“Send both,” Simon said. Taking the picture of the old woman, he went downstairs and found both girls in the stock room, busily depleting the stock he wanted in the store for next week’s visitors. “Look at this.”

They stopped and stared at the picture.

“I’m not sure what we’re supposed to see,” Ruthie finally said.

He wasn’t sure either. That’s why he showed them the picture.

“What kind of cards is she pointing to?” Merri Lee asked.

Simon growled softly. Couldn’t help it. “I don’t know. She told fortunes. With the cards.” Except she hadn’t used the cards the day he stopped by her table. That day, the old woman had opened a silver razor and cut her skin.

They cocked their heads, such a Wolflike gesture it startled him.

“Tarot?” Merri Lee said, looking at Ruthie.

“Maybe,” Ruthie replied. “But the woman is like Meg, a cassandra sangue. Would one of them use tarot cards? And how can you tell from the picture that she used the cards to tell fortunes?”

“I saw her once when I was a juvenile.” Simon studied the females. He wasn’t going to back away. Or run. But predators had that same focused look in their eyes just before they sprang at their prey.

They have little teeth and little claws that aren’t very sharp. And I can run faster.

“You met her,” Merri Lee said slowly. “So this is a...”

“Vision drawing,” he finished. “That’s what we’re calling the pictures the Hope pup makes.”

“A message.” Ruthie pointed to the bottom right-hand corner. “For Meg.”

That look again. “I’m going to show her,” he said, sounding, and feeling, defensive.

“There are some stores around Lakeside University that might sell tarot cards,” Merri Lee said.

“Better if you stay away from the university stores,” Ruthie said. “Karl and I can go after he gets off work.”

Simon nodded agreement. Not that they were considering his opinion at this point. But Merri Lee had been attacked by four students at the university because she worked in the Courtyard, and other students might recognize her if she went into a shop in that area of the city. The possibility of her being hurt by other humans was the reason she was staying in one of the efficiency apartments and hadn’t returned to school. For her to go back would be like a bunny wandering into a field full of wild, hungry dogs.

“All right. I’ll check the phone book and see if I can make a list of potential places,” Merri Lee said.

They started pulling stock again, then stopped.

“Is there anything else, Mr. Wolfgard?”