Dani cleared her throat, a habit she’d never been able to break right before she lied. Trudy didn’t know about her talent. No one in her family did. For years, she’d excused her extensive travel by telling them that she was a photographer for a stock photo company that specialized in travel photos for brochures and advertising. And she definitely didn’t tell them when she was sent to the outer reaches of the known world, instead substituting pretty stories about picturesque tourist spots. She hated misleading them, but it was a lot safer than them having any knowledge of the League. The only problem came when they asked for shots of her enjoying these exotic tourist destinations. Dani had gone to some pretty extreme lengths to fake pictures of her on the beach in St. Martin or visiting the moors of Scotland.

“Nope, I wrapped that up last week,” Dani said. “I’m back in the States as of yesterday morning.”

“What?! Where?”

“My editor asked me to move on to Louisiana. The agency would like me to take some French Quarter photographs.”

“Topless ‘wooo’ girls are a little outside of your usual subject matter, aren’t they?” Trudy asked dryly.

“There will be no ‘wooo’ girls. I’m talking tasteful French Quarter photographs. Fancy restaurants and courtyard bars with fountains and flowers. Wrought iron beds, café au lait and beignets. There will not be a plastic bead in sight.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Trudy said. “Are you staying in the decent part of town? You’re staying safe?”

Dani glanced around the house. This was probably the safest place she’d stayed during the last five years.

“Always. And the place they have me staying in is really nice. More of an Airbnb situation than a hotel. Very quaint. Quiet.

“Quiet? In New Orleans?”

Dani cleared her throat. “It’s pretty far off Bourbon Street.”

“Well, remember to have some fun, sweetheart. Maybe meet somebody. Settle down somewhere in this hemisphere so we can see you every once in a while.”

“I’ll come home after this assignment. I promise,” Dani swore.

“I’m holding you to it.”

“Love you, Tru.”

“Love you, too, hon. And that conversation about you carrying all of the debt. It’s not over.”

“Sorry! Can’t hear you! Signal’s breaking up!” Dani called while she made static-y “shhuurh” sounds.

“I know that’s bullcrap, what with your fancy space phone! You can hear me! Danica Hubble Teel!”

Dani snorted as she hung up the phone. “That never gets old.”

3

Zed

Zed intended to enjoy every minute of his ride into town. He didn’t get to ride his bike nearly enough to suit his passion for it. And he never seemed to make it out of town long enough to do a distance ride.