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Back The Copycat Save as PDF
Chapters (68)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Chapter One
  7. Three
  8. Four
  9. Five
  10. Six
  11. Chapter Two
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Chapter Three
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Chapter Four
  19. Twelve
  20. Thirteen
  21. Fourteen
  22. Chapter Five
  23. Fifteen
  24. Sixteen
  25. Chapter Six
  26. Seventeen
  27. Eighteen
  28. Nineteen
  29. Chapter Seven
  30. Twenty
  31. Twenty-One
  32. Twenty-Two
  33. Chapter Eight
  34. Twenty-Three
  35. Twenty-Four
  36. Twenty-Five
  37. Chapter Nine
  38. Twenty-Six
  39. Twenty-Seven
  40. Chapter Ten
  41. Twenty-Eight
  42. Twenty-Nine
  43. Thirty
  44. Thirty-One
  45. Chapter Eleven
  46. Thirty-Two
  47. Thirty-Three
  48. Thirty-Four
  49. Thirty-Five
  50. Chapter Twelve
  51. Thirty-Six
  52. Thirty-Seven
  53. Thirty-Eight
  54. Chapter Thirteen
  55. Thirty-Nine
  56. Forty
  57. Forty-One
  58. Forty-Two
  59. Chapter Fourteen
  60. Forty-Three
  61. Forty-Four
  62. Forty-Five
  63. Forty-Six
  64. Forty-Seven
  65. Chapter Fifteen
  66. The Following Summer
  67. About the Author
  68. About the Publisher

Gigi’s birthday was only weeks away. As far as Ali knew, there were no plans for a party, but she didn’t tell Gigi that.

“Do you think he’s a Copycat like you and Digger, or a Constant, like me?”

“It’s hard to say. He may not even know about his abilities. His grandfather never liked being a Copycat, and his mother has no powers.”

“But even if he didn’t know about them, wouldn’t they come out by themselves? You’re either a Copycat or you aren’t.”

Gigi took a sip of hot chocolate and shook her head. “It’s not that simple. For a Copycat to have full use of their powers, they need to be trained. If they aren’t taught properly, their skills wither on the vine, or they make reckless mistakes. Alfie’s grandfather, Andrew, hated being a Copycat. He rejected all attempts to help him, nor would he allow us to teach his children, Teddy and Karen, either. On the other hand, your grandfather Richard reveled in what he could do. He and I coached Digger. I think there are many Copycats in the world who don’t have a clue about who they really are. Not surprisingly, many of them are gifted mimics and wonderful actors.”

“I can mimic people, but I’m not a Copycat.”

“There are exceptions to every rule. Alfie might be one but not know that he is. We won’t be able to tell until we meet him. Don’t tell him about Copycats before then, just in case.”

“I won’t.” It felt strange that she hadn’t met Alfie yet and there was already a secret between them. “Was that what caused the Sloanes to fight?”

Gigi shook her head. “No. Andrew and Richard had different beliefs, but they loved each other. And then—”

“Teddy died.”

Gigi nodded.

“Will you tell me what happened? Digger won’t talk about it.”

“Well, that makes two of us.” Gigi saw the disappointment on Ali’s face and tried to soften the blow. “It’s hard to talk about.” She began to cough, a dry painful sound that went on too long and made Ali’s heart pound. Ali passed Gigi the cup of hot chocolate and watched her sip it between the spasmy rasps. Five long minutes later, the cough subsided, but Gigi was spent. Seconds later, her soft snores bubbled up and floated around the room.

As Ali watched her great-grandmother sleep, she had a wonderful idea. She would throw a hundredth birthday party for Gigi. A big one. She would invite everyone, including Alfie. She would have cake and a piñata. Soon Ali was napping too, dreaming of balloons.

Six

The fog worsened overnight. Ali and her parents ate their breakfast in silence, as if the gloomy haze outside had seeped into the kitchen and made them glum, too. The only sound came from the radio on the counter.