The Thirteen Hallows Read Online Free PDF Page A

moving toward them. She tried to call out to her, to warn her about the knife, but she was having difficulty drawing breath.
    Skinner spun around, bringing up the knife. “Why don’t you mind your own f—”
    Without breaking stride, the young woman lashed out with the heel of her sensible shoe, catching the skinhead just below the kneecap. There was a distinct popping sound and Skinner crashed to the ground onto his injured knee, his cry high-pitched and feminine. Judith spun around and caught the edge of the car door, slamming it shut. It closed on the junkie’s fingers, tearing skin and snapping bones. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.
    Judith scooped up her fallen bag and hobbled toward the young woman, who reached for her hand and pulled her away without a word. They had taken a dozen steps before the junkie started screaming incoherently. Lying on the ground, whimpering in pain, cradling his injured knee, Skinner pulled out his cell phone and hit a speed dial. His employer was not going to be pleased, and that frightened the skinhead even more than his injured leg.

5
     
    No police,” Judith Walker said firmly as they rounded the corner, distancing themselves from the assailants. Her fingers tightened on the young woman’s arm, squeezing painfully. “Please, no police.”
    “But…”
    Taking a deep breath, attempting to calm her thundering heart, Judith continued evenly, “It was just a bag snatch…or a mugging.”
    “ Just a mugging!”
    “I’m Judith Walker,” the woman said suddenly, stopping and extending her hand, which forced the young woman to turn back, breaking her train of thought. “What’s your name?”
    The young woman extended her hand. The moment it was enveloped in the older woman’s leathery grasp, she became disoriented, a surge of confusing thoughts and odd emotions washing over her. “I…I’m Sarah Miller.”
    “It is very nice to meet you, Sarah Miller. And thanks to you, there’s no harm done,” Judith continued forcefully, allowing a little authority to seep into her voice. She continued to hold Sarah’s hand, using the physical contact to strengthen the link between them. She calmed the edgy young woman’s nerves with her gentle touch, while subtly using her skills to envelop her consciousness. It was a talent she hadn’t used in more than a decade, but she knew she needed to take control of the situation or the girl would go to the police, and she couldn’t afford that. Locking her eyes on the girl’s face, she smiled. “Now, I don’t know about you, Sarah, but I’d love a cup of coffee.”
    “Coffee.” The young woman nodded absently. “Coffee. Yes, of course.”
    Judith maneuvered Sarah toward a small Italian café. Three couples deep in conversation occupied all of the tables outside the restaurant. As they approached, Judith concentrated on an American couple in matching J. Crew madras jackets and madras sneakers, who were sitting a little apart from the others, their table partially hidden by a striped umbrella. Drawing strength from the lump of iron in her bag, feeling it heavy and warm in her arms, she willed them to leave. Moments later, the preppy couple stood up, packed up their maps and cameras, dropped a few bills on the table, and walked away without glancing back.
    When Judith and Sarah sat down, the older woman immediately ordered two double espressos and some almond cannoli.
    Sarah was still too dazed to notice. Somewhere at the back of her mind, she felt as if she had lost something or had missed something. It was as if she were watching a badly edited movie, with frames or sequences missing. She tried to piece together the puzzling events of the last ten minutes. She had just left the bank and was heading to lunch in the café on the first floor of the library when she spotted the skinhead. He was wearing those mirrored shades she detested. Trailing the stink of unwashed flesh, the skinhead had brushed past her, eyes fixed on