13 Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page B

Get dressed; we’re going after her. Nice pajamas, by the way.”
    Fabian blinked sleepily and peered down at himself. A brightly colored solar system was printed on the dark blue fabric.
    She turned to face the door to allow him to get changed, but he appeared beside her so quickly that she realized he’d simply pulled his clothes on over his pajamas.
    “Let’s go.”
    They crept downstairs, walking a short distance apart to minimize creaks. When they reached the clock, Spitfire slunk out of their way as they passed.
    Fabian grabbed some socks from a pile of laundry in the hallway. “Darn it, Nell,” he muttered to himself. “These socks aren’t properly dry.” He pulled them on anyway, grimacing, and they backed awayfrom the stairs toward the kitchen. There, Tanya quickly put a leash on Oberon.
    “Did you even see which way she went?” asked Fabian. “Front or back?”
    Tanya shook her head. “I didn’t see anything. But I think we should go the front way. If Rowan’s been so intent on keeping fairies away, then it doesn’t make sense for her to head toward the woods that are full of them.”
    “Good thinking,” said Fabian. “Now, where’s my other shoe?”
    Oberon stepped behind Tanya as Fabian huffily pulled his missing shoe, lightly nibbled, from Oberon’s basket. Fabian glared at the dog and tugged the shoe on with as much dignity as he could muster.
    “You were right. Rowan’s key is missing,” he whispered as they opened the front door. He took his own front door key from his pocket.
    Outside, there was no crunching across the gravel. This time they stuck to the path through the forecourt.
    “We’re going to have to run,” said Tanya, once they were safely through the gates. Broken moonlight played on the dirt road through the gaps in the trees. “She’s got at least five minutes on us. She could be anywhere.”
    “Head for the bus stop,” said Fabian. “All the main routes out go from there.”
    They began to run, wordlessly, side by side, with Oberon slightly ahead. Five minutes later they neared the junction.
    “Slow down,” Fabian said, his chest heaving for breath. “If she’s close by, she could hear us running.”
    They continued forward, though with Oberon’s heavy panting a quiet approach seemed unlikely. Tanya stared in both directions, searching the lanes. They were quiet even during the day. At night, they were deserted.
    “We’re too late,” she said in dismay, seeing nothing. “We’ve lost her.”
    “Don’t give up yet,” said Fabian. “She would only have gone this way”—he nodded to the left—“or that way, toward Tickey End. Let’s just pick one and take a chance. We can’t be that far behind.”
    Tanya turned from side to side. She was desperate to know where Rowan was—what was going on. “You decide,” she said finally. “I feel like whichever way I choose will be the wrong one.”
    Fabian raked a hand through his bushy hair.
    “Tickey End,” he said at last, as a look of recognition lit up his face. “I’ve just remembered something. Last week after school I saw her speaking to a homeless girl on the street. She acted like she didn’t know her, but I heard the girl call her ‘Red.’ I didn’t think of it until just now, but that’s when she started acting cagey. It’s something to do with that girl, I’m sure of it.” He started to walk. “Come on.”
    Tanya made to follow, but a sudden jerk on her arm made her stop. Oberon was resisting, staring in the opposite direction with his nose twitching and his ears pricked up, alert.
    “Wait,” she said.
    “What’s up with him?” Fabian said impatiently.
    “He doesn’t want to go that way,” said Tanya. “He’s pulling to go the other way. He’s scented something—it must be Rowan!”
    They followed Oberon along the narrow lane, walking as quickly as they could while still remaining quiet. Less than a minute later, they followed the road over the crest of a hill. Before