"I'm sorry you had to hear it. Did Ashe let you in?"
"Yes. He went out to talk to Sali. How are you feeling?"
"Not so good, after that." Adele tapped her phone. "The good news, I guess, is that Aedan is coming home. He texted Ashe. Maybe he was afraid to talk to me."
"Things haven't gone so well, lately," Denise agreed softly.
* * *
"Anything new?" Ashe asked as he and Sali walked through the Star Cove community.
"Nope. Marco is at the beach house with Loren, and he says things are really quiet over there. Says he's talked to Cori three times today. She almost freaked when he told her about last night."
"Not many people knew what was happening," Ashe said.
"Ashe, what's wrong?" Sali stopped on his trek around the community and stared at Ashe.
"I'm blind as a bat, no pun intended," Ash muttered. "Dang. I don't know if I can even change to the bat," he added. "Sal, will you pick up my clothes if I turn?"
"I guess, but dude, it's still daylight."
"Doesn't matter. If I can't do this, I really am screwed." Ashe concentrated on turning to the bat.
"Looks like a bat to me," Sali muttered dryly as Ashe flapped in front of his face.
Yippee! Ashe sent.
"Dude, turning to an itty bitty bat is no cause for celebration," Sali pointed out.
You can hear my mindspeech? Answer if you can.
"I hear you. Won't you fry those tiny wings if you fly around too much in this heat?"
It's either that or run naked through the street to get back home, Ashe pointed out.
"Young one, perhaps you'd like a ride?" Ashe flapped around to see who'd spoken. She was ancient and lovely, with blue-black hair captured in a braid down her back and dark eyes that held wisdom and pain in their depths.
I'd accept a ride, Ashe agreed.
"He speaks with his mind? That's wonderful," she stated. "I am Opal Tadewi, one of Alvin's friends."
"Alvin?" Sali blinked.
Principal Wright, Ashe supplied.
"Oh. Man, I didn't know he had another name besides Bear."
"He does," Opal smiled. "Young one, you may sit on my shoulder," she tapped her right shoulder with a finger. "Perhaps you will tell me which house is yours?"
Sali gathered Ashe's clothing and followed Opal and Ashe down the street.
* * *
"Hey, Mrs. Evans. Ashe turned." Sali lifted Ashe's jeans and sneakers.
"Who is this?" Adele saw Opal as she walked around Sali.
"I am Ashe's ride for the present," Opal smiled. "I hear you had a traumatic experience last night. Is there anything I can do?"
"I'm all right, I just feel a little confused," Adele smiled. "I have coffee. Would you like some?"
"I'd appreciate a cup. Young one, perhaps you'd like to get dressed?" She addressed Ashe, who still perched on her shoulder. Ashe flapped away, following Sali up the stairs.
* * *
"Man, Mom will blow a gasket when she figures out I don't have any clothes here. They're all at Mr. Winkler's." Ashe came out of the bathroom, fully dressed again, his hair ruffled from pulling the T-shirt over his head.
"Marco said Cori was coming home for dinner with her mom and Dori," Sali said. "Maybe she can go by Winkler's place and pick up stuff for you."
"That's fine, but what then? Mom signed a paper, making Mr. Winkler my guardian. Does she remember that at all, or are her brains completely scrambled?" Ashe turned a worried glance on Sali.
"No idea, man. Maybe you should talk to Mr. Winkler first. Or the Grand Master."
"They've got their hands full, don't you think? Zeke Tanner is still causing trouble, Dawn Smith is trying to kill my mom, Randy's under house arrest when he didn't do anything, and the Elemaiya are showing up for who knows—uh-oh." Ashe's eyes widened in alarm.
"What? That uh-oh didn't sound good, dude."
"Sal, they were trying to get me, last night. Why didn't I see this before? Oh, man, this is a hundred times worse."
"See what?" Sali asked.
Ashe almost ran through his bedroom door, heading for the stairs. Sali trotted behind, still asking questions. "Where's Mr. Winkler?" Ashe's sneakers squeaked on the tiled kitchen floor as he sailed into the kitchen.
"He's still with Marcus and the Grand Master at our house," Denise DeLuca answered.
"I need to talk to him," Ashe breathed. Sali caught up and bumped into Ashe, nearly knocking him over as Ashe stopped still to call Winkler on his cell.
"Is he always this abrupt?" Opal smiled at Adele. Sali righted himself before pulling Ashe back from a near fall.
"Not always, unless there's something important going on," Adele replied. "Honey, what's going on?"
"I sort of know more than I did," Ashe said. "Mr. Winkler, can I see you for a minute?" Ashe asked when Winkler answered the call.
"Thanks," Ashe hung up. "Mom, I need to go to Sali's house. I'll be back." Ashe raced out the door, Sali close behind.
* * *
"You're sure about this?" Winkler knelt beside the chair Ashe had chosen in Marcus' den. Marcus, Sali, Trajan and the Grand Master were waiting for Ashe to explain why he thought the Elemaiya had been waiting for him to appear to save his mother the night before.
"Well, they were waiting for me in England, when they tried to take Dad," Ashe pointed out.
"So, Dawn Smith is not only involved as Tanner's informant, she may be dealing with the Elemaiya, too?" The Grand Master attempted to puzzle things out.
"I think Wildrif is pulling strings in all this," Ashe muttered bitterly. "You think he's taking money from all sides?"
"Could be," Winkler's forehead wrinkled as he considered the idea. "Kid, I never thought I'd miss that crazy talent you have, but I do now."
"We'll just have to figure this out the old-fashioned way, until the crazy talent comes back," Ashe said. "I have a headache, again. Sal, got any aspirin?"
* * *
"Do you have a last name?" Curtis Roberts asked.
"None that matters," Wildrif shrugged.
"You say you're the one providing all the intel? Through Tanner?"
"Yes. He has failed to pay for my services or provide proper compensation of any kind. Therefore, I offer my services directly to you."
"What can you give me on that kid? The one in those photos?" Curtis asked. He studied Wildrif as his new informant considered the request. Curtis thought Wildrif looked much like the homeless people he sometimes passed on the street. Dressed poorly in ill-fitting clothing, Wildrif wore shoes too large for his feet, his mismatched eyes made everyone around him uncomfortable and he needed a bath and a haircut.