The Dark Glamour (666 Park Avenue 2)

her what happened in the Hamptons when she was six and allegedly died?’
    Elodie chuckled. ‘I wasn’t saying you weren’t being direct
enough,
Jan— Ella. I think you scared her off.’
    ‘I don’t have much time,’ Jane reminded her friend, taking a largish swallow of her beer and then self-consciously wiping the bitter foam off her upper lip.
    ‘Don’t be silly,’ Elodie told her in an exasperated tone. ‘We have these whole pints. And then at least one more, with food. And then two whole weeks, in case you need them.’
    Jane nodded noncommittally. After all of the unexpected twists in the mission so far, it felt impossible to just sit back and relax and let things take their course. She sipped her beer again, more carefully this time. She stiffened when she saw Annette – Anne – heading back towards them with green paper place mats and rolled-up silverware.
    Elodie kicked Jane under the table with one of her pointy-toed boots. She mouthed something that looked a lot like
‘Chill,’
and Jane obediently attempted to do just that.
    ‘Thanks,’ she said when Anne had set their table. It sounded a little squeaky, and Elodie kicked her again. She seemed to be enjoying herself far more than Jane was.
    Anne turned to leave. Elodie made an urgent face at Jane, who, fearing another kick to the shin, cleared her throat. ‘Um, so I just came in from . . . the train,’ she improvised, realizing belatedly that she had no idea where trains came into King’s Cross from. ‘And my cousin –’ she seized the opportunity to kick Elodie, who waved like a pageant queen, ‘– will be working all week and doesn’t know this part of the city well, anyway. Is there anything around here you can recommend? For, um, sightseeing?’ It was a long shot, if the sights on their way to the pub had been any indication, but at least Elodie kept her pointy toes to herself this time.
    Anne pursed her wide lips thoughtfully. ‘Well, we’re not far from Regent’s Park, and that’s pleasant enough, especially in good weather. There’s a theatre and a zoo. Madame Tussaud’s is over there, too, if you like wax, but it’s a bit eerie for me.’
    Jane shuddered in agreement: the silent, motionless, shiny-faced celebrities at the New York branch had made her distinctly uncomfortable. ‘The park sounds better.’ She nodded. ‘It’s always good to get a local’s perspective – or someone’s who works here at least,’ she corrected herself, although this time her awkwardness was entirely faked. ‘I suppose you could live anywhere.’
Could she have run away? Was she kidnapped? Did she just get lost?
Nothing made sense. The six year old’s disappearance and presumed death had made national headlines for nearly a week. And her witchy mother had an even more effective way of finding her daughter at her disposal, as Jane had obviously demonstrated. Even now that Jane had found Anne, something major didn’t add up.
    Anne snorted a sarcastic laugh, leaning against the back of Elodie’s side of the booth. ‘Don’t know about
that.
You wouldn’t believe the rent at Buckingham Palace these days.’ Anne waved her hand dismissively, and her follow-up sounded sort of like an apology. ‘I’ve been around here since I aged out of my foster place. I’d moved a bit, so I like sticking to just the one flat now. People rag on this neighbourhood, but it’s home, you know? Didn’t mean to snip just then. I’ll go see if the cook’s in yet.’
    Jane smiled as warmly as she could, but Anne was already heading off again.
Does she even remember that she used to have a different home?
‘Well, now I want to adopt her,’ she murmured to Elodie.
    Elodie was craned around to watch Anne go. When she turned back, Jane could see that her face was troubled. ‘I wouldn’t, if I were you,’ she whispered.
    ‘Think what she must have been through,’ Jane urged as quietly as she could. ‘You don’t know what it’s like to grow up without parents—’
    ‘Shh. You still grew up with family. Jane, I’m sure she’s had it rough, but she didn’t have your Gran keeping her in line, either. And she . . . I just get a weird vibe.’
    ‘She’s a witch,’ Jane whispered, taken aback by Elodie’s reaction. ‘We give off weird vibes.’
    Elodie looked doubtful but tried to hide it with another sip of Guinness. ‘I liked you fine.’
    Jane laughed out loud, prompting a new round of stares from the university kids. ‘And what’s