“I don’t know. Maybe we can drive.” But even as he said it, he doubted Coralis would be up to spending several days and thousands of miles behind the wheel of the car.

Coralis set a plate stacked with peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches on the table. “This is all I could find worth eating. If your mother had any culinary skills, she was as good at hiding them as she was at hiding her heritage.”

“Watch it!” snapped Brianna. “That’s my mother you’re talking about.”

Coralis started to retort but was interrupted by an outburst from Henry. “Oh!” he said. “I just remembered! Mrs. Verrity took a trip to Arizona last year. I’ll bet she could help.”

“And who, pray tell, is Mrs. Verrity?” Coralis asked.

Brianna rolled her eyes and nudged Henry’s hand. “That would be his bookworm buddy. Library, here we come.”

“Well, hello, Henry!” Mrs. Verrity gushed. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I thought you forgot about me.” Her eyes glittered behind glasses with bright red frames. A beaded turquoise chain attached to the glasses draped loosely around her neck.

“Hello, Mrs. Verrity. This is my … um, uncle. Uncle C.” Henry hadn’t thought about introducing Coralis and fumbled for something to say at the last minute.

“My name is Coralis. Pleased to meet you, madam,” he said, bowing slightly.

“Oh! Such a proper gentleman.” She toyed with her chain coyly. “Coralis. What an unusual name. Where have I heard it before?” Her thoughts seemed to drift.

“Nowhere!” Henry almost shouted. Mrs. Verrity remembered everything, and he might have carelessly mentioned the name during one of his visits. He needed to distract her. “We’re here to do some research.”

She smiled broadly. “That’s my Henry. Always the inquisitive one.”

“Geek,” Brianna chirped from Coralis’s pocket.

Fortunately, Mrs. Verrity was already on her way to the lone computer at the information desk. “You must be very proud of your nephew. He’s one of my best customers. So many interests. Which reminds me, Henry. I just ordered a new book about alchemy. I’ll be sure to notify you when it arrives.”

Henry stole a quick look at Coralis to see his reaction and was rewarded with a brief half smile. “Not many young minds seek a challenge,” said Coralis.

“No.” She sat and entered a password. “Too many distractions for today’s youth. Makes me feel like an old relic.”

“Ha!” Coralis’s laugh was genuine. “I know the feeling all too well. But you, fair lady, are far from a relic.”

“Oh my … thank you.” She blushed.

Brianna stirred in his pocket. “Get on with it and stop flirting,” she hissed.

Mrs. Verrity tilted her head. “Did you hear something? It sounded like a voice—a very small voice.”

Henry thought fast. “Have you been reading The Borrowers again, Mrs. Verrity?” He gave her his best smile.