Truthseeker Part 5

Seventeen months. She would no longer have an apartment. No clothes, no credit cards, no cash. Her mother would be mourning; Kelly would have moved on with only the occasional regretful look back. And Dafydd had lied, twice. First about his own part in the murder, then about the magic that would hold the pa.s.sage of time in her world to match the time in his.

The music of truth flattened, souring with the last thoughts. Lied, Lara amended, or had been mistaken. She could bend that far, though doing so felt brittle. It hadnat been his magic that sent her back home, but her own. Maybe truthseeker magic wasnat meant to open paths between worlds, and had warped the spell.

The how didnat matter. Cold with disbelief, Lara stepped out of the sandbox and shuffled away from the playground toward a life that no longer existed.

It took almost an hour to hail a taxi: most drivers looked right through her, and Lara, clad in Barrow-lands armor, couldnat blame them. She wore a tunic and leggings under her armor, but she was reluctant to discard it: it was the sole tangible thing she could offer in explanation, or excuse, for her disappearance. She did tuck her gauntlets, awkwardly, into the belt meant for her sword.

The cabdriver who eventually picked her up regaled her with stories about fighting somewhere called aPennsica with a reenactment group specializing in medieval costuming. Lara, too grateful for words, listened silently and wondered what he would think of the real battle shead seen.

He was now parked outside of the bra.s.siere specialty shop Kelly had worked at a year and a half earlier, waiting for Lara, who pushed the door open with nerves making a pit of sickness in her stomach. A blond girl she didnat know looked up with a smile that turned plastic with astonishment. aUm, h.e.l.lo. Can I help you?a aHi, Iama"a Lara blushed, stumbling over an explanation she knew wasnat necessary, but couldnat help offering. aIam not here to shop. I donat need a bra. Iam just a thirty-four B, itas not like itas hard to find bras that fit, and I know I look really weirda"a She bit her lower lip, trying to stop babbling. aSorry,a she said after a moment. aI was wondering if Kelly Richards still works here?a The girlas smile had turned increasingly panicked all the way through Laraas fumbling explanation, and turned to a squeak of relief at the eventual question. aYeah, sheas my manager. Hang on and Iall get her.a She disappeared into the back and Lara returned to the door, waving to let her driver know she was still there. He was on his cell phone, chatting, she imagined, to some other reenactor, telling him about her armor.

aHi!a Kellyas voice came from behind her, loud and cheerful. Laraas hands went cold and she turned jerkily. Nerves seemed ridiculous when it had been only a day or two since shead seen Kelly, but she still heard Cynthiaas anger. Seventeen months.

Both color and cheer drained from Kellyas face. She said nothing, only stared with disbelief so profound it didnat even allow for hope. In her wake, Lara saw the shop a.s.sistant shift uncomfortably.

aI need to pay the cabdriver,a Lara finally whispered. aIam sorry, I justa"I donat have any money, and I didnat know who else to come to. Momas so far out of the city. aa Kelly jolted like someone had run electricity through her, flipping from shock to business in an instant. aRight. Right, hold on.a She grabbed a purse from behind the counter and swept out of the shop.

Lara reached for a display rack as her knees failed, relief stronger than nerves had been. The a.s.sistant squeaked and scurried toward her in concern, but Lara waved her away. aIam all right.a Polite fiction, not exactly a lie, but not true enough to sit comfortably on her tongue.

The shop doorbell jangled as Kelly charged back in. Lara turned halfway around and Kelly caught her by the shoulders, her color returned and burning hot in her cheeks. aWhatave youa"Whereave youa"Whatare you wearing? Oh my G.o.d, Lara, is it you?a She burst into tears before Lara could answer. Heart aching, Lara pulled her into a hug and sought the shop a.s.sistantas gaze. aCan we go in back?a aYeah. Yeah, of course.a The blond girl ushered them toward the back of the store, Lara guiding Kelly as she sobbed. The a.s.sistanta"Ruth, Lara finally saw on her name taga"whispered, aIall get some coffee,a and rushed out again. A moment later the doorbell rang again, and the distinctive click of a lock told Lara they were safely alone and wouldnat be disturbed.

With Ruthas retreat, Kelly dragged in a hiccuping breath and swiped tears from her eyes. aIam sorry. I just thought Iad never see you again. Lara, what happened? Where have you been?a aItas okay. And a Kel, this isnat something I say a lot, but you wouldnat believe me if I told you.a Kelly grabbed her hands hard enough to hurt, eyes wide, like if she blinked Lara would disappear again. aOf course Iall believe you. You never lie.a aI know. Itas just that itas unbelievable.a aWe thought you were dead,a Kelly whispered. aYouare not. Anythingas believable, if youare alive. My G.o.d, Lara. Whata"You have to tell me. You have to tell me.a Then dismay contorted her features even more, words tumbling on top of one another: aUnless, I mean, unless you donat want to. If itas been horrible and of course it probably has beena"a aItas only been a day,a Lara blurted, stemming Kellyas apology more thoroughly than shead imagined possible. aI know,a she said as confusion and worry overwrote the dismay on Kellyas face. aI know, itas impossible. But itas not like I have amnesia or am missing a year and a half of my life. Itas been barely twenty-four hours since we helped Rachel move, as far as Iam concerned. Do you still have the Nissan?a she asked wistfully.

aYeah, itas been a great little a Lara, itas been seventeen months. You canat go around telling people itas only been a day. Thatas insane.a aItas true.a aHow?a Lara pulled a smile into place, feeling it fracture around the edges. aDavid Kirwen turned out to be a prince of fairyland, and he brought me there for a day.a aDaa"a Kelly gaped at her, then grabbed her hands. aLara, David Kirwen was arrested on kidnapping charges two days after you disappeared. They indicted him within a week, and flagged him as a flight risk because of his dual citizenship. Heas been in jail all this time. The trialas coming up soon.a Only then did what Lara had said seem to catch up with her. Her hands loosened, something Lara saw more than felt: her own fingers had gone cold. She whispered aArrested?a at the same time Kelly said aFairyland?a aTwo days after I disappeared?a Lara got up and began shedding her armor, an awkward enough task that she was glad she hadnat tried it at the playground.

Kelly, visibly restraining herself from questions, got up to help. aThe last anyone saw of you was at that AA meeting on Sunday morning. When you didnat show up for work Cynthia was worried, and I went over to your apartment and no one was there. The door wasnat even locked, Lara. The last person youad called was David Kirwen, and the next morning you still werenat anywhere, but he came parading down Cambridge Street in a ridiculousa"a Her hands flew from the binding straps on the armor to her mouth, eyes large above her fingertips. aIn this ridiculous suit of armor,a she said through her fingers. aMy G.o.d. It looked just like this, Lara. It was just like this.a Lara unlatched the last bit that held the arm pieces in place and set them aside, then loosened the breastplate. Her next breath came easier, for all that the moonlit armor was as weightless as metal could be. aWead been in battle.a aBattle,a Kelly said after what felt like hours of silence. Lara heard the attempt to hold back disbelief and caught Kellyas hands again, squeezing her fingers apologetically. Diamond glittered, catching the light and fading again as she made herself meet Kellyas eyes.

aGo ahead. Say it.a Then her gaze jerked back down to the clear jewel in the ring on Kellyas finger. aOh my G.o.d, Kelly, are you engaged?a aWhat?a Kelly looked at her own hands as if they belonged to a stranger, then pulled them back from Laraas grip, hiding the solitaire ring. aNo. I mean, yes, but this didnat really seem like the time to mention it.a Lara sat down in a clatter of armored legs, light-headedness sweeping her. The summertime heat, the phone call to Cynthia, Kellyas reaction to her appearancea"she had believed months had gone by, but the evidence presented by a half-carat ring brought home the pa.s.sage of time in a way nothing else had. aIt was only yesterday,a she said faintly, and it rang with a dichotomy of truth and falsehood. aWho is he? An undertaker?a Color rushed along Kellyas cheeks. aNo. That stopped seeming funny after you disappeared. Itas d.i.c.kon, Lar. d.i.c.kon Collins, Davidas cameraman. We were both looking for you, he was determined to find you to prove David was innocent, and I donat know, Iad liked him in the first place and a I wasnat going to have a maid of honor,a she whispered. aI wasnat going to, because there wasnat anybody but you I wanted to ask.a aOh, G.o.d, Kel.a Lara leaned forward to hug her friend. aCongratulations. And I would love to be your maid of honor, if youare asking.a aI am.a Kelly returned the hug hard, then sat back with tears staining her cheeks again. aI am, and I want to tell you everything about d.i.c.kon and the wedding and everything, but fairyland, Lara? Battle? I know you donat lie, but thatas aa aDelusional?a aCrazy talk,a Kelly agreed. aSeriously, Lar. Fairyland?a aI know. I do know, Kelly. But he was looking for me, for someone with my stupid ability to hear the truth. Thatas what upset me so much a couple nights ago at Rachelas. Head asked me to go with him, to help him at home. He called me a atruthseeker,a and it felt like it fit.a Lara m.u.f.fled the words in her hands as she told the story of the past day, ending with the clarity of power that had allowed her to open a doorway back home. Kelly listened in expressive silence, her eyebrows and lips shaping comments she didnat give voice to.

aWell,a she said eventually, ayouare going to have to come up with a different story for the papers. Yes, the papers,a she said before Lara asked. aYour disappearance, the kidnapping, it was huge, Lara. Kirwenas a celebrity. Maybe just a local one, but still. Local weatherman arrested for kidnapping? Everybody was talking about it. So youare going to need a story.a aYou believe me?a Lara asked through her fingers.

Kelly heaved a sigh. aNo, but yes. If anybody else told me this, Iad never believe it. But itas you, so.a She shrugged.

aThank you.a aYeah, well, what are friends for?a She studied Lara, eyebrows drawn together. aSo what do you do now, Lar?a aI donat know. I make up a story for the papers.a The idea sent atonal vibrations under her skin. aI get Dafydd out of jail.a aCan you do that? I mean, with your aa Kelly trailed off, then, brightness coming into her eyes, giggled. aWith your, um, your magic powers.a She laughed again, contagious enough to make Lara smile, too. aSorry. I always kind of thought of it as your spooky power, but I never wanted to say that. And now it turns out it really is like magic.a aJust like,a Lara said drily. aDonat worry. Iam not used to it, either. What were you going to ask?a aOh! Can you do that, get him out of jail with your magic?a Lara blinked. aI donat know. I was more thinking that Iad just tell them I wasnat kidnapped. I mean, Iam back and Ia"a aHave no explanation for where youave been.a Kellyas eyebrows rose. aIt might not be that easy, Lara. David pled not guilty, but he wouldnat say anything in his own defense. The only reason he wasnat prosecuted for murder was n.o.body could find any evidence of foul play except that you were missing. And none of us wanted to have you declared dead,a she said more quietly. aIt was too much like giving up hope.a aOh, Kel.a Lara leaned forward to hug her friend again, mumbling aIam definitely not deada against her shoulder. aIam just going to have to make them believe me somehow.a aCan you do that?a Kelly asked for the second time. Lara sat up, frowning, and Kelly spread her hands. aLook, all Iam saying is if you can make a path between Boston and fairyland, then just making somebody believe you werenat kidnapped seems like small potatoes. Especially if itas the truth.a A wobbly smile creased her face. aYouave always been good with the truth.a aI donat know if I have that much power here.a Laraas protest shriveled under a rising chorus of song that lent credence to Kellyas suggestion.

Emyr and Dafydd had both made it clear that her magic was purely human, and even the little time shead spent in the Barrow-lands had strengthened not just her ability, but her confidence in it. There was no reason an earth-born magic shouldnat be as stronga"perhaps strongera"here as it had been in the Barrow-lands. She pursed her lips, then turned her hands palm-up toward Kelly. aOn the other hand, thereas really only one way to find out.a Kelly got up decisively. aIall bring you down to the station. d.i.c.kon and I got to know the detective on your case, Reg Washington. Heall be the best place to start.a aWhat abouta"a Lara broke off both speech and action, stopping halfway to her feet, then sat back down abruptly, fingers steepled hollowly in front of her mouth. aWhat about my mom, I need to call her before I turn up on the evening news. And Cynthia, she didnat believe me when I called. And a and look at what Iam wearing,a she whispered. The light woven shirt and breeches she still wore under the armored leggings would draw curious glances in the best of circ.u.mstances, which she didnat foresee in her immediate future. aAnd I should call Dafydd. See him. Something. He must think Iam aa Dead. Lost. She wasnat even certain what words to use. aSeventeen months,a she whispered into her palms, and Kelly, slowly, crouched to pull her hands away from her mouth. Lara let her, trying to control the trembling that rushed through her.

aOkay. Itas going to be okay, Lara. Look, you stay here for a minute, okay? Iam going to call my boss and see if I can leave Ruth in charge, or if she can come in, or if I can close the shop early. This is an emergency,a she said gently. aIall take you home, weall get you changed, and weall go from there. Okay? Okay.a Kelly squeezed Laraas hands, then went into the front of the shop to make the necessary calls.

It was absolutely absurd, Lara thought, to fall apart now. Shead traveled between two worlds, ridden in battle, and commanded more power than shead ever imagined possible. The prospect of dealing with a handful of mortal details shouldnat be overwhelming enough to shut her down entirely, but even the endless music of truth was barely a static rush at the back of her mind. It was the disappearing time: that was the worst of it, the most bewildering. Lara put her face in her hands again, waiting silently for Kellyas return.

It was preceded by aG.o.d, you look awful. Here,a and as Lara looked up, Kelly rustled a candy bar from her purse. aWhen was the last time you ate?a Lara whispered, aApparently about a year and a half ago,a and took the candy hungrily.

Kelly snorted laughter and sat, looking like she wanted to hug Lara again but was trying to let her eat. aTrish is on her way. We can leave Ruth in charge, so you eat that and weall go back to my place. I kept some of your clothes.a A wistful smile played over her lips. aI just kept thinking how sad youad be if you came home and it was all gone. So I kept some of them, and look, you came home, and now you donat have to be sad.a Her voice broke on the last words and, candy bar or not, Lara surged forward to give her an awkward hug.

aSaokay,a Kelly whispered into her hair. aSaokay, Lar. Weall get it figured out. Camon. Camon, letas go, okay, hon? Itas going to be okay.a She drew Lara to her feet and led her out of the back room, repeating, aItall be okay.a And Lara, grateful, heard nothing but truth in the promise.

Twenty.

Bostonas streets were unimaginably loud after a single day in the Barrow-lands. Lara stood on the tiny balcony that Kellyas apartment sported, red and white lights of traffic blurring in her tired vision. The day had disappeared into reuniting with her mother, whose disbelief and relief at Laraas return had led, for the second time, to the telling of where shead been. The second and, Lara expected, the last: no one else would accept the truth for what it was.

She had more than half imagined her mother would tell a story of some old family legend, a story of some ancestor who claimed shead been stolen away to fairyland, and had borne a child to an elfin lover. It would be the sort of tale Gretchen Jansen would never have told her truth-sensing daughter for fear of upsetting her in the same way stories of Santa Claus had.

But there had been no such story, nothing to laugh or wonder over. If such a thing had ever happened, it was long lost to history, but Lara thought it more likely that Emyr and Dafydd were right: that her magic was only human, and all the more unique for it.

Gretchen had reluctantly returned home as night fell, leaving Lara both glad to have seen her and utterly exhausted. There would be more of the same tomorrow and, she feared, for days to come: she hadnat even yet been to Lord Matthewas, much less to the police. Sharing her story with her mother and Kelly was by far the easiest of what she would face over the next several days. They knew her well enough to accept it, even in all its wondrous impossibility.

Her bones ached from weariness, and probably from having ridden horses and carried swords and flinging her armored self through a breach between worlds and landing hard in a sandbox. Despite tiredness she let out a rough laugh and leaned hard on the balconyas iron fence. Sleep evaded her: the streets were too loud, or, more likely, her emotions were too high. She, who had spent a lifetime rooted in pedantic truth, who had never believed such a thing could happen, had become a time traveler, and was lost in both the awe and horror of that fact.

The clothes Kelly had kept for her had been tucked into boxes whose lids were dusty, and the tissue paper her jewelry had been wrapped in was fragile and creased with a yearas disuse. Proof, in small ways, that yesterday had been a long time ago.

And there were other matters to dwell on, too, if she let herself. Not just Dafyddas imprisonment, but the history Ioan had hinted at. Theread been no mistruth in what head recounted, but she was unaccustomed to trying to sort history from legend. The way humans turned men into legends often rang false with her; she had no idea what the reality behind Robin Hood was, but no version of that story, pa.s.sed off as history, had ever struck a true chord in her mind. By those lights, Unseelie legend might have been born of fact, which opened a window on a much larger landscape than shead originally been asked to see.

She said, aChanges that will break the world,a to the street below. Ioanas worldbreaking weapon nagged at her; if it was something she could find, or wield, it might help bring answers to light. But it was long lost, whatever it might have been. Or lost, at least, to the Barrow-lands; that was what Ioan had said. Laraas gaze went unfocused, city horizon turning to a blur.

Lost to his world, and what better place to lose it than hers? They were linked, but only royalty could work the worldwalking spell, and if Emyr had cause to hide a weapon in her world, it would shed more light on why he was so displeased with Dafyddas hundred-year sojourn across the breach.

aLar?a The bedroom door opened, Kellyas voice pitched just loud enough to carry. Lara waved from the balcony and Kelly came in to lean in its doorway. aI heard you talking. You okay?a aI donat know. Iam confused.a aI canat imagine why.a Kelly made a face as she came out to the balcony. aSorry. I lost the habit of not being sarcastic out loud.a aItas okay. Iave been gone a long time, and you only ever had to do it with me.a aBut Iam probably a nicer person when I keep the snark on the inside.a Kelly peeked down at the street nervously, fingers knotted around the rail. aI never come out here.a aI know. I donat understand why youare willing to spend an extra hundred dollars a month for an apartment with two balconies when youare afraid of heights.a aHundred and fifty. Rent went up. But d.i.c.kon and I are moving in together soon, so it wonat matter.a Kelly gave the railing a tentative shake. aYou could probably stay here, if you wanted. Move in, I mean, and have the place to yourself when we get married. Itad be easier than looking for a new place to live.a Surprise cascaded through Lara like cold water pouring down her insides. aI hadnat thought that far ahead.a Kelly chuckled and stepped back to the safety of the doorway. aAre you lying to me, Lara Jansen?a Lara opened her mouth and shut it again, Kellyas teasing jangling at her nerves. aYes and no. If I had thought that far, I thoughta"a aThat you were going back to the Barrow-lands with David?a aYeah.a Truth, for once, wasnat a comfort, drawing a note as discordant as lies under her skin. aAnd no, Kel. I canat quite believe itas been a year and a half. I canat quite believe I wonat just get up and go to work in the morning. That my jobas not even there anymore, probably. It was just yesterday.a aWow,a Kelly breathed. aThat must be really bizarre. Not believing, I mean. That must be like gravity stopped working.a aOr like magic started.a Lara shook her head. aI have no idea how anybody lives with this level of uncertainty. I thought always knowing if something was true or false was hard, but this is worse. So beyond getting Dafydd out of jail, I just donat know. I think they might need me, in Dafyddas world, and Iam starting to think maybe thereas something I need to find here, in this one. And I donat know what happens if I do. This is my home.a Lara sighed, pulling herself back from the larger scope of worries. aAnd this is a great apartment. Itad be a good place to move in to.a aPlus that way I could leave as much stuff here as I wanted and just stop by to pick things up when I missed them,a Kelly said cheerfully.

Lara laughed. aBut youare only thinking of me, right?a aI would never say that. Youad call me on the terrible lies in my voice.a Kelly reached for Laraas elbow, pulling her back toward the door to hug her. aLook, it was just a thought, okay? You donat have to make a decision right now. First things first. Get your weird-a.s.s boyfriend out of jail, and weall figure out the next step after that.a Lara grunted at the strength of Kellyas hug and returned it just as hard. aOkay.a aOoh. I note she didnat deny the aboyfrienda part of that sentence.a Kelly waggled her eyebrows as Lara spluttered a protest, then pointed at the bed. aGet some sleep, Truthseeker. Youave got an elf to rescue tomorrow.a aI canat do this.a Lara reached across the cara"the same little blue Nissan shead helped Kelly pick out barely a week ago in her memory and nearly a year and a half earlier in Kellyasa"and grasped Kellyas wrist. aI canat do this.a Kelly pried Laraas fingers off her wrist. aYour hands are freezing, Lara, jeez. And you have to do it, unless you want to let David rot in a jail cell for the rest of his life. How long do elves live, anyway?a aDafydd,a Lara whispered, correcting the hard American way Kelly said the name to the softer Seelie p.r.o.nunciation. aThey live forever.a aWell, somebodyas going to notice if he lives forever in jail, so letas go.a aBut look at them.a Dozens of reporters crowded around the front door of Boston police headquarters. They were barred from entry by a couple of grumpy-looking cops, but mostly they didnat appear to want to go inside. They were waiting, and Lara had a too-clear idea of what they were waiting for. aHow could they even know I was here?a Kellyas eyebrows shifted upward. She killed the Nissanas engine and took the keys out of the ignition before leaning on the steering wheel and pointing, with the keys, toward the crowd of cameramen and microphone-bearing press. aI can think of at least six different ways they found out. The woman you talked to in the park. The cabdriver. Either of them might have eventually recognized you from the news. And you said you called Cynthia. Or thereas Ruth, or me, or your mom. Hey!a She sat up, lifting her hands in a protestation of innocence. aI said I could think of six ways, not that they were all likely. I didnat tell anybody, and Iam sure your mom didnat, either. But Cynthia couldave called the cops.a aCynthia didnat believe it was me.a aDoesnat mean she didnat call the cops and somebody didnat make a note of it. Look, Lara, I told you. Youare a news story. Youare going to have to face these people eventually. Might as well get it over with.a aWould you be this phlegmatic if you were in my shoes?a aOf course not, but all Iave got to do is have your back, sister. Come on.a Kelly cracked her door open and elbowed Lara to do the same. aItas only forty feet. How bad can it be?a Lara, climbing out of the car, shot her friend a despairing glance. aThatas one of those questions you should never ask.a Kellyas apology was lost beneath a triumphant, aThere she is!a from within the midst of the press corps. Dozens of faces turned her way, and Lara squeaked with dismay, fumbling for the Nissanas door handle. Kelly, much bolder, all but slid across the caras hood to grab Laraas hand and pull her forward as reporters surged toward them.

aTheyare not as bad as a dark elf army,a Kelly whispered. aCome on, you can do it.a It hit Lara like a gong, like she was the gong, her chest reverberating with a truth so obvious it became understatement, and then became funny. A day earlier shead ridden into actual battle, albeit reluctantly. A mob of men and women armed with cameras and microphones was nothing, in that context. Chin lifted, she stepped ahead of Kelly, meeting a tide of bodies and questions with a sudden calm that felt like arrogance.

Even with newfound determination, there were simply too many reporters, all pressing close and shoving microphones or cameras into Laraas face. Questions made the air thick, shouts hurting Laraas ears, but she set her jaw and pushed forward.

And hit a wall, jostling bodies vying for position and creating a deadlock. Even the battlefield hadnat been quite like this: there, though they wanted to hold a line, the soldiers had also wanted a chance at their enemy, and had let people slip and step through so they could fight.

They might well still be fighting, that same battle not yet ended, given the radical differences in timeas pa.s.sage between her world and Dafyddas. If she could get through, if she could obtain Dafyddas release, they might yet be able to make a difference in his world; might yet stop that fight before it became a genocide. Chords sounded in her mind, thunderous sounds that made truth of the possibility.

But the reporters wouldnat make a path.

Lara drew breath and focused the pounding music in her mind into her voice, turning it to an answer for the most-oft asked question: aI was not kidnapped!a Power burst in it, opening a pa.s.sage through the mob. Lara surged forward, driven by Kellyas hands in the small of her back. She stumbled into the small empty s.p.a.ce at the police station doors and turned to face the press corps with indignation boiling through her.

For a few astonished seconds, they gaped in silence. Kelly lurched to her side, and the officers whoad been manning the doors stepped up to flank them.

aThey believed you,a Kelly whispered. aKeep talking.a Lara wasnat certain at all that theyad believed her, but they had let her through, and had gone quiet, which was enough. A distant part of her found that interesting: typically she would have been deeply concerned about the truth, that it be accepted, but not now. She stared from face to face in the crowd, and just as the power of her voice started to wear off, she spoke again.

aDavid Kirwen and I are friends. I know Iave been missing for months, but that wasnat by his design.a Technically true: Dafyddas intention had been to bring her back very close to the time shead left. The language could be used to play fine notes, a tuning Lara had never cared for. No one else would hear the dissonance in the words in quite the way she did, though she could see many of the reporters latching on to her careful phrasing. A new wave of questions inundated her before she could say anything else. Exasperation reached its breaking point and snapped.

aOf course I donat have Stockholm syndrome. How could I, when the man who supposedly kidnapped me has been in jail for the last year?a Another silence, this one considering, seized the press corps for the briefest moment. Lara whipped around, her pride too great to let her actually run inside, though it was a near thing. Another barrage of questions rushed after her, and exasperation rose up a second time as she pulled the door open. aYes,a she said over her shoulder, in response to something half-heard. aYes, as a matter of fact, I did disappear off the face of the earth. Iam sure thatall be a very exciting mystery for you to solve. I have nothing more to say to you, not now and not ever.a The door closed behind her, cutting off the inquisition. Lara let out an explosive breath that loosened her anger, and Kelly applauded. aThat was impressive. You told them off and you told the truth.a aSometimes I amaze even myself,a Lara said without a hint of irony. She straightened her skirta"shead gone shopping that morning, instinctively searching for a black suit skirt and a red silk blouse, and had thought nothing of it until Kellyad looked at them and said, aBattle colors, eh?a Caught out, Lara had almost exchanged the blouse for a blue one, but in the end had kept the red. She was preparing for battle, after all, though of a different sort than had seen her strap on moonlit armor. Confident she was presentable, she approached the front desk, where a stout officer in an ill-fitting uniform looked her up and down. aYeah, I know who you are. Washingtonall be out in a minute.a He went so far as to pick up the phone and send a message to make certain that would happen, and Lara, feeling somehow chastised, retreated to wait on the detectiveas arrival.

aIave never been in a police station before,a she whispered to Kelly. aHave you?a aMore than Iad like to think about, the last year and a half.a Kelly leaned against her for a hug.

Embarra.s.sment flooded Laraas chest. aRight.a aHey, donat worry about it. Allas well that ends well.a Kelly smiled, and Laraas discomfort faded.

aMiss Jansen?a A tall, good-looking man in a suita"off the rack, Lara thought, but well-cut and long enough in the arm for his heighta"came through a side door and extended a hand to Lara. aIam Detective Washington. I was a.s.signed to your case last year. Kelly,a he added. aGood to see you again. How are the wedding plans going?a aBetter than theyave ever been. Iave got a maid of honor now.a Kelly, beaming, stood on her toes to kiss the detectiveas cheek after he shook Laraas hand.

aCongratulations. I hope Iam still invited.a aOf course you are. We got to be friends,a Kelly said to Lara, more shyly than shead admitted to being engaged. aNeither d.i.c.kon nor I would leave him alone. I wouldnat give up hope and d.i.c.kon wouldnat accept David was guilty.a aAnd you were right. You have no idea how glad we all are to see you back safely, Ms. Jansen. Can you come this way?a Lara looked between Washington and Kelly, her eyebrows lifting as a feeling of loss worked its way through her. A day, she thought. A day, and seventeen months. Her world had changed, even if she hadnat. Or hadnat much: her talent was stronger than it had been, but in comparison to the differences in Kellyas life, that seemed like nothing. Lara murmured, aSure,a and fell into step behind the detective.

He led them through a labyrinth of halls whose cream-colored paint was sallowed by aging fluorescent lights. A few officers smiled as they pa.s.sed by; more nodded, and one or two did a double take, clearly recognizing Lara. aI feel like an exhibit,a she breathed to Kelly, but it was Washington who answered.

aSorry for saying so, but in a way, you are. People donat usually turn up after going missing for a year and a half.a aNot usually,a Lara echoed. aBut sometimes.a She stepped through a door Washington opened for her, looking back at him for an answer.

aSometimes, yeah.a Washington gestured her to a desk in the midst of a dozen others, then looked apologetically at Kelly. aSorry. I only have the one chair.a She grinned. aI know. Iave been in it often enough. Iall go grab a cup of really bad vending machine coffee. Want me to bring some back for you?a aIf I give you five bucks will you go to Starbucks instead?a Washington reached for his wallet, but Kelly waved him off.

aMy treat. Celebrating Laraas return. You want anything, Lar?a aAn iced tea, please?a aWill do. And try to remember everything you say, because Iam going to want all the details later.a Kelly winked and hurried off, leaving Lara feeling oddly fortified. She sat down, smiling, and Washington returned the smile as he pulled his own chair out.

aThat womanas a firecracker. Never gave up on you.a aI hope I wouldnat, either.a Lara held her breath a moment. aDetective, I really wasnat kidnapped. I donat know what the legal proceedings are to get someone whoas been wrongfully imprisoned out of jail, but I hope youall help me. He hasnat actually been convicted yet, right? So maybe itas not too hard?a Washington lifted an eyebrow. aWell, if you can convince me, thatall help when we bring it to a judge. Where did you say youad gone?a aI didnat.a The words fell flat, Washingtonas mouth thinning as it became clear that was all Lara would say. aMs. Jansen, we scoured a tristate area. We studied every security tape, every Greyhound station, every car rental agency, every airport, and found nothing. No activity on credit cards or bank accounts, no sightings at Seven-eleven convenience stores, no hitchhiking encounters. Children disappear that way, Ms. Jansen. People with no links, no friends, no family, disappear that way. People like you donat.a aAll evidence to the contrary.a The detective beat a rhythm on his desk, then nodded. aAll evidence to the contrary. You disappeared off the face of the earth.a Lara spread her hands, a thread of amus.e.m.e.nt working its way through her. aThatas what the media outside said, too, and Iam content to leave it at that.a She softened her tone as irritation darkened Washingtonas face. aI know you want answers, Detective. I think you even deserve them, but I also know you wouldnat like the ones I have to give. Not knowing might eat at you, but if I told you anything, youad think I was lying, and that would only make you angrier. You wonat believe me, but youall be happier if you just let the whole thing go.a aYou practice this story, you and Kirwen? He said d.a.m.ned near the same thing when we arrested him.a aI imagine detectives have to be pretty good judges of character. Either we practiced, or weare independently telling the truth. You make the call.a Curiosity sparked in Washingtonas eyes. aYouare not quite what I expected, Ms. Jansen. Everyone I talked to, even your mother, described you as shy. Nona.s.sertive. Given that kind of billing, Iad say you just read me the riot act.a aItas been seventeen months, Detective Washington.a Seventeen months, or one day. Lara shrugged a little. aPeople change.a aI guess so.a Washington studied her a few moments more, finally pulling a hand over his face. aI donat know what to do with you, Ms. Jansen. Never had a kidnapping victim turn up and say no, sorry, didnat happen. If I had, Iad expect her to have an explanation. Without onea"a aWith or without one,a Lara said steadily, awith my reappearance, you have no reason to hold David Kirwen. Iave read news stories every once in a while about how people who were supposedly murdered have reappeared, and the person convicted of killing them has been released. How is this any different?a aThey usually have an explanation for where theyave been. A story that checks out.a aAnd if I donat? Does that negate the fact that Iam here, healthy, and will swear in court that I wasnat kidnapped?a Washington scowled. aNo, it doesnat, but I donat like it, and neither will anybody else. Youad better be d.a.m.ned sure about being willing to take that oath, Ms. Jansen. Youare going to have to.a

Twenty-One.

The warning in Washingtonas voice stayed with Lara, even hours later. Shead sent Kelly to work and borrowed the Nissan to drive out to the state correctional facility in Concord on her own, thoughts spinning.

It would be easier by far to offer Washington and the press a story they could sink their teeth into. Even given her lack of talent for falsehoods, it would be easier. But she could think of nothing that would stand up to investigation short of claiming shead gone into the wilderness, built a cabin of trees shead felled herself, and hunted for every bit of sustenance required over the past year and a half.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the rearview mirror, heart-shaped face and soft hair, and huffed disbelievingly. Anyone who would accept that story probably deserved to be lied to. In desperate circ.u.mstances, maybe she could survive in a remote cabin. In desperate circ.u.mstances and armed with enough library books, almost certainly. But she didnat look like a desperate woman, and she doubted anyone would accept such a tall tale. For that matter, some intrepid reporter would probably search for the hand-hewn cabin, and make a story of failing to find it. Saying nothing remained the most practical option, for all that it wasnat a comfortable one.

She showed identification at the prison gatesa"her driveras license had expired, but Kelly had kept her pa.s.sporta"and was relieved that the guard took no particular interest in her name. Maybe Concord was far enough out of Boston that neither she nor Dafydd were quite local celebrities, or perhaps the job inured one to oddities. Even so, it took a long time to get out of the car after she parked: not so much a fear of being recognized as painfully aware of being a stranger in a strange land.

As if she could belong at the doors of a human prison any less than she could belong in the fairyland called Annwn. The Barrow-lands, though, had beauty on their side, making them enticing, which no correctional facility could be. But she wanted Dafydd to know shead returned before he got a call from his lawyer, and so, nervous or not, Lara climbed out of the car.

The blocky prison doors opened as she did so. A uniformed police officer escorted a young man through, the youthas expression torn between relief and nervousness at his parole. Lara sympathized: freedom was as frightening as captivity, in its own way. She had had careful constraints on her own life, intended to measure and control her exposure to the lies of well-meaning strangers, and Dafydd had torn those constraints apart. She had never imagined herself a prisoner, but watching the youthas gaze flicker from the sky to the horizon, watching it linger on her in one part desire and one part apology, she thought she wasnat so different from him.

aLara Jansen,a the officer beside him said, incredulously, and Laraas attention flinched to him.

Two days: it had been little more than two days, and well over a year, since shead seen him. It still took a moment to fumble his name to her lips, surprise working against her more than the pa.s.sage of time: aOfficer Cooper. What are you doing here?a aWhat am Ia"!a Cooper actually released his prisoner and stepped forward to seize Laraas shoulders before remembering his duty. He retreated again, still incredulous. aIam collecting my parolee. What are you doing here? G.o.d d.a.m.n, Miss Jansen, but I was d.a.m.ned near the last upright citizen who saw you. I got interrogated inside-out over you.a aIam sorry.a Lara knotted her hands in front of her stomach, partially in self-defense and partially to prevent herself from blurting offense at his phrase. The twelve-step group members deserved better than relegation to second-cla.s.s citizenship, though from her previous encounter with this man she doubted an argument would do any good. aOf course you did. Iam sorry, I didnat realize. Iam back now. I just had to a go away for a while.a Had to carried too much weight, jangling her already-stretched nerves, and Cooper seized on the words, though for a different reason.

aHad to? It wasnat family getting sick, it wasnat you getting sick, what kind of ahad toa makes you disappear entirely?a aIam sorry, Officer Cooper.a Lara struggled for an explanation, then sighed and gave up with a shrug. aItas nothing I can talk about.a That, astonishingly, worked where a flatter refusal to explain hadnat. Curiosity flashed through Cooperas expression: curiosity, then answers he supplied himself. Lara, following flights of fancy, imagined stories ranging from terrible brutality to government operations, and bit back laughter. She ought to have tried that tactic with Detective Washington, rather than insisting he wouldnat accept the truth. At least now she knew it was a truthful way through the questions and could use it in the future.

aSure,a Cooper said awkwardly, then shouldered his charge toward a nearby police car. aIall see you, Miss Jansen.a aOfficer Cooper,a Lara murmured, and watched them go before drawing herself up and entering the prison.

Dafydd ap Caerwyn, immortal prince of the Seelie court, looked awful. The jewelry he had chosen to wear in the outside world had all been silver and gold, Lara recalled, not iron: not the heavy-looking stuff that weighed him down now. She wondered if it damaged him, though surely the glamour he wore must offer some protection against mortal metals.

The glamour, though, seemed shabby. It would never fool her eyes again, but watching him shuffle wearily into the visitoras room, Lara wondered how it could fool anyone. His hair, cropped short now, did nothing to disguise the upswept tips of his ears, and she couldnat trust her shimmering vision to tell her whether the glamour truly disguised them to human eyes. More than that, though, he simply looked fragile: his color was bad, and made worse by his orange jumpsuit, and his skin looked parched and thin, like it might break with a touch. His slender fingers were sticklike, and head lost muscle from his slim form. Even by Seelie standards he seemed delicate, and by human expectations, he looked so weak it was a wonder head managed to survive within the penal system. He shuffled to the gla.s.s phone boxes and sat without looking up, motions awkward as he lifted the phone with cuffed hands.

aHey,a Lara whispered into the phone, and pressed her palm against the gla.s.s that separated them.

Dafyddas head jerked up, sudden life flooding him. The glamour strengthened, making Lara dizzy, but the astonished brightness in his eyes was worth the oncoming headache. aYou look awful,a she whispered through a damp smile. aOrange isnat your color.a aTruer words were never spoken.a Relieved laughter marked lines in Dafyddas face as Lara crinkled her nose. aVery well,a he whispered back. aNo doubt many things far truer have been said. But orange isnat my color, anda"How did you come here? Youare here, youare alive, Lara, Iave been so afraid. Itas been so long.a His voice broke and he kept it low with obvious effort, bringing his hand up to match Laraas through the gla.s.s. aDid my father send you back?a aNo, I a brought myself home. How did you get here?a aYoua"!a Dafydd curled his fingers into a fist against the gla.s.s, slow motion filled with uncertainty. aHow?a Lara glanced toward the security cameras, shaking her head. aI donat think this is the time to explain. Iam sorry, Dafydd. Iam sorry about how much time pa.s.sed. Iam sorry youare in here. Iave gone to the police alreadya"a aAlready? How long have you been back?a His face set like he awaited injury, and mild insult washed through Lara.

aBarely a day. I had to see my mother, and I went to the police this morning, then came out here. I havenat been ignoring you for weeks.a Embarra.s.sment replaced subtle injury and he flattened his hand against the gla.s.s again. aIam sorry. How long aa His gaze went to the cameras, too, then came back to Lara. aHow long were you gone?a aI came back a few hours after you did, Dafydd. I donat know why it was so long here. I thought the aa She didnat want to say magic or spell under the cameras or on the phone, uncertain of whether their conversation was being recorded. aI thought it was supposed to keep time the same.a aIt was, but you were never meant to come back by yourself,a Dafydd said just as circ.u.mspectly, and for a delirious moment Lara felt badly for anyone trying to interpret their cryptic discussion. Dafydd met her eyes, intent with apology. aThat could have changed things. Iam sorry.a aItas not your fault. Itas Aerinas fault, I donat know what happened, she lost her mind and threw you to the Unseea"to the enemy. I had her arrested.a aWhat!a Dafydd blurted, then cut himself off with a strangled sound. aLara, it was the compulsion. The one that made mea"a He broke off again, glared at the cameras, then looked back at Lara, clearly hoping she followed his thoughts.

aThe one that got you in trouble with Merrick.a aYes.a Dafydd pressed his eyes shut, then leaned in to the gla.s.s, fingertips colorless against it. aShe wasnat throwing me to the hordes, Lara, she was acting under my orders. All I wanted was to be at your side, and I couldnat control my actions. I was afraid what would happen if I reached you.a Cold slithered inside Laraas chest and thrummed out to her fingers, rendering the gla.s.s warm beneath them. aOh.a Silence drew out before she added, aI suppose I shouldnat have broken her nose, then.a Dafydd, astonishingly, laughed aloud. It restored vivaciousness to him, making his skin look less like aged parchment and brightening his eyes. aNo, nor arrested her, but I find I canat hold it against you, when you were acting in my best interests. Thank you. I think.a aYouare welcome. Dafydd, I came here to tell you Iam all right and that Iall get you out of here. They canat keep you here for kidnapping if the victim shows up and says she wasnat kidnapped.a Determination turned Laraas voice to steel.

aCan they not?a aThey wonat,a she said flatly.

Something curious came into Dafyddas expression and Lara glanced away, discomfited. The strength in her words was unfamiliar to her; she was accustomed to being quiet, unnoticed, and gentle in her interactions. She had thrown some of that away simply by entering the Barrow-lands, and had been obliged, once there, to push herself far beyond where her confidence might usually have lain. She knew it, but Dafyddas recognition of her changes said they ran both deeper and more clearly than shead imagined possible in such a short period of time. But it was necessary, if she was to succeed in getting Dafydd out of prison, much less face the questions the Barrow-lands offered. aI donat know how long this will take. Not too long, I promise.a Dafydd smiled. aPromises spoken by a truthseeker are not to be taken lightly.a aTheyare not given lightly, either.a Lara couldnat remember the last time shead made a flat promise; absolutes were too difficult to deal in. aDafydd, Iam sorry, but I canat stay. I need to find a lawyer for you, for me maybe, in order to make this work.a aItas all right. Iave endured these long months here. Another few nights wonat harm me.a aTheyad better not,a Lara muttered. aI donat want to explain to your father how I lost you to the American prison system.a aI can hardly imagine how he would react to that,a Dafydd said drolly, then, more softly, aIam glad youare well, Lara. I was worried.a Lara smiled and pressed her hand against the gla.s.s. aMe, too.a She thumped the gla.s.s, then stood abruptly. aWe have so much to talk about and none of it can be done here. Iam going to go before I get indiscreet. Dafydd, Ia"a Audacity took her breath and left her wondering at the intensity of emotion shead been about to voice. aIall get you out of here,a she whispered instead. aAs soon as I can.a He nodded, and she left with her final image of his amber eyes in a grateful face.

It was late enough when she returned to the city that it made a viable excuse to return home, pretending the day was over. The temptation to do so was great enough to keep Lara idling at a traffic light, distant with thought as the light turned to green.

An impatient beep behind her jolted her into action, knocking the turn signal on and making a decision for her. She made the turn and entered an underground parking lot that others were deserting as the hour ticked past five. It was only a few minutesa walk to Lord Matthewas, and Lara rang the entrance bell stiffly, wondering if Steve still worked long hours that would make him late for dinner.

Cynthiaas voice came through the intercom system, polite and more mature than Lara remembered: aOne moment, please, and Iall escort you in.a Lara took a breath to offer her name and a protest that she didnat need an escort, and let it go again in silence. The radio or one of the ubiquitous twenty-four-hour news stations might have announced her return by now, but Cynthia was unlikely to have heard either between school and work.

The door opened, and Lara felt her expression go slack-jawed. The high school senior shead known was nearly nineteen now, probably in college, and had left the last vestiges of childhood behind sometime in the past year and a half. Instead, a poised young woman in a high-fashion shirt and skirt, beautifully made but catching the edge of exuberant youth, stood before her with her eyes going increasingly round.

Then Cynthia blurted, aOh my G.o.d, it was you, Iam so sorry,a and fell on Lara in a teary hug. Lara caught her, almost laughing with relief and not especially caring that they were making a scene on Lord Matthewas doorstep. It took several sniffling moments before Cynthia pulled her inside and demanded, aWhat happened?a in such a high-pitched voice that Lara thought perhaps the high school senior hadnat been left so far behind, after all.

aI canat talk about it,a she answered softly. aI will if I ever can, Cyn, but right now I just canat. Iam okay, though. Iam all right, and Iam so sorry I disappeared like that. I didnat know it was going to happen.a aWell of course, n.o.body knows theyare going to disappear. Iam just so glad you came back and youare okay and oh my G.o.d, Lara! Dad! Dad! Daddy!a Lara winced. aIf heas with a clienta"a aHe isnat, heas just going deaf. Daddy! Laraas back!a For a man purported to be going deaf, Steve Taylor appeared with remarkable alacrity at Cynthiaas last shout. He looked older, too, Lara thought: more gray at the temples of his curling hair, and circles under brown eyes. He stared at Lara a moment, then, much like his daughter had, swept her into a hug. aThank G.o.d. Are you all right?a aI am.a aOkay.a Steve set her back, hands on her shoulders, and looked her up and down as if making sure she was telling the truth, then nodded. aOkay. Thatas all that matters. Thatas all that matters.a aSteve, I hate to do this, I canat explain where Iave beena"a aIt doesnat matter.a There was so much pa.s.sion in his voice that Lara faltered, overwhelmed by the music of his conviction. Shead known he cared about her, but hearing the depths of his relief told her that Steve Taylor was, in truth, the closest thing to a father shead had. Suddenly teary-eyed, she stepped forward to hug him again, and his rea.s.surances were murmured over her head: aYouare alive, youare safe, youare home. I mean it, Lara, thatas all that matters. Weave missed you.a aI missed you, too.a The answer came automatically, not even a lie, though all the missing shead done had been crammed into the twenty-four hours since shead learned she had been gone for well over a year. She wiped her eyes surrept.i.tiously, stepping back to look up at him. aSteve, I need a lawyer. Dafydda"David, David Kirwen, he didnat kidnap me, he didnat hurt me, nothing like that happened. I need to get him out of jail, and youare the only person I know who even has a lawyer. Iam sorry to ask, especially like this, buta"a aLara.a He squeezed her shoulders and spoke more gently. aListen to me. I donat care if you took a vacation to the moon. Youare home, and nothing else is important. If you need a lawyer, then I can help you. There is no aespecially like thisa for you to apologize about.a aI care if she took a vacation to the moon,a Cynthia said abruptly, though not seriously. Steve stepped back, taking his cell phone out, and spoke beneath Cynthia as she continued, aI want pictures, at least, and I want to go with her next time because one-sixth gravity would be awesome.a Lara giggled, aware it was a surprisingly pathetic sound. aI didnat go to the moon. Sorry. No Earth-rise photos from me. I didnat even have a camera.a aIad say bring one next time but I donat want you to disappear again ever.a aIad rather not myself,a Lara admitted, and Steve closed his phone with a snap.

aMy lawyeras on her way. Welcome home, Lara. Everythingas going to be okay.a

Twenty-Two.

Law and Order, Lara was convinced, had an uncanny ability to zip back and forth through time: all the cases took place simultaneously, rather than one at a time as they were portrayed. There was no other explanation as to how the legal proceedings shown could take place with such apparent rapidity. Steveas lawyer, a handsome, no-nonsense woman named Marjorie Oritz, had seen a ray of hope in Dafyddas case because he hadnat actually been put on trial and convicted yet. Otherwise, despite Laraas reappearance, it could be months, even years before he might be released. Like Detective Washington, though, her mouth had drawn thin and tight at Laraas refusal to explain her whereabouts. She had left the office with a grim, but not hopeful, promise to see what could be done, and Lara had retreated to Kellyas apartment feeling defeated.

aYouare going to have to stick to your guns,a Kelly said helplessly. aIam a much better liar than you are and even I canat think of a story that would stand up to investigation. Unless you want to say you were kidnapped by the government and held at Guantnamo for the last year and a half. You could be a terrorist.a aArmed with a needle and a box of pins?a Lara smiled, surprising herself. aI think the government would deny it, Kelly.a aWell, that would be the point! Itas not like theyad throw open Gitmoas doors and invite people to come take a look to prove they hadnat been holding you. So your best bet is to either accuse the government of something outrageous or keep your mouth shut.a aI think Iall keep my mouth shut.a Lara tucked her feet up onto Kellyas couch and curled her head down against the arm with a sigh. aMarjorie said with a miracle this could take days, but it was likely to take weeks. I donat want to leave him there that long, Kel. Prisonas not good for him.a aPrisonas not good for anybody.a Lara m.u.f.fled a short laugh in the couch arm. aNo, but itas worse for him. Itas an iron cage and itas making him sick. So I have to find a way to make this move faster.a aI take it you wonat be going back to Lord Matthewas, then.a Regret made a knot around Laraas heart. aNot right away. Which might mean never. I donat know. I have toa"a Her stomach rumbled and she put a hand over it. aI have to eat something. I donat think I even had lunch.a aThus reminding me of how you stay slim. Never fear, I antic.i.p.ated this. d.i.c.kon will be here within half an hour, bearing an enormous bag of Mexican food.a Kelly caught her lower lip in her teeth. aLara, about d.i.c.kon aa aIall tell him the truth,a Lara offered quietly. aHeas not going to believe it, but heas your fianc, Kel, and heas been Dafyddas friend for a long time. Heas going to have to talk to Dafydd to believe it, heas going to have to see Dafydd to believe it, but itas not fair to keep him all the way out of the loop.a aIave told him about you and the truth. Maybe heall believe you.a Kelly sounded dubious. aBut thanks in advance for trying, even if heall think youare insane.a aIam willing to be considered insane as long as he brings dinner.a Lara pulled another tiny smile, then glanced around Kellyas cozy apartment. aAre you sure Iam not in your way here? I donat know how long this is going to go on.a aThe weddingas in a month. I can handle having you as a roommate that long, Lar. Then if you want the place, itas yours. Whatare you going to do, if youare not going back to work?a aFind Emyras worldbreaking weapon.a Lara spread her hands as Kellyas eyebrows went up. aIam going to try, anyway. Ioan thought maybe it could be used to put things right in the Barrow-lands, so if I get Dafydd freed and we go back, it might be good to have it.a aIoan the kidnapper? That Ioan? And you beliea"a Kelly broke off and made a face at the ceiling. aWell, Kelly, it was a hypothesis on his part, and not an outright lie, so of course Lara, who senses the truth, is going to give him the benefit of the doubt.a She reversed her gaze, smiling ruefully at Lara. aSorry. I kind of forgot who I was talking to there for a minute.a The door swung open on her last words and d.i.c.kon said, aYouare back after a year and a half missing and sheas forgetting who you are already? Lara, you need new friends.a His joviality sounded forced, and Kelly jumped up to get plates from the kitchen as he mustered up an awkward smile for Lara. Head lost weight since shead seen him last, though it did little to reduce his imposing size. The worry etched between his eyebrows, though, removed any thought of caution he might have inspired. aHoly c.r.a.p, Iam glad to see you, Lara. I, um. Can I, like, hug you?a A trill of strained laughter broke from Laraas throat. aThat would be great. Iam glad to see you, too.a d.i.c.kon crossed the room in two steps and put the sack of food on the coffee table before hauling Lara off the couch into a bear hug. aMan, I knew David couldnat have hurt you, but holy c.r.a.p am I glad to see you in one piece.a He put her back down on her feet, expression so tight it looked headache-inducing. aLook, I know Iam supposed to give you time to settle in, Kelly made me promise not to come after you or hara.s.s you but what the h.e.l.l happened, Lara? Where have you been?a Kelly wailed ad.i.c.kon!a from the kitchen. He looked faintly abashed, but not enough for the curiosity in his eyes to fade.

aItas okay,a Lara said, loudly enough for Kelly to hear, then smiled lopsidedly at d.i.c.kon. aDinner first, and then Iall explain everything, okay? Iam famished, and it smells fantastic.a d.i.c.kon nodded jerkily. aYeah, of course, okay. Kelly said youad forget to eat.a aShe knows me very well.a Lara took the armchair Kelly had abandoned as Kelly came out of the kitchen armed with plates and silverware. Moments later a picnic dinner was spread across the coffee table, all three of them ladening their plates.

aEat fast,a d.i.c.kon suggested. aI got sopapillas but they get tough as they cool.a aWe can soften them up again with honey and ice cream. Except I think I only have chocolate.a Kelly frowned toward the kitchen and Lara made a dismissive noise around her first bite of tamale.

aIam too hungry to eat slowly anyway. Iam sure I can get to the sopapillas before theyare cold.a For a few minutes they were silent, eating quickly, and Lara finally gave a sigh of contentment as she took a couple of still-warm pastries. aOkay, d.i.c.kon. Tell me six things about yourself, and make two of them lies.a He blinked at her, then took an overly large swallow of soda. aUm. Okay. My name is d.i.c.kon Edward Collins, Iam thirty-two, um, I drive a Harley, my mom was born in Scotland, I went to film school in Manchester, thatas where I met David, and Iam nuts about your best friend. How many was that?a aSeven. And you donat drive a Harley and your mother wasnat born in Scotland.a Lara grinned as he straightened and looked suspiciously between her and Kelly.

aKel could have told you either of those things. And youave been in my Bronco, so you knew I didnat drive a Harley.a aBut I didnat! And you do have a Yamaha,a Kelly pointed out. aWhich I never told her.a aTry me again,a Lara said. aI know Kellyas told you about my truthseeking ability. Try something Kelly doesnat know or wouldnat have any reason to tell me.a aI broke both my legs jumping out of a tree when I was seven.a Mistruth jangled across Laraas nerves, the same uncomfortable wrongness Dafyddas Americanized name had produced, though much less intense. aPart of that isnat true.a Curiosity turned up the corner of d.i.c.konas mouth. aI broke both my legs.a aTrue.a aI broke both my legs jumping out of a tree.a aTrue. But you werenat seven.a He laughed. aI was six. My brother was supposed to catch me. I think he got in more trouble than I did, but I paid for it. I spent the whole summer sweating in a cast. Oh my G.o.d, it itched. Okay, how about this: I met the Dalai Lama once.a Kellyas jaw dropped. aYou did?a Her gaze snapped to Lara, whose eyebrows went up.

aHe did.a Kelly smacked d.i.c.konas shoulder. aHow come you never told me that?a aIt never came up in conversation! I mean, you want to talk about name dropping to impress a girl? I donat think so. It was at a peace conference in New York a while ago. I was part of a film crew. He was just like people say he is. Serene, happy, compa.s.sionate. He was amazing. That was pretty cool. Okay,a he said to Lara. aI still think Kelly could have told you most of that, or you could even have found out about me meeting the Dalai Lama online, but I donat know why youad look. So okay, weall say I believe you always know when people are telling the truth, and that you donat lie because it bugs you.a aGee, thanks,a Kelly said sardonically, voicing what Lara would never have said aloud. She laughed, though, and said to Kelly, aThis must be why I donat tell people about the truthseeking.a Kelly sniffed. aSome of us are clever enough to notice it on our own.a aSome of you have known Lara for years,a d.i.c.kon said. aThis is only the fourth time Iave met her.a aAnd you hardly believe me, which I understand. It does mean youare almost certainly not going to believe where Iave been, but I think you should be told anyway.a aIam all ears.a Lara felt a pained expression cross her face, and Kelly picked up the laughter Laraad given in to a moment earlier. aYou canat say things like that around Lara, d.i.c.kon. Now sheas imagining you as a great big pair of Dumbo ears.a aMore like hundreds of little pairs of ears, like b.u.t.terflies, but close enough,a Lara admitted. ad.i.c.kon, do you remember asking if Dafydd had asked me to run away with him?a aYeaaaah aa aHe actually asked me to go home with him, and I did.a Lara set her untouched sopapillas aside, gathering herself for d.i.c.konas disbelief. aAnd as far as Iam concerned, only a day pa.s.sed. Rachel and Sharon moved last Sat.u.r.day, in my calendar. I met you and Dafydd a week ago.a aYou went to Wales and think you came back again in a day? What the h.e.l.l happened, were you in a coma?a aNo.a Lara shrugged, vividly aware there was no way she could couch the truth to make it palatable. aDafyddas not Welsh. Heas from a place called Annwn, and to us itas a fairyland. He took me there, and was thrown back here without me. I had to make my own way back, which we think is why I got thrown out of time.a d.i.c.kon stared at her a long time, expression so smooth it seemed like a falsehood in and of itself. Finally he said, aKelly, can I talk to you?a and got up, leaving Kelly to look helplessly between him and Lara as he headed for the apartment door. Lara nodded, wincing at the idea she was giving Kelly permission to follow him. But it released Kelly from her place on the couch, and a few seconds later the door closed behind them. Tense, sharp voices came through, though the words were indistinguishable. After less than a minute Lara got up to clear the coffee table and clean the kitchen, glad of any kind of physical activity that would let her escape the semi-audible conversation.

Kelly banged back in several minutes later, took a look at the sopapillas Lara had reheated, and got a plateful for herself. She doused them liberally with chocolate ice cream and honey and stuffed most of one into her mouth before saying, aHeas gone home. He thinks you belong in a mental hospital.a An out-of-place bloom of cheer rushed through Lara. aI suppose at least that tells us exactly how people would react i