Hunt for Jade Dragon Read Online Free PDF Page B

meeting you both as well.”
    Just then Taylor screamed so loudly the whole room stopped. “Mom!”
    I turned around to see Mrs. Ridley standing in the open doorway. For a moment she just stared at Taylor in disbelief, then she shouted, “My baby!” The two of them ran to each other and embraced. Mrs. Ridley held Taylor tightly, crying over and over, “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe you’re really here.”
    I turned to my mom, who was watching them joyfully. “Did you know Mrs. Ridley was already here?”
    â€œI knew they had gone to get her,” she said, her eyes still fixed on them. “She must have just arrived.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell her?”
    She turned to me with a wise expression on her face. “Would you have wanted to spoil that surprise?”
    After Taylor and her mother parted, Taylor brought her mother to me. “Mom, this is Michael, my boyfriend.”
    â€œWe met once before,” she said. “Your father and I went to his apartment after you disappeared.”
    I remembered that night well. Mr. and Mrs. Ridley had come to my apartment to see if I knew where Taylor was. I suddenly felt embarrassed. “I wasn’t lying, I . . .”
    â€œYou don’t need to explain,” Mrs. Ridley said. “I’ve been briefed about everything. I don’t know how to thank you for rescuing my daughter.” She looked at Taylor and broke down crying again. “I’m never going to let you out of my sight again. Never, never, never again.”
    No one has told her about Taiwan , I thought.
    About ten minutes later there was a loud squeal from amicrophone, then Joel said, “Good evening and welcome, everyone. There are some happy reunions going on tonight and I won’t keep you from them. I just wanted to inform you that dinner is ready, so if everyone will find a seat, we’ll begin serving.”
    My mother and I sat down at a table for eight with McKenna, the Lisses, Taylor, and her mother. After we were seated I asked Taylor’s mom, “Where’s Mr. Ridley?”
    â€œHe’s at home,” she said.
    â€œHe couldn’t come?”
    â€œIf he knew Taylor was here he would have definitely come. He thinks I’m on a business trip for my travel company. In fact, until two hours ago, so did I.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Taylor asked.
    â€œA few days ago, a woman came into my office. She said she represented a very wealthy Arizona businessman who was looking for someone to handle his company’s travel, but wanted to meet me first. She said he would send his private jet. So just a little after noon we flew out from Boise. I thought we were headed to Scottsdale, Arizona, not wherever this place is.”
    â€œYou don’t know where we are either?” Taylor asked.
    She shook her head. “Just an idea. It looks like Texas, but it could be Southern Arizona, New Mexico, or even Mexico. So after four hours in the air I asked the woman where we were. All she said was, ‘On course.’
    â€œIt was only after the plane had landed on a private landing strip and these guys with guns met us that I began to panic. That’s when the woman told me that they were taking me to see my daughter.” She teared up. “At first I thought they had kidnapped me, too. But then on the drive here they explained things. It was all so strange, but when they told me that Taylor had these powers  . . .” She turned to Taylor. “This is still so hard to believe—not just what is going on in the world, but that you can do what they say you can. Is it true?”
    Taylor nodded. “Yes.”
    â€œHoney, why didn’t you just tell us?”
    â€œI was scared. It took me years to understand my powers, andonce I finally did I didn’t know how to tell you.” She looked at me. “When I saw Michael use his powers it was the first