“How could it!” demanded the princess, as if only she could call off the sun and invoke the rain. “Rose! Our cloaks. Our cloaks!” At this point the servant in black paused, seemed to laugh, and turned around.

“Rose!” Nicholas Oliver gasped. My Rose, our Rose. Her face was nearly identical to her mother’s, but he could see a bit of himself as well. There was a flash of orange as a cat crossed the path and a mist engulfed them. Then they simply dissolved into the thickening fog.

Chapter 34

“Just Say Her Father”

Rose and Susan, along with Anand, Myles, and Joe, leaning on crutches, watched as the Mean Queens and Sibby trooped out of the principal’s office. Sibby looked positively ghostly. Her chin trembled. Rose’s heart went out to her. She walked over to her and took her hand.

“It’ll be all right, Sibby. You did a brave thing.”

“No.” Carrie glared. “It’s not going to be all right.”

“We aren’t done with either of you yet!” Lisa spat.

Susan stepped forward. She stood in front of Lisa. She inhaled deeply. Everyone fell silent. Her voice was no longer a sandy whisper, nor was it a roar. But it cut, cut like a finely honed blade.

“You’re wrong. You are done. All three of you. One more trick like this and I report you under Public Act 11–232, which makes it a violation of IC Title 42. Criminal Law and Procedure.” She paused and took another breath, then continued. “Title 42 basically clears the way for criminal prosecution in bullying cases. And that means that my father, Samuel Gold, as attorney general of Indiana, can prosecute the three of you! So Carrie, you can just forget about your ambulance-chasing dad busting Myles for reckless driving in a wheelchair. You’ll be up for a hate crime.” Rose looked at Susan in awe. She was as commanding as any monarch, and Carrie, Brianna, and Lisa seemed to almost shrink before their eyes. Then they all three turned and walked away.

Joe gasped. “Susan, how did you know all that?” His eyes were shining with admiration.

“I didn’t really.” The sandy whisper had returned. “I mean, the only part that is true is that my father is the attorney general. And I know that there were obstacles in the way of prosecuting hate crimes that are slowly being cleared. But that’s all.”

“Well, it sure worked with them!” Myles said.