Jillian Cade

Jillian Cade by Jen Klein Page B

Book: Jillian Cade by Jen Klein Read Free Book Online
Authors: Jen Klein
Tags: young adult mystery thriller
would have been satisfying to make them squirm.
    If they even knew about her, that is.
    As I waved back, it seemed less likely they knew anything at all. My dad was the liar, not them. So instead of asking them about it, I took it out on Norbert. In my defense, I’d been planning to yell at him anyway.
    â€œNow you’re Sky’s personal assistant?” I demanded as soon as he hopped into my car. “Who do you work for, anyway?”
    Norbert scowled. “If anyone here should be mad, it’s me,” he shot back. “I’m your cousin. I get to do your grunt work.”
    â€œYeah, so?”
    â€œSo how come you partner up with Sky and not me?”
    â€œSky Ramsey and I are not partners!”
    â€œOh, really?” said Norbert. “So he just happens to know you’re Umbra Investigations. He just happens to have all the information on the Corabelle LaCaze case? He just happens to need a name run on a potential suspect?”
    â€œHe barged into my client interview. It was an accident!” I stepped on the gas and sped down the street.
    Norbert made a noise through his nose.
    â€œLook, he’s obsessed with my dad,” I said, gripping the steering wheel. “He was dying to be a part of Umbra. I didn’t go to him. He came to me.”
    Norbert folded his arms and turned his body away from me. “Whatever. It’s cool.”
    He was silent the rest of the way to school. When I parked, he reached for the door handle without a word. I needed to do something. It wasn’t his fault that my life was a series of surprise disasters.
    â€œNorbert!”
    He didn’t answer, but he froze in place.
    â€œI need your help.”
    His hand still on the door, he turned and looked at me, his eyes softening. “You do?”
    â€œI need everything you can find on Todd Harmon. Cell phone activity, driver’s license, plates, parking tickets. Anything. I’ve never had a missing person case before, and . . . ” I paused, but only because the next part was true, and truth is not exactly my specialty. “It’s a big deal. I can’t do it alone.”
    Norbert grinned. “I’m on it. You’re welcome.”
    I found Corabelle in the hallway before homeroom. She wasn’t her usual manicured self. Her ponytail had slid halfway down her head, and some strands had escaped the rubber band to straggle around her face.
    â€œDid you find Todd?” she asked the moment she saw me.
    â€œNot yet.” I pulled her into a corner so we could have some semblance of privacy. “But you’re right. It’s totally a curse.”
    She blinked rapidly. Her hand went to her mouth. “I knew it.”
    Sliding back into my Umbra mode was the easiest thing in the world. Ignoring the twinge of guilt over lying about Todd Harmon—a real missing person—was more difficult. Giving a crap had never been part of the Umbra plan. I shook it off. “There’s some dangerous magic at play here,” I told Corabelle. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but Van Nuys is the warlock capital of the world.”
    â€œReally?” she breathed.
    â€œYeah, and I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to charge you an additional hazard fee.”
    Corabelle didn’t even blink. “Whatever you need.”
    â€œBy the way,” I said, “I didn’t see anything on Todd’s parents in the information you gave me. Have you talked to them? Do you think they might know something?”
    Corabelle shook her head. “No parents. Todd was a ward of the state. He got scholarships for college.”
    Wow. Aside from the disappearing act, Todd was looking more and more impressive. He’d become a pre-med all on his own. But then again, what did I know? A “ward of the state” could mean anything. I didn’t have any parents either.
    â€œHere, in case it helps.” I took the photo Corabelle

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