5
‘So,’ I said, as Zareen strolled up a few moments later. ‘I’ve lost Jay.’ I had tried three times to call him, but he hadn’t answered.
‘Lost, how?’ she said. ‘Or do I mean, how lost?’
‘I’d say he’s the kind of lost that nightmares are made of, and I lost him because I let him go into Little Miss Makepeace’s creepy farmhouse alone.’
‘And she made off with him?’
‘Correct.’
‘Why did you let him go in alone?’
‘Because he told me to wait.’
‘And you obeyed?’ Zareen was incredulous.
‘For about three seconds, which turned out to be long enough.’
Zareen shrugged, splendidly unconcerned about Jay’s abrupt disappearance. ‘All part of the plan, most likely. Do you want to know what I found?’
‘Is it something exciting?’
‘Extremely.’ Zareen’s plum-painted lips wore a huge, satisfied smile.
