The Reckoning Read Online Free PDF Page A

wasn’t really in the mood for that, but he was smiling, obviously eager to do something nice for me after vetoing my hair fix. It wasn’t like we had anything better to do, so I said, “Sure.”
    “Sounds good,” Tori said. “Yes, I know, you weren’t inviting me, but we could both use the training. And, no, I’m not trying to get between you guys. I’m over you, Simon. I think you and Chloe make the most nauseatingly cute couple ever. But you can gaze soulfully into each other’s eyes another time. Right now, I need self-defense lessons. So I’ll meet you out back.”
    She started for the stairs, calling, “And it wouldn’t have been one-on-one for long anyway. I’m sure Derek will join in as soon as he’s done eavesdropping.”
     
    I ran into Derek as I came out of the bathroom.
    “Meeting over?” I asked.
    “Yeah.”
    Simon popped his head out of their room and Derek motioned him into the hall.
    “Where’s Tori?” he asked.
    “Outside. She’s waiting for us, though, so we can’t be long.”
    “And the verdict is?” Simon prompted.
    “Gwen and Andrew believe us. Margaret suspects we may have misunderstood the situation and jumped to the wrong conclusion about Liz, Brady, and Amber being killed. Only Russell thinks we’re intentionally lying.”
    “Jerk. Where does he get off—?”
    Derek gave him a look. Simon zipped it and gestured for Derek to continue.
    “They teleconferenced with a couple of the other senior members and—” Derek looked at me, and I read the answer in the way his gaze dipped from mine. “They want to slow down, get more information first. They’re going to send a team to Buffalo to do recon work.”
    Simon glowered. “Sure, take the slow and steady path while Rachelle and Dr. Fellows could be—” He looked at me. “Sorry.”
    We all stood there for a minute, simmering.
    I turned to Derek. “What do you think we should do?”
    “For now? Play it out.” His voice was gruff with frustration. “Nothing else we can do. We’ve got the Edison Group gunning for us. We have to stay put.”
     
    We found Tori out back. I apologized for taking so long; they didn’t. Simon had barely begun showing us a wrist hold when Andrew summoned us inside.
    Russell had already left. “Fled,” Simon muttered, “so he wouldn’t have to look us in the eye after telling the others he thinks we’re lying.”
    Gwen was gone, too, but only to grab groceries and takeout for dinner. Yes, it was dinner time already. Having gotten up so late, we were skipping lunch.
    We ate with Andrew, Gwen, and Margaret. They couched the plan in optimistic terms, of course—they were just doing a quick bout of reconnaissance work in preparation for the rescue operation.
    “So, guys,” Andrew said, “over the next few days, your job will be threefold. Rest up. Tell us everything you can about the lab. And get some training.”
    “Training?” That perked Tori up. Me, too.
    Gwen smiled. “Yep. That’s what Margaret and I are here for.”
    “And I’ll be working with Simon,” Andrew said, “though I know your dad’s been training you for years.”
    “I’m sure he can use the practice,” Tori said.
    Simon flipped her off. Andrew pretended not to see it.
    “As for Derek…” Andrew said.
    “Yeah, I know. No werewolf teachers for me.”
    “True, but we do have someone. Tomas, a half-demon member who lives in New Jersey. You may remember him from when you lived at the laboratory. He was a member of the team responsible for the werewolf section of the project.”
    Did I imagine it or did Derek flinch? I wouldn’t blamehim if he did. Derek had lived in the lab until Simon’s dad took him and that section of the experiment had been abandoned. The other three werewolves had already been killed. Meeting one of his “keepers” certainly wouldn’t be a happy reunion.
    “Tomas quit before you left the lab, primarily because he disagreed with the way you boys were treated. But he knows more