Page 61 of Haunting the Deep

Susannah and Mary look at me sympathetically. Alice seems pissed.

I don’t even know why I’m standing.

Jaxon shrugs. “Nothing. Just answering Alice’s question. It’s not my fault you don’t like what I have to say.”

“That’s it!” My face turns bright red. “I will murder you with this fork.”

“Children,” Mrs. Meriwether says. “Now, that’s fine cutlery, and I’ll have trouble thinking of it the same way if it’s used to murder my only child.”

“Let’s all just settle down for a second.” My dad uses his calming voice, the one he defaults to when my temper flares.

Mrs. Meriwether motions for me to sit. “I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t want to. But I won’t have you two being unkind to each other. If you insist on continuing, I’ll put you both to work for the rest of the day.” She looks at each of us to make sure we understand she’s serious.

I sink into my seat. Jaxon totally crossed the line. How could he ask me to trust him and then betray me like this? And what’s worse is that he’s showing no signs of wanting to smooth things out. I’m starting to think our relationship may be broken for good.

“Since when is telling the truth unkind?” Jaxon asks.

“Since the invention of bad haircuts. Don’t push your luck, Jax,” Mrs. Meriwether says. “You’re getting awfully close to having to tell Niki you’re not coming.”

“I’ll just excuse myself now, then,” Jaxon says. He picks up his plate and heads for the door.

“Jaxon Meriwether!” Mrs. Meriwether says, but he doesn’t turn around.

Iyank on my black boots and stand up from my window seat. I’m still reeling from that crazy breakfast. I head for the spare bedroom, twisting my wet hair over my shoulder.

Just as I reach the door, Susannah opens it. “We should go. Jaxon’s truck just left, and we don’t know how long he’s going to be with Niki.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We’ll explain in the car,” Mary says.

Alice tosses me a black jacket, and I follow them down the stairs.

I knock on my dad’s office door and crack it open. “I’m going out with the girls. Be back in a little bit.”

“Keep your phone on and be home for dinner,” my dadsays.

“Will do.”

I follow the girls out the front door and get in Mary’s Jeep.

Alice pulls away from my house and glances at me in the rearview mirror. “So what happened with you and Jaxon?”

“Alice, you can’t just go straight at a subject like that,” Susannah says.

Alice shrugs. “I just say what I think. But it’s not like I was trying to cause a blowup at breakfast. You know that, right, Sam? I was trying to figure out…I just need you to tell me what happened.”

“I will,” I say. “But can someone fill me in on what sent us running out of my house just now?”

Susannah turns toward me. “We’re going to Niki’s.”

Did I hear her correctly?“When she’s not home?”

“Faster and more effective,” Mary says.

“Are you saying we’re breaking in? Why?” My voice betrays my disbelief.

“Don’t sound all shocked,” Alice says. “We’re not looting the place. It’s just that if theTitanicyou’re going toisa spell, then we have a more serious problem than we originally thought. And with Redd’s warning, I don’t know. I still think it’s unlikely Niki and Blair are involved, but let’s just say that I’m no longer opposed to double-checking. And besides, I know where the spare key is.”