Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

understand. I thought Finn’s father, the Tin Man, was dead? How is any of this going to help me and my grandfather?”
    “Because, sweetheart,” I said. “I might not be the Tin 12
    Man, and I’m definitely no fairy-tale hero, but I’m the closest thing you’re going to get.”
    once my professional help was secured, Violet Fox immediately wanted to go home and make sure her grandfather was okay.
    “Forget it,” I said. “You’re not going home tonight. You need to stay here and rest. You’ve been through a serious trauma. Despite being magically healed, you still need some downtime to recover.”
    By this point, purple circles rimmed her dark eyes, and she moved slowly, like every motion was an enormous effort. Violet Fox was about to pass out from sheer exhaustion. I didn’t add the fact I wanted Violet to stay right where she was so Jo-Jo and Sophia Deveraux could babysit her. The dwarves would make sure Violet didn’t do anything stupid, like tell her grandfather about the attack and have him go tearing off after Tobias Dawson in a rage.
    “But what if Dawson sends some men after Grandfather?” Violet asked. Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 126-127
    12/17/09 9:32 PM
    128 JENNIFER ESTEP
    Web of Lies 129
    “He won’t,” I replied. “You said it yourself. Your grandwhile Finn sweet-talked Sophia into going out into the father and his shotgun can handle Dawson’s men. That’s rain and seeing what she could do about the blood Violet why the dwarf came after you instead. He wasn’t getting had dripped all over the backseat of his precious Aston anywhere threatening your grandfather.”
    Martin. once Jo-Jo finished with Violet, the dwarf took
    “But how do you know ?” she persisted. me into the salon, where she gave me a plastic tub. The I gave her a flat look. “Because I’ve had a lot of experidwarf’s cloud rune decorated the top of the container. I ence with this sort of thing. Dawson’s probably waiting traced my fingernail over the pale blue paint. for his cell phone to ring, for his man to check in and tell In addition to healing with their hands, Air elementals him that you’re dead. When he realizes something went like Jo-Jo could also infuse their magic in various prodwrong, Dawson will be too busy trying to find his own ucts, like the ointment she’d just handed me. The ointman and figure out what the hell happened to him to ment wouldn’t work as well as Jo-Jo healing me herself, worry about your grandfather. At least for tonight. Trust but it would keep me from keeling over until I could get to me. We’ve got time for you to get some beauty sleep.”
    her. Jo-Jo also gave me a couple of smaller containers of the Violet opened her mouth to argue with me some ointment, including one that looked like a makeup commore, but I cut her off. pact and another solid tube of it that resembled lipstick.
    “You can call your grandfather and check in. See how
    “Thanks,” I said. “I have a feeling I’m going to need he is, and tell him you’ll see him tomorrow. But if you these, if I’m getting mixed up with Tobias Dawson.”
    want my help, you’re staying here tonight. Capisce? ”
    Jo-Jo’s white eyes clouded over. “Maybe. Although I Violet Fox might be a straight-A business student, but don’t think the tub will be much help. Not this time.”
    her resistance wilted under my cold stare. “All right,” she Her voice was soft and distant, like she was somewhere murmured. “I’ll call my grandfather.”
    far away instead of standing in front of me. In addition to
    “Good,” I replied and pushed her bowl back over to her healing powers, Jo-Jo also had a bit of precognition. her. “Now, eat some more cobbler.”
    Most Airs did. They could read vibrations and feelings in the wind just like I could in whatever stone was near me. Violet Fox ate some more apricot bars and vanilla ice But where my element whispered to me of the past, theirs cream, while the rest of us plotted. Jo-Jo and Sophia often hinted at the future. Another way the two elements agreed to keep an eye on her until Finn and I showed up opposed each other.
    tomorrow. The two of us would drive Violet back home, After a moment, Jo-Jo’s eyes cleared, and she stared at meet with Warren T. Fox, and see what we could do to get me. “So, are we ever going to talk about it?”
    Tobias Dawson to back off.
    “Talk about what?” I asked, sliding the compact and Jo-Jo settled Violet in one of her upstairs bedrooms,