The Mapmakers Union (The Doorknob Society Saga Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

closed my eyes and took a deep breath trying to conjure it up in my mind.
    His eyes came first, the blue and then the gray; next I saw his crooked smile. I smiled recalling the self-confident way he would talk or stand beside me. The pain returned as his image faded. I had assumed he would always be there, but he was gone and now I was alone. The man I had thought was a pain-in-my-butt and wanted to get rid of, was the one person I wanted desperately to see now more than anyone.
    “Are you trying to inhale that coffee?” Faith’s voice cut through my memories and I opened my eyes and turned to her sitting across from me with a wide smile on her face.
    An itch tickled at the base of my neck and I laughed at her comment as I reached back to scratch it. “Where’d you come from?”
    “Just finished practice.” She pulled her bag off her shoulder and slung it over the back of the chair. Faith had been given her own DS team after our last misadventure. They’d wanted me to take on a team full time, but I declined and told them that she deserved it.
    “How’d it go?”
    “Not bad, the team is coming together. I think if the First Kind showed up, we would give them a run for their money. Of course, we would do a lot better if you were a member.” She winked at me and I smirked at the implication.
    “Sorry, I’m done listening to DS for the moment.” I’d had enough of the Old Kind and their ways to last a lifetime. I was more interested in staying on the outside and working for Dad and my other side job with Gavin that no one knew about.
    “For not being active with DS you certainly do keep busy. I haven’t seen you in over a week. What’ve you been up too?” Faith leaned forward and I knew she didn’t believe for a moment that I hadn’t been doing stuff on the sly.
    “Nothing much, just school stuff,” I said.
     “Yeah, right, school stuff. Well, whatever you’re up to be careful. The Societies are practically at war with one another. All its going to take is one match to light the fire.”
     Faith sat straight on the stool and for a moment I thought I caught a hint of satisfaction flash across her face. How could that be? It didn’t make sense, Faith wouldn’t want a war. We were fighting to prevent that. I realized I must have misread her.
    “Thanks, Val,” Faith said as Val dropped off a cup of coffee for her and refilled mine.
    Faith was right about one thing, if the situation got any worse the Old Kind would declare open war on one another. And I bet that was exactly what the First Kind wanted. I should have been more careful the other night. Here I was trying to gather information to prevent further chaos and I probably helped them get closer to their objective... whatever that may be.
    I needed to get to the Diesel Factories and check in. I shouldn’t have waited this long. I had foolishly allowed myself to be distracted. Maybe my friends were right; maybe I was playing things to tightly. If my actions set off a war, the First Kind could stroll in and take over with ease. I needed to get out of here and report on my mission.
    “Chloe was just telling me how she has been busy with school work lately.” Faith waved at me and rolled her eyes toward Val.
    “I know, she always has her head buried in a book,” Val confirmed with a smile, though refused to look straight at Faith.
    Most of my friends still didn’t trust Faith enough to let her in on our little secret. I knew it was mostly Jess’s doing. I doubt she ever really got over the way Faith made it obvious that she was interested in Nightshade. I slid my fingers along the base of my neck and rubbed vigorously at the annoying itch and wondered if I was allergic to something. If it kept up I’d have to go have it checked out.
    “I should probably get going.” I stood and grabbed my bag, throwing the strap over my shoulder and brushed passed Val who regarded me with a puzzled expression.
    “Chloe, wait up,” Faith called after me and