Far Away by Lisa Graff

Author:Lisa Graff
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2019-03-05T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

• • •

It’s obvious Jax and I are avoiding talking to each other as the woman in gold leads us back through the weird mansion. But the second she deposits us in the gardens on our own, I tell him, “Look, I know Roger was getting to you in there—” Then I have to pause, because it’s so bright outside that I sneeze, three times. “But I need your help again. I got another message from Spirit, and I think it’s important.” And as we cross back through the hedges toward the parking lot, I explain about the mushroom bracelet. “The artist’s name was James Darek. James, just like the name in the octopus. And I swear, Jax, those mushrooms on the bracelet were exactly like the ones in my mom’s sculpture. And I know you think this is all a coincidence, and you’re worried about your job and everything, but I really think Spirit is telling me to look into this James guy, and—”

“I’ll help you,” Jax tells me. Which might be the most surprising thing he’s said all day.

“You will?”

“The whole time we were in there,” Jax says, “I kept getting this weird . . . feeling. Like someone was watching me or something, I don’t know. And then that name in the octopus? James?” He’s tapping the side of his phone like he thinks that’ll make it pick up a signal faster. “James was my grandpa’s name.”

My eyes go buggy. “No way.”

“Well, Jaime. James was the American version.” He darts his eyes at me. “I thought maybe it was Abuelo’s way of telling me that I need to help you out.”

“Your grandpa sounds like a pretty smart guy,” I say.

At that, Jax laughs. “He’d agree with you,” he says. And then, whacking his phone one more time, he shouts, “Aha! A signal! Whoa.” He brings the phone close to his face. “I’ve got fourteen missed calls from your aunt and six from Uncle Oscar. Oh, man, it’s past two. They must be totally freaking out.”

“I’ll call Aunt Nic,” I tell him, taking the phone. I need to warn her about Roger and try to buy us some time to work through this new message from Spirit without telling her too much. I flip open my messenger bag and hand Jax my tablet. “You look up James Darek.”

The phone rings twice before someone picks up. But it isn’t Aunt Nic on the other end. It’s Oscar.

“CJ!” he answers. Oscar is never a happy person, but he sounds especially irritated right now. “Where are you? Your aunt is in a reading right now. She told me the second I got you I was supposed to make sure you’re not in a hospital, and then yell at you. Are you in a hospital?”

“We’re fine,” I say. “But before you yell at me, I want you to know that it’s not Jax’s fault we’re so late, it’s mine. I practically dragged him here.”

Jax’s breaths are short and quick as he listens to my end of the conversation, but at least he’s not scratching.

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