the shelves where the map was, pushing in front of Jay to do so.The Awakening of the Spirit by Source, Signs of Sources, Soil Composition for Optimal Sources—all of Theodosia Monday’s titles wink out at Winnie, a mockery of the secret message that hid behind them.
Dad really wasn’t subtle about where his map would lead.
Although Winnie does suppose this makes researching the subject much easier. No need for electronic catalogues or input from a librarian.
She snatches two titles from the shelf and confirms that, yes, her dad’s crude drawing has been completely erased. She backs away a step, the two books clutched to her chest. She is so shocked, she doesn’t even have the space to feel rage right now.
“Why?” She whirls about to face Jay. He looks slightly sheepish—although onlyslightly.Mostly, he looks hard and serious. “Why did you do this?” As she speaks, her voice still lowered to basilisk level, the fluorescent light finally snaps on overhead.
Glaring light sears down.
Winnie flinches. Jay does not.
“I did this,” he replies, “because anyone could have found that map, Winnie. It is literally only sheer good luck that no one has yet.”
“And anyone could have seen you wiping it away!”
“That’s why I came here before the library opens. So no one would notice me. And now no one will notice your map either. You’re welcome.” He snags the package of wipes and turns as if to leave.
“I’m welcome?” Winnie darts around him so she can block his way. “I told you I didn’t need your help, Jay, so you decide the alternative is to actively impede me? Thanks, but I think I preferred your absence over the last four years to this.”
“Impede you?” Jay’s eyes flash. “Winnie, I just covered your ass because apparently you’re dying to get caught.”
“I’mwhatnow?” Her jaw drops. “You erased my primary piece of evidence, Jay, should I ever have to explain myself to the Tuesday Lambdas!”
“Oh, come on.” He dips toward her, his voice lowering. “Should you ever have to explain yourself to the Tuesdays, Win, then that map is not going to protect you. Also, I’m not completely useless, okay? I did take a photo of it with my phone.” To demonstrate this, he withdraws his cell and swipes it open to reveal a somewhat blurry but instantly recognizable picture of the map.
