The Witch Hunter's Gauntlet Read Online Free PDF Page B

they were thinking. Mr. Hernandez certainly knew how to push their buttons. If they thought this school was the only place she was going to be safe there was no way Sam was getting out of it. She was going to have to do something drastic.
    She stuck out her bottom lip slightly and turned her big pleading eyes on Helen. It wasn’t hard to do. The tears that welled up on her lower eyelids were very real. Judging by the tears in her own eyes, Helen got the signal.
    “Mr. Hernandez,” Helen began politely as she shuffled all the brochures and papers into a neat pile. “We would like to thank you for coming today, and for presenting Sam with this amazing opportunity. I’m sure you understand that a decision like this takes a little time. We have your number here somewhere, and we will give you a call soon with Sam’s decision.”
    Harold took the cue from his wife and stood up to shake Mr. Hernandez’s hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hernandez.”
    But Vice Principal Hernandez didn’ t stand up to shake Harold’s hand.
    “I understand that today has been particularly stressful and I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but there is one more matter we need to discuss,” he said sternly.
    Harold pulled his hand back. His smile quickly faded from his face. “And what is that, Mr. Hernandez?”
    Agents Sampson and Rosenberg walked in from the living room and stood next to the table.
    “Miller’s Grove University also has one of the highest security vaults in the country. It would be the perfect place to keep the Lantern of the Blue Flame,” Vice Principal Hernandez said with a toothy smile.
    Sam leapt out of her chair so fast it startled everyone at the table. Even Agent Sampson made a reflexive reach for his vest pocket before realizing that she wasn’t a threat. He earned himself some very nasty looks from Helen and Harold for that mistake.
    “I don’t have your stupid lantern. I don’t even know what it is. If it means so much to you, you should go look for it. Leave me alone.”
    “I think you should go now,” Harold said firmly.
    “Sam has already assured us that she doesn’t know anything about the lantern,” Agent Rosenberg said, clearly trying to smooth over the situation.
    “Miss Hathaway , I apologize. Clearly I was given bad information,” Vice Principal Hernandez rose to his feet.
    Sam turned away from the three strangers in her dining room. Who were they to come out of nowhere and accuse her of stealing things she had never even heard of? She was so angry her legs were shaking. Helen hugged her even tighter.
    “Mr. Hernandez, we have your information. If Sam chooses to attend your school we will contact you.” His voice left no doubt that the conversation was over.
    “Very well,” Vice Principal Hernandez said lifting his briefcase. “I hope you won’t hold my little mistake against the academy.”
    “Good day,” Agent Sampson said as he followed Vice Principal Hernandez to the door.
    “I hope to see you there, Sam,” Agent Rosenberg said sweetly. She gave Sam a cheerful little wave as she headed for the door. “Nice place you have here Mr. and Mrs. Robinson. Sorry for the hassle.”
    “Thank you,” Helen said, more by reflex than anything else.
    Harold closed the door behind them.
    “Sam, I…” Helen began, but Sam was halfway to her room before she could finish.
    Sam shut the door and locked it before throwing herself on the bed. She doubted quite highly if anyone she knew had ever had such a strange day. No one that was still alive anyway.
    Without even knowing why, she burst into tears. She pulled in Mr. Hopscotch, her teddy bear that her father had made on the day she was born so that they would always be the same age, and she hugged him like she hadn’t hugged him in years.
    Poor Mr. Hopscotch. He only got this kind of attention when things went bad. She hugged him even tighter.
    For some bizarre reason , it is difficult to tell time while crying.