The Shadow Dragon by Andrea Pearson

Author:Andrea Pearson [Pearson, Andrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Andrea Pearson
Published: 2020-11-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

First thing the next morning, Jessie invited Nick over. She hoped her dad would be open to talking to them about the case. He had been in the past—he liked running problems by her mom, and Jessie had been there for a few of those conversations—but she wasn’t sure this time, since it would be just her and Nick.

The two eagerly explained the new pattern to her dad and he thanked them, then asked them to go “play” while he made a few phone calls.

“Guess that means we’ve been dismissed,” Nick whispered in the hall next to Dad’s office.

Jessie made a face. “He must’ve been really distracted. ‘Go play’? How old does he think we are?”

Nick chuckled, which annoyed Jessie, but she tucked the exasperation aside. “Let’s watch a movie,” she said. “I’ll keep an ear on my dad’s study in the meantime, and the minute he comes out, we’ll be there.”

Nick agreed, and they crossed the hall into the family room.

Jessie had a hard time concentrating, though, and twenty minutes in, she didn’t even recognize the movie they’d chosen.

Finally, an hour later, Dad stepped out of his office, rubbing the back of his neck. Jessie jumped up to meet him in the hallway.

“Well?” she asked.

He released his breath in a big, exhausted rush. “Seems you’re right. The homes have all had basements. And the places that matched the ‘lost loved ones’ category were skipped when they didn’t have one. How did you figure it out?”

Jessie thought as quickly as she could. “It just popped into my mind. I was looking at your map and realized Nick’s dad had passed away, which meant he might get targeted. So I ran over there and I think the robbers got . . . got scared away.” She didn’t really answer his question. She cringed inwardly, hoping he wouldn’t realize it.

Dad gripped her shoulders, staring at her. “Jessie, that was very dangerous! You should’ve called me!”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

Dad shook his head. “You can’t ever do that again. Please, please let me take things from here on out. You know I can handle it. With what you’ve figured out, I’ll be able to make sure these murderers are apprehended.”

Jessie chewed the inside of her cheek. How could she possibly obey her dad while still helping Nick? She knew her friend would have to be the one to stop the demon. There was no way her dad could. He had no idea what he was up against. And she wouldn’t let Nick go stop the demon on his own.

Dad hadn’t finished, though. “Promise me you won’t sneak off to other people’s houses, even if you think it might save them. You call me first—let me handle it. Please?”

Jessie nodded. Her dad was exhausted—the lines on his face were much deeper than usual, and his eyes were tired and bloodshot. He was on his last thread, and the terror he must have felt thinking he’d nearly lost his daughter had obviously made things worse. “I promise.

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